PITTSBURGH, Pa. — In a highly anticipated matchup for the top position in the Northeast Conference, Darius Perrantes showcased his skills by tossing four touchdown passes, three of which were caught by John Erby, leading Duquesne to a decisive 31-6 victory over Robert Morris on Saturday.

With this win, the Dukes improved their record to 7-2 and maintained an impressive 5-0 within the conference, seizing sole possession of first place. Meanwhile, Robert Morris fell to 6-4 and 4-1 in conference play, now sharing second place with Central Connecticut. Duquesne’s triumph also marked their seventh consecutive victory.

Perrantes demonstrated impressive throwing accuracy in the first half, landing touchdown passes of 13, 45, and 18 yards to Erby, which propelled the Dukes to a commanding 21-0 lead by halftime. In the final quarter, Perrantes connected with Joey Isabella on a 44-yard touchdown pass to further extend their lead.

Although the Colonials were riding a wave of momentum from two consecutive shutouts, they faced the threat of being shut out themselves until Delvecchio Powell II broke through with a 10-yard run for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Perrantes completed 14 of 26 attempts, accumulating 231 passing yards. Erby was a standout receiver, making six catches for a total of 126 yards, while JaMario Clements contributed significantly in the ground game with 105 rushing yards.

On the other side, Colonials quarterback Anthony Chiccitt managed to complete 10 of his 22 passes for 122 yards but also threw an interception, complicating their efforts.

This contest marked the first meeting between these traditional NEC rivals since 2019, with Robert Morris having briefly departed the conference before making its return this season.