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Duquesne University Athletics

butts runs free vs. ccsu 2025
Brandon Reed
33
Central Conn. St. CCS 7-4 , 5-1
38
Winner Duquesne DUQ 6-5 , 4-2
Central Conn. St. CCS
7-4 , 5-1
33
Final
38
Duquesne DUQ
6-5 , 4-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CCS Central Conn. St. 7 6 7 13 33
DUQ Duquesne 12 13 0 13 38

Game Recap: Football |

Dukes Outlast CCSU, 38-33, in Thrilling Home Finale

PITTSBURGH – Taj Butts ran for a career-high 254 yards and three touchdowns, and Antonio Epps' end-zone interception with 36 seconds remaining secured a 38–33 win for Duquesne over Central Connecticut State in the Dukes' home finale Saturday at Rooney Field.

Quarterback Tyler Riddell went 14-for-22 for 182 yards and three touchdowns, hitting Ryan Petras for a 37-yard score and connecting twice with Joey Isabella. Isabella finished with a team-high five receptions and moved into Duquesne's all-time top five in career catches.

Epps posted a career-high 12 tackles in his 40th game, anchoring a defense that handed CCSU (5–1 NEC) its first conference loss. The win lifted Duquesne to 4–2 in NEC play and kept the Dukes in the hunt for a share of the league title and a bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs.

HOW IT HAPPENED By: Ben Prantl
Duquesne piled up 344 rushing yards on just 32 carries (10.8 yards per attempt), led by Butts, who averaged 18.1 yards per carry in a career day. Butts closed the opening drive with a 29-yard touchdown run — the first of five Duquesne scoring drives that took fewer than five plays, including four that needed only two snaps.

CCSU answered with a touchdown before DU engineered a 7-play, 95-yard march to the endzone. Butts sparked the drive with a 38-yard run on the first play, then Riddell capped the drive with a 32-yard strike to Isabella with 1:42 left in the first quarter, giving the Dukes a 12-7 edge.

Duquesne added two more scores in the second quarter to take a 25–13 lead into halftime. Butts broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run with 4:40 left, pushing his first-half total to 158 yards on 26.3 yards per carry. Riddell later connected with Petras for a 37-yard strike with 1:15 remaining, and DJ Cerisier halted CCSU's final drive of the half with his first career interception.

CCSU opened the second half with the only score of the third quarter, trimming the deficit to five points (25-20), but Duquesne responded early in the fourth. Riddell connected with Isabella for the duo's second touchdown — a 4-yard pass with 9:21 to play — to push the lead up to 33-20. Tight end Noah Canty broke free for a 40-yard catch and run to set up the score. 

The Blue Devils countered with long touchdowns of 40 and 50 yards less than a minute apart to take a 33-32 lead with 3:19 to play. Just two plays after CCSU took the lead, Butts delivered a 59-yard score for his third touchdown to restore Duquesne's lead.

The defense sealed it on CCSU's final possession. Ish Findlayter flushed quarterback Elijah Olson from the pocket, and Pickens III got a hand on the throw, deflecting the ball directly to Epps for the game-clinching interception.

NOTES

  • Duquesne improved to 6–5, securing at least a .500 season for the 30th time in 33 years at the FCS level. The Dukes also moved to 4–2 in NEC play, clinching a winning conference record for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons.
  • Duquesne completed a perfect 3–0 NEC home slate at Rooney Field for the second straight year and has now won six straight league home games.
  • The Dukes have won 10 of their last 11 home contests overall.
  • Duquesne led 12–7 after the first quarter, extending its streak to 15 straight wins when leading after the opening 15 minutes (4–0 this season).
  • The Dukes have won 18 straight games since 2023 when scoring 30 or more points and are 6–0 in 2025 when hitting that mark.
  • QB Tyler Riddell recorded his fifth game this season — and 12th of his career — with three or more touchdown passes.
  • RB Taj Butts rushed for a career-high 254 yards and three touchdowns, his third career 100-yard game. His 254 yards are the most by a Duke since Mike Hilliard's school-record 323 vs. La Salle in 2003 and rank fifth all time at DU.
  • WR Joey Isabella logged his third multi-touchdown game of the season and now has 12 receiving TDs in 2025, his most in a season of his career. His five receptions extended his streak to 20 straight games with multiple catches. He now sits fifth in program history with 158 career receptions and is tied for fifth with 29 career touchdown grabs.
  • WR Ryan Petras has five touchdown receptions on 10 career catches after his 37-yard score in the second quarter.
  • DB Antonio Epps posted a career-high 12 tackles (nine solo) and recorded his second career interception in his 40th career game.
  • DB DJ Cerisier collected his first career interception in the final seconds of the first half.
  • Duquesne's defense produced two interceptions and has forced at least one turnover in eight straight games.
  • The Dukes finished with five tackles for loss and two sacks — one each from Ish Findlayter and Tyson Meiguez. Alex Reese III, Joel Kpassou and Carter Lance also recorded TFLs.
  • Punter Michael Berarducci averaged 50.7 yards on six punts, including a career-long 67-yarder (tied for the fifth-longest in program history). He placed four punts inside the 20 and hit three over 60 yards and four over 50.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCES

Head Coach Jerry Schmitt 
(click to watch)


DB Antonio Epps & RB Taj Butts
(click to watch)


UP NEXT
Duquesne remains in the hunt for the NEC title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs as it closes the regular season next Saturday at crosstown rival Robert Morris. Kickoff from Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township is set for 2 p.m. The Dukes must defeat RMU and have Central Connecticut lose to Mercyhurst to earn a share of the conference crown and secure the league's postseason bid.

FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne football online all season at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqFB).
 
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