PITTSBURGH — Duquesne used a 35-0 scoring run to pull away from New Haven for a 44-18 victory on Saturday at Rooney Field, closing out non-conference play.

The Dukes (2-3) fell behind 6-0 after the first quarter but responded with 35 straight points to seize control. New Haven (2-3) cut the deficit to 35-18 early in the fourth, but DJ Cerisier's 100-yard defensive two-point conversion halted the Chargers' momentum, and Tyler Riddell added his second rushing touchdown to cap the scoring.

Joey Isabella caught a career-high three touchdowns in the first half and finished with six receptions for 92 yards, leading a Duquesne offense that totaled a season-high 499 yards. Riddell accounted for five touchdowns — three passing, two rushing — and added 63 yards on the ground while completing 15 of 23 passes for 201 yards. On three consecutive second-quarter possessions, Riddell connected with Isabella on two short touchdown slants, then on a 61-yard score, 58 yards of which came after the catch.

The Dukes racked up 298 rushing yards behind a four-back attack. Ness Davis led with 85 yards on eight carries, followed by Taj Butts with 79 yards on nine attempts, including a 50-yard burst. Dazhaun Hopkins added 46 yards on four carries, and Shawn Solomon Jr. chipped in 37 yards on three attempts.

Defensively, Avery Morris returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, and Jabari Odoemenem recorded an interception in the second quarter for his second consecutive game with a takeaway. Dallas Harper led the Dukes with a career-best nine tackles, including seven solo stops.

HOW IT HAPPENED
New Haven struck first with a 56-yard touchdown pass on its opening play and held a 6-0 lead through the first quarter. DJ Cerisier broke up a pass in the end zone on 4th-and-1 at the Duquesne 5-yard line to force a turnover on downs. The Dukes responded with a 95-yard, 10-play drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown reception from Joey Isabella, highlighted by a 42-yard grab from Khiryn Boyd, to take a 7-6 lead.

Three plays after the score, Jabari Odoemenem intercepted the New Haven quarterback, setting up another 10-play Duquesne scoring drive. Tyler Riddell and Isabella connected again for a six-yard touchdown. A 12-yard 3rd-down catch from B.J. Alexander and a 4th-and-short conversion run by Taj Butts extended the drive. The two consecutive scoring drives consumed more than 11 minutes of possession time.

Less than two minutes later, following a Dukes defensive three-and-out, Isabella broke free for a 61-yard touchdown reception from Riddell to give Duquesne a 21-6 lead at 3:31 of the second quarter, which held into halftime.

Riddell opened the third-quarter scoring with a 10-yard rushing touchdown on an eight-play, 78-yard drive. Two plays later, Avery Morris returned an interception 34 yards for a pick-six, extending the Dukes' lead to 35-6 with 6:03 remaining in the quarter.

New Haven responded with back-to-back touchdown drives, but Cerisier intercepted a two-point conversion attempt and returned it 100 yards for two defensive points. Duquesne then put the game away with an 11-play, 78-yard drive spanning seven minutes, capped by an 8-yard rushing touchdown from Riddell. Ness Davis added a second 20-plus-yard run of the day, and Garrett Harrold contributed a 13-yard reception on 4th-and-10 to prolong the drive.

NOTES

• Duquesne improves to 35-4 in non-conference home games under Coach Schmitt; 52-13 all-time in non-conference play at Rooney Field
• First meeting with New Haven, which joins the NEC in football next season.
• Outgained New Haven 499-342 (season-high).
• Perfect on fourth downs (3-for-3): Riddell to Isabella 2-yard TD (4th & 2), Taj Butts 1-yard rush (4th & 1), Riddell to Garrett Harrold 13-yard conversion (4th & 10).
• Joey Isabella: career-high 3 TDs (2, 6, 61 yards), seventh career multi-score game, 14 straight games with multiple receptions, 92 yards brings him within 3 of 2,000 career receiving yards (1,997).
• Tyler Riddell: career-high 63 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs (10, 8 yards), third game this season with multiple passing TDs, ninth career game with 3+ TD passes.
• Khiryn Boyd: career-long 42-yard reception.
• DJ Cerisier: first career score, 100-yard defensive two-point conversion.
• Avery Morris: first career pick-six (34 yards) and second career interception — first as a Duke.
• Jabari Odoemenem: interception in back-to-back games.
• Dallas Harper: career-high 9 tackles (7 solo); Joel Kpassou 6, Antonio Epps 5, Ethon Cole 5.
• Offensive line: no sacks allowed for second time this season, season-low 2 tackles for loss allowed.
• Defensive TFLs: Carter Lance 1.0, DJ Cerisier 1.0, Odoemenem 1.0, Jack Dunkley 0.5, Adrian Ramirez 0.5 (4.0 total).

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCES
Head Coach Jerry Schmitt


WR Joey Isabella & LB Jabari Odoemenem


UP NEXT
Duquesne opens Northeast Conference play next Saturday, Oct. 4, when it hosts Stonehill at Rooney Field. Kickoff is set for noon.

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