Despite leading in time of possession (36:22-21:18) and total yards (364-171), Duquesne fell to Hawaii, 24-14, on Saturday night at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Two huge special team plays and a Penei Pavihi 47-yard pick-six were the difference in the game. Duquesne dropped to 1-3 with the loss, while Hawaii captured its first win of the season. It also marked the first win of the Timmy Chang era.
Dukes’ quarterback Joe Mischler had a rough outing, completing 16 of 29 passes for 133 yards (4.6 average) with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Hawaii’s quarterback Joey Yellen wasn’t much better, completing 13 of 20 passes for 86 yards (4.3 average) with no touchdowns and one interception.
Dedrick Parson led the Rainbow Warriors in rushing with 58 yards on 11 carries (5.3 average) and two touchdowns, while Billy Lucas led the Dukes with 70 yards on 18 carries (3.9 average).
Duquesne’s leading receiver was Dwayne Menders, who caught six passes for 62 yards (10.3 average) and a touchdown. Dior Scott led Hawaii with seven receptions for 53 yards (5.6 average).
Duquesne struck first on its opening possession with a 26-yard field goal by Brian Bruzdewicz. It was a 14-play, 56-yard drive by the Dukes that took 7:37 off the clock.
Jalen Perdue returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to the Duquesne 35-yard line. Six plays later, Parson rushed for a 5-yard touchdown to put Hawaii up 7-3 with 4:20 left in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Michael Berarducci got his punt blocked by Kaulana Makaula, and Hugh Nelson II returned the ball 11 yards to the Duquesne 14-yard line. The Rainbow Warriors took advantage of the great field position, and Parson rushed for a 17-yard touchdown to give Hawaii a 14-3 advantage. Both of Hawaii’s touchdowns in the first half were set up by big special team plays.
Following a second consecutive three-and-out, the Dukes were given new life after a roughing the punter penalty on Hawaii. Duquesne didn’t capitalize off the new set of downs, however, and punted after another three-and-out.
Hawaii traveled 59 yards on 13 plays to set Matthew Shipley up for a 35-yard field goal attempt, but it got blocked by Jaelen Carson.
Backup quarterback Darius Perrantes led the Dukes into Hawaii territory, and Bruzdewicz capped the drive with a 30-yard field goal to cut the Rainbow Warriors’ lead to 14-6 at halftime. Mischler was injured but returned.
The Dukes opened the second half with a 16-play, 72-yard drive, but the promising possession came to a halt at Hawaii’s 3-yard line, as Mischler got picked off in the end zone. Yellen got his pass intercepted on the very next play and the Dukes took over from Hawaii’s 35-yard line.
Once again, the Dukes didn’t do much offensively and were left with no points on the drive, as Bruzdewicz’s 43-yard field goal attempt went wide left. At the 4:02 mark, Hawaii ran just one offensive play in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Pavihi picked off Mischler’s ill-advised pass and returned it for a 47-yard touchdown to give the Rainbow Warriors a 21-6 lead. Mischler was benched for the rest of the game following the pick-six
Hawaii added to its lead with a Shipley 29-yard field goal. Perrantes found Menders for a 29-yard touchdown, but a late comeback was not in the cards for the Dukes.
Following the bye week, the Dukes will play Stonehill in North Easton, Mass. on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff is at 12 p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN 3.
