Delaware uses second half to pull away from Duquesne, 43-17

Updated Oct. 7, 2023 7:25 p.m. ET

Associated Press

NEWARK, Del. (AP) — Ryan O'Connor threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns and FCS No. 10 Delaware beat Duquesne 43-17 on Saturday.

The Dukes took the upper hand holding Delaware (4-1) to a three-play, minus-6 yard drive on their opening possession. On the third play of their drive, Darius Perrantes threw a 52-yard touchdown to Darryl Powell Jr. for 7-0 Duquesne lead. The Blue Hens countered on their following drive when Marcus Yarns ran it in from the 1 to close an eight-play, 57-yard drive. Yarns ran it in for the 2-point conversion to make it 8-7.

Down 15-10 with a little more than seven minutes before halftime, Duquesne's Edward Robinson ran for a 68-yard score for a 17-15 lead. Before the break, Duquesne did itself in giving Delaware a short field following Michael Berarducci's 15-yard punt on fourth-and-21 from its own 9. Yarns ran it in from the 1 and a 22-17 lead that was never challenged again.

Delaware held Duquesne to three punts and picked off the Dukes twice in the second half.

O' Connor had scoring passes of 57, 34, 12 and 7 yards, three of which occurred after halftime.

Robinson ran for 86 yards on eight carries for the Dukes (2-3). ___

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