Davidson’s Record Day Not Enough, Dukes Win 6th Straight
PITTSBURGH -- “Really good football teams overcome adversity.”
This was the rallying message for Duquesne University, preached at halftime by Head Coach Jerry Schmitt, en route to the team’s comeback and sixth straight win.
Duquesne (6-2) defeated NEC opponent Mercyhurst University (2-7) in a transitional period non-conference match on Saturday afternoon 31-24 at Arthur J. Rooney Field in Pittsburgh.
Adversity, for the Dukes, came in the form of Rylan Davidson, who set a Mercyhurst all-time single-game receptions record and a new NEC season-high single-game receptions benchmark with 14. Davidson produced 152 receiving yards, with 95 coming after the catch, and broke into the endzone twice during the contest.
Mercyhurst quarterback Adam Urena completed 38 of 52 passes for 345 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, including completing 6 of 8 passes for 63 yards on a 69-yard touchdown drive to open the contest and give the Lakers a 7-0 lead. Mercyhurst continued to nurse a 10-7 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Duquesne offense caught fire behind 5-foot-9 receiver Joey Isabella, who brought in two catches for 111 yards and a touchdown in the frame. On the second of the two 45+ yard receptions, Isabella battled off a defender holding his arm to secure the grab.
“My arm was definitely stuck,” said Isabella postgame. “It is what it is. The opportunity came my way. I got my left hand free so I was able to use [it].”
“There was a lot of juice on the sideline,” said Coach Schmitt about Isabella’s catches. “I think that it helped everybody get going.”
Isabella finished with four catches for a career-high 124 yards and his scores marked his fifth straight game scoring a touchdown.
The Dukes carried the momentum into the fourth quarter, where they shifted to relying on Redshirt Junior running back JaMario Clements. The Duquesne back took four carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the quarter, including an 86-yard rush, which marked the longest rush in recorded Duquesne history. On the carry, Clements broke out of the box and used a lead block from quarterback Darius Perrantes to reverse down the sideline and score.
“We love the energy and effort,” emphasized Coach Schmitt after seeing his quarterback blocking downfield. “He’s a winner and a competitor. He wants to do whatever it takes.”
Perrantes finished with 247 yards on 13-for-25 passing, two touchdowns and an interception. The scores marked his 19th career multi-touchdown game.
The Clements touchdown was set up following a Ty Howard red zone interception following a tipped Urena pass as Mercyhurst was driving to tie the game with under 10 minutes remaining.
“It was amazing,” said Howard about the interception. “Right after that, I see my teammate [Clements] score a touchdown. It was a beautiful moment. That connection [we have], I told him ‘That’s what we do.’ We were fired up.”
The interception was Howard’s second of the season and marks the third straight game he has had a takeaway.
Relying on a strong second-half effort, Duquesne scored points on four of its final five drives of the game (excluding kneel-downs) to cement its win. The Dukes’ defense also held Davidson without a catch in the fourth quarter. The defense was anchored by CJ Barnes, who had a career-high 13 tackles, and Jack Dunkley, who had a career-high 1.5 sacks.
Mercyhurst will face Lincoln University at home in Saxon Stadium on Saturday at 11 a.m. for its senior recognition game.
Duquesne will remain at home to face Robert Morris University next Saturday at 12 p.m. Both teams will enter the contest undefeated in NEC play.
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