YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Perennial FCS power Youngstown State (3-0) took advantage of three Duquesne turnovers in earning a 34-14 victory over the visiting Dukes (1-1) on Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Penguins struck first with a six-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mark Waid on the first drive of the afternoon. Waid would add another touchdown rush early in the second quarter with a one-yard run.
YSU then capitalized on a Duquesne interception with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Joe Craycraft to London Pearson, giving the Penguins a 21-0 edge just over 30 seconds later.
The Dukes responded with a 10-play, 78-yard scoring drive resulting in
Jake Dixon's (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Bethel Park) first career touchdown reception in the corner of the end zone on a four-yard pass from
Daniel Parr (Jupiter, Fla. / William T. Dwyer), cutting the Youngstown State lead to 21-7.
Parr found
Kellon Taylor (Landover, Md. / DeMatha Catholic) for a pair of completions as well as one to
Kareem Coles Jr. on the scoring march for Duquesne.
With just over three minutes remaining in the third stanza, Nathan Mays scampered into the end zone from four yards out to put the Penguins on top 27-7 following a DU fumble.
After YSU tacked on another score in the fourth quarter with a 16-yard touchdown rush by Christian Turner,
Lentivone Lesane (Hialeah, Fla. / Mater Academy Charter) scored his first career touchdown with a four-yard rush to shrink the final margin to 34-14.
Lesane and
DeWayne Murray III (Homestead, Pa. / Steel Valley) combined for 36 rushing yards on the scoring drive which started with an 18-yard reception by Taylor.
Taylor led the Dukes with five catches for 41 yards on the day while
Mark Allen (Hyattsville, Md. / DeMatha Catholic / Penn State) paced Duquesne on the ground with 10 carries for 62 yards.
Parr finished 9-of-19 for 69 yards with a touchdown and a pair of interceptions.
Chris Favoroso (Port St. Lucie, Fla. / Jensen Beach / Montana) led all players with 10 tackles (six solo) with a sack.
Brett Zanotto (Murrysville, Pa. / Franklin Regional / Maryland) added eight stops (six solo) with a tackle for loss for the Dukes.
Duquesne is back in action next Saturday, Sept. 21 on the road at Dayton. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. from Welcome Stadium.
