PITTSBURGH – In an intense Saturday matchup, Damarius Perrantes threw for two touchdowns, while JaMario Clements showcased his running prowess with two touchdown runs in the final quarter, leading Duquesne to a 31-24 victory against Mercyhurst. This win propelled the Dukes into a tie for the top spot in the Northeast Conference.
The game began with Duquesne trailing 10-7 at halftime. However, they quickly reversed their fortunes thanks to a remarkable 64-yard touchdown pass from Perrantes to Joey Isabella, giving the Dukes a 14-10 advantage in the third quarter. Mercyhurst responded with Adam Urena connecting on a 24-yard touchdown throw to Rylan Davison, which shifted the lead back to the Lakers. A field goal from Duquesne then leveled the score at 17 as the teams prepared to enter the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, Clements found the end zone on an 8-yard run, elevating Duquesne’s score to 24-17. He followed this up with an explosive 86-yard touchdown run that secured a more comfortable 31-17 lead for the Dukes later in the quarter. Although Mercyhurst managed to score again with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Urena to Cameron Barmore, narrowing the gap to 31-24, Duquesne effectively sealed the win by recovering the subsequent onside kick and running down the clock in the final minutes.
With this victory, Duquesne improved to a record of 6-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play, placing them in a tie with Robert Morris for first place in the NEC standings. It is noteworthy that Duquesne’s sixth consecutive win marks the team’s longest winning streak since they achieved the same feat in 2018.
Perrantes demonstrated efficiency, completing 13 passes out of 25 attempts for a total of 247 yards. Clements also had an impressive game, rushing for 177 yards on 15 carries. Isabella contributed significantly with four receptions totaling 124 yards. For Mercyhurst, Urena had a standout performance, throwing three touchdown passes and completing 38 of 52 attempts for 345 yards. Additionally, Davison delivered a remarkable performance with 14 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns, though it was not enough to secure a win for the Lakers, who now have a record of 2-7 and are 0-3 in conference play.