NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The No. 19 Duquesne University football team fell short in a winner-take-all matchup for the Northeast Conference (NEC) automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs, losing 21-14 to Central Connecticut State on Saturday.
 
The Dukes finished the regular season 8-3 overall and 5-1 in NEC play, sharing the conference title with CCSU (7-5, 5-1). However, the Blue Devils claimed the FCS playoff berth via the head-to-head tiebreaker.
 
CCSU forced eight turnovers, including seven interceptions, and took the lead for good with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Trailing 21-14, Duquesne's comeback hopes were dashed by late interceptions. The Blue Devils picked off a second-down pass in the end zone with 3:57 remaining and sealed the victory with another interception at the 1:16 mark.
 
Joey Isabella scored both Duquesne touchdowns, including an 85-yard score on the first play of the second half. He finished with five receptions for a career-high 149 yards and extended his touchdown streak to eight consecutive games to close the regular season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jack Dunkley opened the game with a fourth-down sack, setting the tone for a defensive first quarter that ended scoreless.
 
Central Connecticut State broke the deadlock in the second quarter with a 47-yard field goal at the 10:17 mark. Duquesne responded later in the quarter when Joey Isabella caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Darius Perrantes, extending Isabella's touchdown streak to eight games. Perrantes completed three consecutive passes on the drive, including a 24-yarder to John Erby on third down and a 13-yard gain to Tedy Afful.
 
CCSU regained the lead with a three-play touchdown drive the following possession and added a field goal before halftime to take a 13-7 advantage into the locker room.
 
On the first play of the second half, Isabella scored his second touchdown of the game on an 85-yard catch-and-run, giving the Dukes a 14-13 lead. TJ Jones intercepted CCSU on the ensuing possession, but turnovers plagued Duquesne down the stretch as it gave the ball away on five of its final six drives.
 
The Dukes held their one-point lead into the fourth quarter before CCSU intercepted a pass at the Duquesne 32-yard line and scored the deciding touchdown four plays later on a six-yard run.
 
CCSU missed a 40-yard field goal with 8:53 remaining, but Duquesne was unable to capitalize. The Dukes mounted their longest drive of the game, covering 11 plays and nearly five minutes, but an interception in the end zone ended the threat.
 
After forcing a stop and using all three timeouts, Duquesne got the ball back with 1:38 left. A 40-yard completion to Ty Arrington moved the Dukes across midfield, but an interception at the goal line sealed the win for CCSU.
 
NOTES

• Duquesne's three-game overall and four-game road win streak against CCSU ended; series lead now 9-8.
• Joey Isabella extended his receiving touchdown streak to eight games, the longest active streak in the FCS … 149 receiving yards was a career high … Third two-touchdown game of the season and fifth of career ... 85-yard TD was the longest catch of his career and longest of the season for any Duke.
• Antonio Epps led DU with nine tackles; Ty Howard added eight tackles, 2.0 TFLs, and a sack, marking his fifth straight game with five or more tackles and third consecutive game with a sack.
• Jack Dunkley recorded a first-quarter sack, increasing his season total to 9.5 sacks.
• TJ Jones notched his first career interception, becoming the seventh Duke this season with a pick, as Duquesne extended its streak to 10 straight games with a defensive takeaway.
• Darius Perrantes moved to fourth in Duquesne history in career passing yards (6,821), surpassing Sean Patterson (2009–12) … His 29 passing touchdowns this season, including two today, tied the school single-season record … Eighth straight game with multiple touchdown throws.
• Brian Bruzdewicz tied the program record (Austin Crimmins 2013-16) with his 134th career PAT today.
• The Dukes outgained CCSU in total offense, 358-342.
• Duquesne was 3-for-11 on third downs, while CCSU converted 5-of-17 and held a 34:27-25:33 edge in time of possession.

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