Ayden Garnes was playing centerfield tracking down a Mitch Davidson pass to the 10-yard line, the NEC All-Conference cornerback had an interception ready for Duquesne, with teammate Jaelen Carson providing double coverage, but instead Youngstown State’s Bryce Oliver came down with a 45-yard pass.
It was a sign of things to come as Youngstown State came away with a 40-7 victory Saturday night at Stambaugh Stadium in an NEC Playoff First Round contest, ending Duquesne’s season.
“We would have liked to have played a better football game, it wasn’t the way we played or have been used to playing,” Duquesne coach Jerry Schmitt stated. “Some of it was forced because of the things that they did but we didn’t play as well as we could have. There were some great efforts on our football team, we just collectively didn’t put it all together to compete into that second half.”
Youngstown State had several similar splash plays while Duquesne got into a 10-0 hole.
An offsides penalty on the Penguins allowed the Dukes to attempt a fourth down play and Edward Robinson would punch it in a play later, giving Duquesne some hope.
By halftime Duquesne was in a 24-7 hole and outgained 281-87.
A key in determining the result was third down efficiency. Youngstown State was 9-for-15 on third down, whereas Duquesne went 1-for-11.
Often the Penguins made their third-down opportunities routine, finding open receivers for large gains, while Duquesne’s offensive attack was slower to develop.
“Our plan was to get after them on third down, we put those blitzes in and we ran them,” junior linebacker Gianni Rizzo explained. “Their guys made plays, cover one, that stuff happens. They consistently threw the ball deep to Bryce (Oliver)… good job to them they won those one-on-one battles.”
SOME TOUGH BREAKS
The Oliver grab showed that Youngstown State was ready to finish plays and defend its homefield. Duquesne had gone three-and-out in the preceding drive.
Despite having a three-pronged rushing attack, Duquesne was held at bay, with the trio combining for 76 yards. Robinson had four opportunities and punched it in on one of those, but the Dukes were not explosive on the ground with Youngstown State making sure it was there on early down opportunities which forced Duquesne to take it to the air.
“We knew it would be a strain to do it consistently the whole game but we really made a living this season on running the ball efficiently and that’s what we did on that drive, but we put ourselves in situations in other series where we were long yardage downs and didn’t stay ahead of the chains,” Schmitt diagnosed. “When you miss a block or a read against these guys, they’ll make you pay.”
Darius Perrantes missed timing a deep route with Joey Isabella which could have led to an early score and similarly missed, this time under throwing Keshawn Brown. Though the play was called back regardless, Perrantes completed three total passes and did not compete in the fourth quarter.
D.J. Powell was held to one catch, but it was a catch he did not make which drew his ire.
Duquesne had just made a defensive stop as Youngstown State unsuccessfully tried to go no huddle on the one-yard line.
The Dukes started up shop on the half yard line and Perrantes found Powell on a timing route by the Duquesne sideline. Powell was convinced he had made a catch and encouraged Schmitt to challenge as the latter tried to calm him down.
Ultimately the official looked at the play for a considerable period of time and ruled it an incomplete pass.
“Before they made a decision, the official said it hit the ground right before it went into his hands,” Schmitt stated.
For his part, Perrantes was wearing a boot during Wednesday’s media availability and fought through injury all season and appeared devastated coming off the field when the gun expired, and the cannon fired one last time.
Perrantes’s last play came on a 3rd-and-8 in the third quarter when he rushed for no game and was tackled by Alex Howard. Matt Robinson played for the remainer of the contest.
“It was probably more injury related,” said Schmitt. “Darius was struggling a little bit with injury throughout the game and I think that last hit that he took when he scrambled, he was not able to go back where he could function and throw the football, so we said we would go with Matt.”
TAKEAWAYS
Though the season did not end the way Duquesne desired, there still was plenty to take away from it. Afterall, the Dukes competed in the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2018 and the determination for one common goal could made Duquesne desirable during Signing Days and the transfer portal.
“Learned from how (our leaders) led this team,” Schmitt said. “We will take what they have given us and continue to move forward with it. This team learned how to overcome adversity and we will use that to continue on.”
Already on social media, Garnes announced his intention to transfer with two remaining years of eligibility and his conference-recognized skills will have to be replaced either by a returning or incoming player.
Graduate student linebacker Michael Dorundo lives 30 minutes from Duquesne and put a bow on the season expressing how happy he was with how the season went.
“Obviously not the outcome we wanted, but we made the playoffs and there will be 23 teams that don’t win that championship,” concluded Dorundo. “I was really happy for everyone in this program all of the work they put in and earning the championship last week… (It’s) really cool to put on for a city. Good to live up to those expectations.”
