PITTSBURGH – In a game that featured over 1,000 yards of total offense, the Dukes were dealt a heart-breaking 50-48 loss in double-overtime by LIU Saturday afternoon at Rooney Field in a Northeast Conference (NEC) game.
With the game tied at 35-35, LIU (1-7, 1-3 NEC) had two chances to win in the final two minutes of regulation, but a 24-yard field goal attempt was blocked by
Ayden Garnes and a 52-yard try as time expired went wide right to send the game into overtime.
Gallery: (10-29-2022) LIU 50, Duquesne 48 (2OT)
The Sharks scored on their first possession of overtime, but the Dukes (2-6, 1-3 NEC) had an answer. Duquesne quarterback
Joe Mischler threw a 22-yard strike on fourth down to
Joey Isabella in the corner of the endzone to tie the game back up at 42-42 and keep Duquesne alive.
The Dukes' offense stayed on the field for the second overtime and scored again, this time on an 11-yard
Abdul Janneh touchdown catch that made the score 48-42. Duquesne failed to convert the mandatory two-point conversion try, which would prove costly.
LIU tied the game up in five plays and converted its two-point try on a pass that sealed the loss for the Dukes.
Mischler, who came on in relief of the injured
Darius Perrantes, established career-highs in virtually every throwing category. He finished 35 of 50 with 414 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for another touchdown.
A trio of Dukes hauled in multiple touchdowns.
Dwayne Menders, Jr. finished with seven catches for 122 yards and two scores. Janneh posted seven receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns, while Isabella added seven catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Duquesne finished with 509 yards of total offense, compared to LIU, who put up 510. The Dukes threw for 448, but only rushed for 61 yards. The Sharks were more balanced with 346 yards passing and 164 yards on the ground.
Linebacker
Todd Hill led the defense with eight tackles (six solo) and 3.0 tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks.
Shane Stump finished with eight tackles (six solo) and added 1.0 TFL.
LIU quarterback Luca Stanzani, who was listed on the team's two-deep as the backup, was 22 of 27 for 346 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. His favorite target was Davon Wells, who finished with seven catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns. LIU was 5-of-6 for 213 yards and two touchdowns on throws of over 20 yards.
The Dukes opened the game with a 14-0 lead on touchdown catches by Janneh (21 yards) and Menders (34 yards). LIU closed the gap with a score in the final two minutes of the first half that made the score 14-7 at halftime.
The Sharks exploded for 28 third quarter points to storm out to a 35-21 lead by the end of the period. LIU scored on passing plays from 64 and 58 yards out, ran for a 44-yard score, while its defense chipped in with a pick-six from 36 yards out.
The Dukes rallied back with two touchdowns in a three-minute span in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Menders hauled in a 13-yard score, before an interception by
Ezekiel M. Daure set up the game-tying touchdown catch by Isabella with 9:19 left in regulation.
The Dukes will continue their two-game homestand next Saturday, Nov. 5 when they host preseason NEC-favorite Sacred Heart at Rooney Field for a 12 p.m. kick. The Pioneers have won each of the last two meetings, including a 34-27 overtime win in the spring 2021 NEC Championship Game. Duquesne has never lost three-straight in the history of the series.
GAME NOTES: Perrantes earned the starting nod at quarterback, but left due to a lower-body injury suffered in the first quarter … He was 3-of-4 for 34 yards and a touchdown when he exited the game … Menders totaled 224 all-purpose yards; the most in a single-game by a Duke since Cyrus Holder's 211 yards versus LIU in the spring 2021 (3/21/21) … The Dukes passing yardage total was the most in a game since they threw for 385 in that same spring 2021 game versus LIU … The game marked the first time since 2017 that multiple Duquesne wide receivers each recorded two touchdown catches … The last duo to do so was Nehari Crawford and Kareem Coles, Jr. vs. W.Va. Wesleyan (9/30/17).
