NEW BRITAN, Conn. – Duquesne quarterback
Darius Perrantes threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Dukes to a 30-6 win at Central Connecticut State Saturday afternoon in a Northeast Conference (NEC) game at Arute Field.
Perrantes finished the day 17 of 24 with zero interceptions. As a team, the Dukes (2-5, 1-2 NEC) out-gained the Blue Devils (0-7, 0-3 NEC) 352 to 237 in total offense.
Wide receiver
Dwayne Menders, Jr. led the Dukes with eight receptions for 118 yards, while fellow wide out
Abdul Janneh posted five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Gallery: (10-22-2022) Duquesne 30, CCSU 6
The Dukes received the opening kick and started the game with a three-and-out. CCSU took over and quickly drove to the Duquesne 22-yard line, before a deflected pass was intercepted by linebacker
Jayden Johnson at the 12-yard line to end the scoring threat.
The Dukes responded with a 20-play drive that took over nine minutes off of the clock. Duquesne was unable to find pay dirt and settled for a 23-yard
Brian Bruzdewicz field goal that made the score 3-0 with 2:02 to play in the first quarter.
Both teams exchanged punts, before the Dukes strung together a drive that resulted in points. Perrantes relieved starting quarterback
Joe Mischler and led the Dukes near the red zone, before Bruzdewicz connected a career-long 40-yard attempt that pushed the lead to 6-0 with 9:31 remaining in the first half.
The Duquesne defense forced another CCSU punt to give the ball back to the offense backed up at its own nine-yard line. Perrantes connected with Menders on a 45-yard pass, and
Joey Isabella on a 37-yard completion to put the Dukes all the way down to the CCSU nine-yard line. Two plays later, Perrantes found Janneh on a crossing route in the back of the endzone to extend the Duquesne lead to 13-0 heading into halftime.
Neither team scored on its first possession of the second half. CCSU got the ball at its own 28-yard line and went on a seven-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a Nasir Smith 19-yard touchdown run. Following a blocked extra-point, the Dukes remained in front 13-6 with 7:24 to play in the third quarter.
The Dukes offense was unable to respond and went three-and-out. CCSU drove into the red zone again, but the defense forced a fourth down. Safety
Jeremiah Josephs ended the scoring threat when he made a leaping interception in the end zone to keep the score at 13-6 minutes into the fourth quarter.
Duquesne turned the interception into points. The Dukes got a 41-yard catch-and-run from Menders, before a pass interference in the endzone setup the offense at the one-yard line. Duquesne stalled on the cusp of the endzone, but a 20-yard Bruzdewicz field goal made it a two-score game at 16-6 with 8:57 remaining in the game.
Duquesne put the game away with a 10-play, 54-yard drive that was capped off with a 24-yard connection from Perrantes to
Jalin Cooper that made the score 23-6 with less than two on the clock. Defensive back
Ezekiel M. Daure put the finishing touches on the game with a pick-six on the first play of the ensuing CCSU drive to bring the game to its final score.
Duquesne defensively held the Blue Devils to 102 yards on the ground and intercepted three passes in the win. CCSU quarterback Shon Mitchell was limited to a 17 of 35 showing for 135 yards.
Linebacker
Todd Hill led the defensive unit with six tackles, 0.5 sacks, while
Shane Stump posted five tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.
Bruzdewicz was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, including his career-long 40-yard kick. He also booted through all three of his extra point tries (12 points).
The Dukes will return home to Rooney Field to take on LIU on Saturday, Oct. 29 at noon. Duquesne will play three of its final four games of the season at home.
GAME NOTES: Duquesne now leads the all-time series with CCSU 8-7 … It is the first time in the history of the series, which dates back to 1993, that the Dukes have held the all-time edge … The Duquesne backfield was limited to 55 yards rushing on 28 attempts (2.0 per rush) … Duquesne quarterback
Joe Mischler (coach's decision) got the start under center and completed 6-of-14 passes for 37 yards ...
DeMarcus Ware led the Dukes with 30 yards on eight carries … CCSU running back Nasir Smith went for 98 yards on 20 carries … The Dukes converted all three of its fourth down conversions … The game marked the fifth time in his career that Menders went over 100 yards receiving … Janneh's touchdown catch was his NEC-best seventh of the season … Duquesne was flagged five times for 50 yards, compared to CCSU's 10 markers for 80 yards … Daure's interception return for a touchdown was the first by a Duke since
Spencer DeMedal's pick-six versus Virginia-Lynchburg last season … Wide receiver
Joey Isabella, defensive tackle
Maxi Hradecny and offensive lineman
Michael Fallah each appeared in the game after suffering injuries earlier this season ... Isabella and Hradecny were both Preseason All-NEC selections.
