Pittsburgh, PA — Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt helped guide his Dukes to their 14th straight home opener win in front of a large homecoming crowd. The Dukes wanted to put on a show for the fans, and they did just that with a dominating 56-7 blowout win over Virginia-Lynchburg to improve their record to 2-1.
Fresh off a bye week, and a win over an FBS program, the Dukes were set to avoid a letdown, but an early fumble on the opening kick-off followed by an interception on the first pass had a tense feeling. However, the Duquesne defense held on the opening drive, and two penalties put VA-Lynchburg out of field goal range.
The Dragons gaffs seemed to ease Duquesne and they promptly rebounded with a long scoring drive in which they rode Garrett Owens, and saw Billy Lucas cap off a touchdown drive.
Billy Lucas gets the Dukes on the board with a 10-yd. rushing score! Bruzdewicz's XP is good off the Thomas snap & the Dieter hold.
Then, leading 10-0, the game seemed to unravel. Spencer DeMedal was in the right place and capitalized on an over-throw on an out-route. DeMedal was closing on the route, and the ball came to him with a clear path and momentum towards the end zone. The 29-yard pick-six gave the Dukes a 17-0 lead, and from there it looked like the Dragons were going to have a hard time getting back into the game.
Duquesne forced a three-and-out on the next possession but did not even need three plays to score on their ensuing drive. Owens ripped off a 55-yard run down the sidelines in which he stepped over would-be defenders on his way to the end-zone to extend the lead to 24-0.
Garrett Owens breaks off the 55-yd. touchdown run!
Billy Lucas added his second rushing touchdown, and JeMario Clements gave the team four rushing touchdowns in the first half. Carrying a 38-0 lead into the half, head coach Jerry Schmitt was able to rest some of his starters, and get a long look at the youth and depth on the roster.
VA-Lynchburg could not get out of their own way, and a bad snap led to a safety. Still, the Dukes were able to capitalize on that as well as they churned out a field goal drive on the ensuing punt to extend the lead to 43-0. Up 46-0, the Dukes salted the game away with a drive that went over eight minutes and ended with a field goal to push the lead to a clean seven touchdowns.
VA-Lynchburg put up a touchdown with three minutes to go, but Duquesne promptly answered when Joey Corado housed a 65-yard catch and run with one minute to go to make the final score 56-7.
With two tough tests to open the season followed by a soft landing spot for their home opener, Duquense is now set to open the true meat of their schedule. They open up conference play next week with a road trip to Merrimack.
