PITTSBURGH – Duquesne jumped out to a 28-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back, cruising to a 52-7 Homecoming win over Saint Francis on Saturday afternoon at Rooney Field.

Joel Kpassou opened the game with a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown — the Dukes' first since 2016 and first to start a game since 2014. The 28-point first quarter tied Duquesne's highest as an FCS member (matching 28 vs. Marist in 2000), while the 45-0 halftime advantage was the largest in program history since joining the FCS in 1993.

Quarterback Tyler Riddell threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers — Joey Isabella, Ryan Petras, Jermaine Johnson, and B.J. Alexander — before Logan Kushner connected with Alex Gochis for both of their first career touchdowns in the third quarter.

The Dukes outgained Saint Francis 323-165, forced two turnovers, and improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in NEC play. Tyson Meiguez returned a fumble forced by DJ Cerisier for a 40-yard touchdown, TJ Jones added an interception in the second quarter, and Matt Marcinko contributed a 32-yard field goal before halftime.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After Kpassou's kickoff return set the tone, Duquesne's offense struck quickly with three straight touchdown drives. On the Dukes' third offensive play, Joey Isabella broke loose for a 57-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Ryan Petras (12 yards) and Jermaine Johnson (21 yards) added back-to-back scores within four minutes to give Duquesne a 28-0 first-quarter lead.

A tied career-long 29-yard punt return by Isabella set up Duquesne deep in Saint Francis territory, resulting in Matt Marcinko's 32-yard field goal. Two plays later, TJ Jones intercepted a pass, and B.J. Alexander capped a seven-play drive with a 7-yard touchdown catch, extending the lead to 38-0. Just two plays after that, Tyson Meiguez returned DJ Cerisier's forced fumble 40 yards for another score, giving the Dukes a 45-0 halftime advantage — a 14-point swing in 23 seconds.

In the third quarter, Logan Kushner led an eight-play, 45-yard drive, finishing with his first career touchdown pass to Alex Gochis, marking Gochis' first career receiving score and closing out the scoring.

Defensively, Duquesne dominated, forcing two turnovers and limiting the Red Flash to seven three-and-outs. Saint Francis crossed midfield just once in the first half (turnover on downs at the Duquesne 43) and entered Duquesne territory only three times in 14 drives.

NOTES

• Duquesne improved to 2-0 in NEC play for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
• The Dukes are now 41-10 all-time against their most-played rival, including 24-3 at home. The series began in 1913 and has been played every full season since 2005. Saint Francis will reclassify to Division III next season.
• The 52 points tied the most by Duquesne in the series (52-14 win in 1996), and the +45 margin was the second largest (51-3 win in 1997).
• The 28-point first quarter tied the program's highest as an FCS member (also 28 vs. Marist on Sept. 23, 2000).
• The 45-0 halftime lead was Duquesne's largest at the FCS level (joined in 1993) and tied for the most points in a half (45 vs. Iona in 2002).
• Head Coach Jerry Schmitt recorded his 160th career victory, becoming one of only five active FCS head coaches with 160 or more wins. He now holds a 160-110 record in his 26th season overall (including five at Westminster from 2000–04) and his 21st year leading Duquesne.
• Duquesne recorded a fumble-return touchdown vs. Saint Francis for the second straight year. Tyson Meiguez scored on a 40-yard return in the second quarter after a forced fumble by DJ Cerisier — the first of Cerisier's career. Meiguez also had a fumble-return touchdown last year while at Murray State.
• Joel Kpassou opened the game with a 94-yard kickoff return touchdown, the Dukes' first since Nov. 16, 2016 (Xavier Nelson, 82 yards at CCSU) and first to start a game since Oct. 25, 2014 (Devin Rahming, 97 yards vs. Alderson Broaddus).
• Tyler Riddell finished 12 of 24 for 185 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half. It marked his third straight game — and fourth this season — with at least three touchdown passes. He now has a 50-plus-yard completion in six of seven games this year.
• Eleven Dukes caught passes, with five different receivers scoring touchdowns — Joey Isabella (eighth of the season), Jermaine Johnson (first), Ryan Petras (four on six catches this season), B.J. Alexander (third), and Alex Gochis (first of his career). Isabella's touchdown catch was his 25th career score, moving him into a tie for sixth in Duquesne history.
• The 17-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter marked the first career touchdown pass for Logan Kushner and the first career touchdown catch for Alex Gochis.
• TJ Jones recorded an interception in the second quarter — his second career pick and first this season. He became the fourth Duke with an interception this year.
• The defense posted 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. Carter Lance led with a career-best 2.0 TFLs, while Lance, Tyson Meiguez, Zion Patillo, Jack Dunkley, and Deshaun Harper each recorded a sack.
• Duquesne held its second straight opponent — and third this season — under 100 rushing yards, limiting Saint Francis to 45.
• Dom Fusca and Avery Morris tied for the team lead with four tackles apiece; all were solo stops, with Fusca adding a career-high 1.0 TFL.
• Michael Berarducci hit a career-long 63-yard punt.
• A standing-room-only crowd of 2,965 filled Arthur J. Rooney Field for Homecoming and Family Weekend.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCES
Head Coach Jerry Schmitt
(Click to watch)


Tyler Riddell & Tyson Meiguez
(Click to watch)


UP NEXT
Duquesne begins its longest end-of-season road stretch since 1990, playing four of its final games away from home. Next Saturday, the Dukes travel to Mercyhurst for a 6 p.m. kickoff in Erie, Pa.

FOLLOW THE DUKES
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