PITTSBURGH — Duquesne extended its home-opening win streak to 18 games Saturday afternoon, rolling past Lincoln (Pa.) 55-14 at Rooney Field.
Graduate transfer quarterback Tyler Riddell, making his first home start, threw for five touchdowns and 239 yards on 15-of-20 passing — all in the first half — to lead the Dukes (1-1). Seven different players scored, highlighted by Joey Isabella's two receiving touchdowns and Ryan Petras, who reached the end zone on both his first career reception and first career carry.
Tight end Daniel Tarabrella hauled in his first career touchdown catch to close out a two-minute drill before halftime, while B.J. Alexander opened the scoring with a 14-yard strike from Riddell — their second connection of the season. Running back Shawn Solomon, Jr. added a 24-yard touchdown run, the longest rush of the day for either team, in the first quarter, and Dazhaun Hopkins capped the day with his first career score in the fourth.
The Dukes, who kicked off their 33rd season at Rooney Field, built a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back scoring on each of their first six offensive drives. The 55-point mark is the second-highest point total in a home opener during head coach Jerry Schmitt's 21 seasons on the Bluff.
Defensively, Duquesne registered four sacks — Kevin Kurzinger, Adrian Ramirez, Zion Patillo and Carter Lance, with Patillo and Lance each notching their first career sack — and totaled 11 tackles for loss, led by Avery Morris' career-best 2.0. The Dukes forced six three-and-outs and held the Lions (0-2) to just 23 rushing yards. On special teams, Quan Rhodes-McKee forced a fumble on a punt return that Brock Janeda recovered, setting up Petras' second touchdown of the day to make it 48-14 in the third quarter.
Duquesne outgained Lincoln 484-221 overall and passed for 307 yards on 22-of-29 attempts. Riddell accounted for 239 yards and five touchdowns, while sophomore Logan Kushner went 6-of-7 for 66 yards and Xavier Rice added a completion in two attempts. Ten different Dukes recorded receptions, paced by Isabella's six. Jermaine Johnson led the team with 60 receiving yards on two grabs, including a career-long 54-yarder, while both he and Alexander had 50-plus yard connections from Riddell.
NOTES
- 18th straight home-opening victory … Dukes have won 26 of the last 27 … now 20-1 in home openers under head coach Jerry Schmitt.
- Six straight wins overall at Rooney Field … improve to 51-12 all-time in non-conference games at Rooney Field (33rd season, opened in 1993).
- Eighth straight full season facing a non-DI opponent … 14 consecutive wins in such games (19-3 overall since joining FCS in 1993).
- 55 points is the second-most points scored in a home opener for the Dukes under Coach Schmitt (since 2005 - 21 seasons) behind a 56-7 win over Virginia Lynchburg to open the 2021 campaign ... Now 13-0 since 2023 when scoring 30+ points … 12-0 since 2023 when leading after the first quarter (led 14-0).
- Tyler Riddell: tied career high with five touchdown passes … all in first half … 239 yards on 15-of-20 passing … matched 2022 touchdown mark at ETSU vs. Samford.
- First career touchdowns: Dazhaun Hopkins (7-yard rush), Ryan Petras (23-yard reception on first career catch, 10-yard rush on first career carry), Daniel Tarabrella (8-yard reception)
- Receivers: Joey Isabella sixth career multi-score game ... B.J. Alexander second straight game with a touchdown … career highs of 57 yards and 51-yard reception … Jermaine Johnson career-long 54-yard catch … Riley Lisgar first career reception … Logan Kushner added 38-yard completion to Omari Hopkins.
- Defense: four sacks (Kurzinger, Ramirez, Patillo, Lance) … first career sacks for Patillo and Lance … 11 tackles for loss led by Avery Morris (career-best 2.0) … six three-and-outs forced … held Lincoln to 23 rushing yards ... Dallas Harper and Jabari Odoemenem with a team-high five tackles each … both with 1.5 TFL … Odoemenem also three QB hurries.
- First career tackles: Deven Thomas (4, 0.5 TFL), Zion Patillo (2, 1 TFL), AJ Forehand (2, 0.5 TFL), Jordan Holmes (1).
- Special teams: Punter Michael Berarducci averaged career-best 51.0 yards (4 punts) … Joey Isabella career-long 29-yard punt return … TJ Jones career-long 47-yard kickoff return … Dukes averaged 9.8 per punt return, 18.7 per kickoff return.
- Duquesne was 2-for-2 on fourth-down conversions ... The Dukes led all of the FCS on fourth downs last year.
- Senior Day: 31 members of the program honored pregame (25 student-athletes, 6 student managers).
- Student-athletes: Taj Butts, Tyson Meiguez, Tyler Riddell, Antonio Epps, Joey Isabella, B.J. Alexander, Noah Canty, Avery Morris, Alex Gochis, Riley Lisgar, Donovan Stanley, Nico Pate, Nathan Keogh, Cole Feldstein, Brian Olan, Connor Lenz, Dom Fusca, Nate Chiarizio, Brian Beidatsch, Jr., Anthony Celletti, Matt Clark, Aaron Gunn, Lamere Byrd, Aiden Lehner, Alex Reese III.
- Student managers: Josh Crawford, Matthew Stine, Olivia Testa, Aleksey Zahn, T.J. Legler, Kacie Garofalo.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCES
Head Coach Jerry Schmitt
WR Ryan Petras
QB Tyler Riddell
UP NEXT
Duquesne will play its first FCS opponent of the season next Saturday hosting No. 11/13 Lehigh at Rooney Field for a noon kickoff. Purchase tickets here.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne football online all season at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqFB).
