Duquesne Overwhelms In-State Rival Red Flash, 38-7
In a hard-fought matchup between in-state rivals, Duquesne University powered past Saint Francis University with a dominant 38-7 victory in Loretto, PA. The game, marked by a suffocating defensive performance from Duquesne and a series of missed opportunities for Saint Francis, saw both teams battle through critical moments before the Dukes took control.
Saint Francis opened the game aggressively, marching down to the Duquesne two-yard line on their first possession. However, Duquesne's defense stood firm, stopping the Red Flash on four consecutive plays, including a crucial tackle for loss on fourth-and-goal. This early defensive stand set the tone for the rest of the game, as Duquesne continued to impose its will, denying Saint Francis any chance of converting on third down throughout the contest.
Duquesne's defense was instrumental in securing the victory, allowing just 29 rushing yards and forcing key turnovers. Ty Howard delivered the first major blow with a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter, giving the Dukes a 7-0 lead. Later, Malichi Lowery capped the defensive dominance by forcing and recovering a fumble, which he returned 40 yards for another touchdown in the final seconds, sealing the 38-7 result.
Saint Francis had moments of promise, including a drive set up by a muffed Duquesne punt in the third quarter. This error led to their only score, a 14-yard touchdown reception by Gavin Thomson, which briefly cut the deficit to 17-7. Despite this glimmer of hope, the Red Flash struggled to sustain offensive momentum. Quarterback Adrian Mejia completed 12 of 21 passes for 113 yards, but the relentless Duquesne defence kept him and the rest of the Saint Francis offence largely in check.
Offensively, Duquesne showcased a balanced attack led by quarterback Darius Perrantes, who threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Graduate receiver Joey Isabella played a pivotal role, hauling in six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. His 22-yard grab early in the fourth quarter stretched Duquesne’s lead to 31-7, further dampening any hopes of a Saint Francis comeback.
Saint Francis had strong individual performances on defence as well. Geno Calgaro led the Red Flash with nine tackles, while Aidan Cirulli impressed with his punting, averaging 49.4 yards per punt, including a booming 68-yarder that tied for the fifth-longest in program history.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Saint Francis fought hard and showed flashes of resilience, particularly in their special teams play. However, Duquesne’s combination of opportunistic defence and efficient offence ultimately proved too much to overcome. The Red Flash will look to bounce back in their next conference game, while Duquesne moves to 2-0 in NEC play and continues to build on their strong start to the season. The Dukes have received votes and despite not losing a game to FCS competition are still unranked.
This win marks the Dukes' largest margin of victory over Saint Francis as Northeast Conference members and extends their winning streak to four games. For Saint Francis, the focus now shifts to regrouping as they prepare for their road game against Wagner, aiming to secure their first conference win after a big start to the season with a Week 2 upset of FBS Kent State.
