Duquesne Makes it 5 in a Row: Now We Wait
In a high-octane performance led by quarterback Darius Perrantes, Duquesne University football extended its winning streak to five games with a 48-34 triumph over Stonehill. Perrantes, at the helm of an unstoppable offense, achieved a career-high 412 yards passing and tossed five touchdowns as the Dukes powered through their third consecutive Northeast Conference win.
The Dukes (5-2) surged ahead early, building a commanding 21-0 lead by the second quarter, which ballooned to a 31-6 halftime advantage. Perrantes’ precision was on full display as he connected with multiple receivers, including standout John Erby, who set career-highs with 138 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions. Joey Isabella, who extended his touchdown streak to four games, Jermaine Johnson, and Shawn Solomon, Jr. all added scores to contribute to Duquesne’s dominant aerial attack.
From the opening drive, Duquesne established control, marching 91 yards in 15 plays to open the scoring with a three-yard rush from JeMario Clements. Clements, the NEC's leading rusher, crossed the 100-yard mark for the third time this season, finishing with 108 yards on 20 carries. The offensive onslaught continued with back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter, as Perrantes connected with Solomon on a 36-yard strike and Isabella on a 12-yard pass to give Duquesne a comfortable 21-0 lead.
Despite a late push from Stonehill, Duquesne’s defense stepped up. Junior Ty Howard was instrumental, recording nine tackles and recovering a fumble, while sophomore Luke Miller forced a key fumble and contributed two tackles for loss. Miller’s forced fumble in the second quarter set up a quick scoring opportunity for the Dukes, and Perrantes wasted no time, finding Solomon for his first career touchdown.
Stonehill's offense, led by Jack O'Connell, did its best to rally in the second half. O'Connell threw for a career-high four touchdowns, including a 52-yard strike to Brigham Dunphy, who also notched a personal best 152 receiving yards. Stonehill cut into Duquesne’s lead late in the game with two touchdowns in the final minutes, but it was too little, too late.
The Dukes’ offensive line provided stellar protection for Perrantes, allowing zero sacks for the third straight game and enabling Duquesne to convert an impressive 9-of-11 third-down attempts. The team finished with 555 yards of total offense, the highest of the season.
With the win, Duquesne not only remained unbeaten in NEC play but also avenged last season’s conference loss to Stonehill. The Dukes’ defense, which featured 15 players recording multiple tackles, kept the Skyhawks in check for much of the game, despite Stonehill outscoring Duquesne 28-17 in the second half.
As Duquesne continues its dominant run through conference play, they will look to build on this momentum with crucial matchups ahead. For now, Perrantes and the Dukes have cemented their place atop the NEC standings with another electrifying performance, demonstrating that they are a force to be reckoned with as the season progresses. Duquesne has been unbeaten in FCS play all season, one of only a handful of teams able to make that claim. Despite this, the Dukes have yet to be ranked. So now, we wait.
