Duquesne builds 31-7 halftime lead, holds off second-half St. Francis (Pa.) comeback, 38-35

Updated Oct. 21, 2023 4:55 p.m. ET

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Taj Butts punched in a short run for a touchdown in opening minutes of the fourth quarter and Duquesne survived a furious comeback by St. Francis (Pa.) to earn a 38-35 Northeast Conference win on Saturday.

Down 38-14 with under 12 minutes left in the game, the Red Flash scored three touchdowns, including Trey McLeer's 40-yard return of a blocked Duquesne punt and Cole Doyle's short pass to Jayden Ivory with 57 seconds left to cut the deficit to 38-35. After recovering an onsides kick, St. Francis drove to set up a last-second 45-yard field goal attempt by Macrae Plummer, but he could not convert as time expired.

Darius Perrantes threw three first-half touchdowns, including a 69-yard touchdown to Joey Isabella, and Tim Lowery added a 15-yard scoop-and-score as time ran out in the second quarter to stake Duquesne to a 31-7 lead at intermission.

Perrantes finished 13 of 24 for 227 yards with an interception. Isabella caught four passes for 116 yards and JaMario Clements had 14 carries for 88 yards to lead Duquesne (4-3, 3-0), which remains the only undefeated team in the NEC.

Mercury Swaim picked off a Perrantes pass in the end zone early in the third quarter to end a Duquesne threat and Jordan Jackson scored on the final play of the third quarter to get St. Francis within 31-14. Mason Imbt scored his second touchdown of the game midway through the fourth to make it 38-21.

Doyle was 15 of 27 for 204 yards, a touchdown and an interception and ran for another 86 yards on a dozen carries to lead St. Francis (2-5, 2-2). Imbt finished with two yards on two carries, both for touchdowns.

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