YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State All-American running back Jaleel McLaughlin rushed for over 200 yards to help deal Duquesne a 31-14 loss Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium.
 
The Dukes (0-2) were led by quarterback Joe Mischler, who threw for 274 yards on 22 of 41 passing with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
 
Both Abdul Janneh and Dwayne Menders, Jr. eclipsed the 100-yard mark through the air. Janneh hauled in eight receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns, while Menders picked up 102 yards on seven catches.

Duquesne took the opening kickoff and were setup at the Youngstown State (1-0) 45-yard line, when Mischler connected with a wide-open Janneh deep over the middle of the field to put the Dukes up 7-0 less than two minutes into the game.
 
Duquesne nearly seized momentum on the ensuing kickoff. The Penguins muffed the kick, and, after the ball sputtered into the endzone and out-of-bounds, were granted a touchback. Youngstown State responded with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a McLaughlin three-yard touchdown rush that knotted the score at 7-7 with 8:18 to play in the first quarter.
  
After each team traded possessions, Mischler was intercepted at the Duquesne 27-yard line and the Penguins cashed in four plays later on a McLaughlin 13-yard rush to make the score 14-7 with 6:43 to play in the first half.
 
The Dukes put together a drive on their next possession that went 58 yards and deep into Youngstown State territory on 11 plays. The drive stalled at the YSU 18-yard line and Brian Bruzdewicz missed from 36 yards to keep the score at 14-7 with just under two minutes to play in the first half.
 
McLaughlin broke off a 43-yard gain to setup the Penguins in the red zone, but the Duquesne defense managed to limit YSU to a 39-yard field goal to send the Dukes into halftime trailing 17-7.
 
The Duquesne defense came out strong to start the second half and forced a quick three-and-out. After taking over near mid-field, Mischler drove the Dukes into the red zone and connected with Janneh for a 16-yard touchdown to cut the deficit down to 17-14 with 9:35 left in the third quarter.
 
Youngstown State was poised to add points on its next possession after driving into the red zone. The Duquesne defense made three stops and a fumble on a field goal attempt kept the YSU lead at three with 5:58 to play in the third quarter.
 
Duquesne drove into Youngstown State territory once again and appeared to convert a first down on a second-effort play by running back DeMarcus Ware. However, the play was reviewed and overturned forcing the Dukes into a fourth-and-one on the Penguin 27-yard line. Mischler rolled to his right and was unable to connect with Menders, ending the threat with 13 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
 
Youngstown State scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and limited the Dukes to two first downs on offense to send Duquesne home with its second loss of the season.
 
Duquesne struggled to run the ball all afternoon. The Dukes were limited to 51 yards on 25 carries (2.0 per rush), with Billy Lucas leading the backfield with 34 yards on 13 attempts.
 
Youngstown State out-gained Duquesne 428 to 325 in total offense.
 
McLaughlin, a Third-Team AP FCS All-American last season, rushed for 203 yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns to lead the Penguins to the win. As a team, Youngstown State ran for 274 yards on 41 carries (6.7 per rush).
 
Safety CJ Barnes led the Duquesne defense with 10 tackles (six solo). Freshman linebacker Ty Howard finished with a pair of sacks.

Youngstown State has won all five meetings against Duquesne in the series. The previous four games were decided by 26.5 points.
 
The Dukes will play their home opener at Rooney Field on Saturday, Sept. 10 when they welcome Thomas More (NAIA). Kick-off is set for 12 p.m. and the game will broadcast on NEC Front Row.
 
GAME NOTES: Janneh and Menders, Jr. are the first pair of Duquesne wide receivers to go for over 100 yards receiving in the same game since 2019. Nehari Crawford (6-113) & Kareem Coles, Jr. (10-100) achieved that mark versus Robert Morris on Nov. 9, 2019 … Janneh's eight receptions were the most by a Duquesne receiver since Cyrus Holder made eight catches in the Spring 2021 NEC Championship Game versus Sacred Heart … Youngstown State finished with 21 first downs, compared to the 19 posted by the Dukes … Duquesne was 7-of-16 on third down, compared to the 4-of-13 showing by the Penguins … YSU was 2-of-4 on fourth down, while the Dukes failed to convert on either of its fourth-down tries … Duquesne finished with 3.0 sacks on defense, while the offensive line kept Mischler upright throughout the game ... Youngstown State held the slight edge in time of possession, holding the ball for 30 minutes, 11 seconds … The Duquesne defense has not allowed a passing touchdown through its first two games.