STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Duquesne dropped its first NEC game of the season, 24-13, to Wagner on Saturday afternoon at Hameline Field.

The Dukes (5-4, 3-1 NEC) trailed 17-13 after three quarters and recovered a muffed punt inside the Wagner 20-yard line with 6:33 remaining. The drive stalled, and back-to-back five-yard penalties pushed a field goal attempt to 49 yards, which missed. Wagner (2-6, 1-2 NEC) then capped the game with a 24-yard touchdown run.

Duquesne tied the game early in the second quarter before Wagner regained control and carried a 17-7 lead into halftime.

Quarterback Tyler Riddell completed 21 of 30 passes for 163 yards, adding both a passing and rushing touchdown. Joey Isabella caught Riddell's scoring pass, finishing with a game-high 63 receiving yards on seven catches. Entering the weekend tied for the national lead in FCS receiving touchdowns, Isabella hauled in his 10th of the season on a 29-yard grab in the second quarter and has now scored in five straight games.

Tyson Meiguez paced the defense with nine tackles, including a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss and one sack. Antonio Epps and A.J. Ackerman, appearing in his 50th career game, each recorded seven stops, with Ackerman's total marking a career high.

Wagner finished with 249 rushing yards and 311 total yards. Duquesne totaled 240 yards of offense, including 163 through the air and 77 on the ground.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Wagner struck first on its opening possession after Duquesne's initial drive stalled, taking advantage of good field position to cap a 10-play touchdown series.

Duquesne responded with a 13-play, 79-yard drive to even the score early in the second quarter. The Dukes converted two third downs and a fourth-and-four on the series before Riddell connected with Isabella, who hurdled a defender on his way to the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown.

The Seahawks answered with a field goal on the next drive, then turned a short field following a stopped fake punt into a touchdown to extend their lead to 17-7 at halftime.

After a defensive stand led by a 13-yard sack from Meiguez, Duquesne marched 87 yards over nearly seven minutes, capped by Riddell's two-yard rushing touchdown to make it 17-13 late in the third quarter.

In the fourth, Nico Pate recovered a muffed punt at the Wagner 19-yard line, but the Dukes could not capitalize. Back-to-back penalties backed up the ensuing field goal attempt to 49 yards, which missed wide left. Wagner then drained the clock with a three-first-down drive, sealing the victory on a 24-yard touchdown run.

NOTES

• Duquesne tied a season high with 11 tackles for loss and added 2 sacks, led by Tyson Meiguez (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) and A.J. Ackerman (2.0 TFL).
• Adrian Ramirez (1.0 TFL, 0.5 sack) has recorded a tackle for loss in six straight games and in seven of the last eight.
• Jack Dunkley (1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack) has a sack in three straight games and a tackle for loss in five straight, including eight of nine this season.
• Kevin Kurzinger (1.0 TFL) extended his streak to four consecutive games with a tackle for loss.
• The Dukes have posted 7+ tackles for loss in four straight games.
• Nico Pate's fumble recovery on a muffed punt extended Duquesne's takeaway streak to six consecutive games.
• Joey Isabella's seven receptions brought his career total to 150, two shy of sixth place in program history.
• Tyler Riddell now has 75 career touchdown passes, including 20 this season to lead the NEC.
• Both DU touchdown drives spanned 13 plays, covering 79 yards in the first quarter and 87 yards in the third. Each lasted over six minutes.
• Wagner snapped Duquesne's 10-game win streak in the series. The Dukes now lead the all-time matchup, 15-6.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Head Coach Jerry Schmitt (Audio Only, click here)

UP NEXT
Duquesne will be off next week for a bye then return to New York on Nov. 8 for an NEC matchup at LIU.

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