LORETTO, Pa. — In an impressive display of football, Ty Howard made a significant impact for Duquesne by returning an interception 40 yards to kick off the scoring in their contest against St. Francis (PA) on Saturday.

Darius Perrantes also showcased his skills by throwing two touchdown passes, leading the defending Northeast Conference champions to a decisive 38-7 victory. The Dukes, now with a record of 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play, maintained a strong hold on the game, finishing the first half with a 17-0 lead.

After the Red Flash, now standing at 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference, managed to score early in the third quarter, Perrantes quickly ensured the outcome was never in doubt. He connected with Steven Mahar Jr. for a 12-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter, extending the lead further. To cap off the scoring, Perrantes also found Joey Isabella for a 22-yard touchdown early in the final quarter.

Defensively, the Dukes continued to shine. Malichi Lowery rounded out the scoring frenzy for Duquesne by recovering a fumble and returning it for a touchdown in the closing moments of the game. For the day, Perrantes had a solid performance, completing 15 of 30 attempts for 185 yards. In addition, JaMario Clements made a notable contribution on the ground, rushing for 87 yards and finding the end zone once.

On the opposite side, Adrian Mejia struggled in the passing game for the Red Flash, managing only 13 passing yards. St. Francis’ rushing game faltered significantly, amassing a mere 29 yards on 29 carries, while Mejia was sacked four times throughout the contest.

Overall, the Dukes demonstrated their prowess in both offense and defense, solidifying their position as contenders in the Northeast Conference.