PITTSBURGH – The Duquesne University football team dropped its first Northeast Conference game of the season on Saturday afternoon, 33-28, to visiting Stonehill at Rooney Field in a rollercoaster finish.
After three lead changes in the second half, including two in the final three minutes, Duquesne's game-winning drive attempt in the final 41 seconds was put to a stop and the Skyhawks emerged with the upset. Darius Perrantes scrambled and launched a third-down pass destined for a wide-open DJ Powell in the back corner of the endzone, but Stonehill's Jahnez Williams leaped and got a fingertip on the pass to deflect it off target saving the game for the Skyhawks.
Duquesne regained a 28-27 lead with 2:45 to go in the game on an Edward Robinson run. The Skyhawks came right back and connected on a 29-yard pass to get down inside the Duquesne 35 on the second play after the kickoff, then rushed in a 21-yard touchdown to swing back in front with 50 seconds left and held on for good.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dukes fought back from an early 17-0 deficit but roared back with a 21-3 spurt to end the first half and take a narrow lead into the break.
Duquesne had a pair of uncharacteristic fumbles on its first two offensive plays in its own end, which Stonehill converted into 14 points. Paired with a field goal on the opening drive, the Skyhawks jumped out to the early 17-point advantage, the Dukes largest deficit in conference play this season.
DU answered back and got on the board via a JaMario Clements two-yard run at the 3:14 mark in the first quarter and Keshawn Brown turned a short pass into the longest touchdown of the season, an 89-yard score, narrowing the margin to 20-14 near the midway point in the second quarter.
Darius Perrantes showed off his running skills with a 34-yard scamper for a touchdown, his second rushing score of the season, just over three and a half minutes before the half for back-to-back TD drives by the Dukes and their first lead of the game (21-20).
Stonehill's top-rusher Jermaine Corbett recorded consecutive unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the third quarter and was ejected, but the Skyhawk ground attack did not give in. Stonehill got back ahead (27-21) with a gutsy, 12-play drive spanning 63 yards that featured seven rushes and found the endzone with just over a minute left in the third frame.
A 49-yard completion to Joey Isabella set the Dukes up to answer at first-and-goal from the 7-yard line, but a tipped pass resulted in an interception and the Skyhawks took back over. Duquesne was right back inside the red zone the following drive but could not convert and turned over on downs after a late sack set up 4th-and-21.
Three passes for 10+ yards, including another long grab by Isabella going for 24 yards, put DU right on the doorstep for a third straight drive and this time the Dukes punched it in on a Robinson rush.
Stonehill's late touchdown drive answered right back, and a valiant effort in the final 41 seconds by Duquesne came up just short.
NOTES
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The 89-yard catch and run house call by Keshawn Brown was the longest reception by a Duke since Nehari Crawford snagged an 80-yarder in 2018 against Dayton … Brown finished the game with a career-high 103 yards on two catches to lead all receivers … Joey Isabella (73 yards) and DJ Powell (66 yards) each had two catches as well.
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Darius Perrantes ended with a season-high 298 yards passing, his fifth straight and 12th career game with 200+ … He added his 18th touchdown pass of the year and rushed in a second ... All nine of his completions went for 10+ yards averaging 33.1 yards per completion including four for 20+ yards.
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JaMario Clements (52 yards) paced a running game that had three rushing touchdowns … Clements was joined by Perrantes and Edward Robinson for the scores on the ground.
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Jayden Johnson led the defense with 14 tackles, the most by any Duke in a game this season and a tie of his career high, while Gianni Rizzo charted a career-best 11 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks ... Antonio Epps added 10 tackles, his second straight game with double digits ... 94 tackles for the Dukes defense was the most in a game this season.
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Duquesne is now 0-2 against Stonehill all-time with both results within five points.
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The Dukes finish their home season with a 3-1 record … Duquesne has now had one loss or fewer in eight of its last nine seasons at Rooney Field.
UP NEXT
Duquesne finishes the regular season next Saturday at Merrimack. Kickoff is slated for 12 pm. The winner of the game will earn the Northeast Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I FCS Championship.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Head Coach Jerry Schmitt
FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne football online all season at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqFB).
