The Battlers (4-1) opened the scoring with a 40-yard field goal by Jordan Butler less than five minutes into the game. However, less than a minute later, on the first play after receiving the kickoff, Wayne Capers put the Dukes (4-2) on the scoreboard with a 65-yard run, putting them up 7-3 after the successful point after kick by Austin Crimmins.
The Dukes would hold the Battlers scoreless until quarterback Wilson Vaughn connected with Darius Frederick for a 48-yard touchdown pass with 10:07 remaining in the game. The Dukes led 43-12 after a failed point after attempt.
Duke’s quarterback Dillion Buechel had a career-best five touchdown passes making him the first Dukes quarterback to do so since 2010. In three of those passes Buechel connected with senior wide receiver Chris King. The first coming in the first three seconds of the second half for a 8-yard touchdown pass increasing the Duke’s lead 13-6 after a failed point after attempt.
Midway through the second quarter King grabbed another Buechel pass from 33 yards for another Duke’s score making the score 20-6. With 6:31 left in the third quarter Buechel hit King for 21-yard pass resulting in another Duquesne touchdown, putting them up 36-6.
The Battler’s last score of the game came when Marcus Anderson returned a kickoff for a 100-yard run with 2:10 remaining in the game making the score 46-18 after a failed point after attempt.
Not to be shown-up by a successful kickoff return Nehari Crawford returned the Battler’s kickoff for a 100-yard return with 1″57 remaining making the final score of the game 53-18.
The Duke’s 53 points were the most scored since 2005.
Duquesne’s head coach Jerry Schmitt said, “He knows our offense inside and out and he knows when he makes mistakes. I talked to him at halftime and his response was so mature,” commenting on Buechel’s record-setting performance.
Duquesne crowned its new Homecoming King and Queen during halftime. Aaron Bordley was crowned King and Abbie Ruppel the 2015 Queen. Both are business majors.
Leading the Duke’s rushing game with 86 yards on 9 carries and 1 touchdown was Rafiq Douglas. For the Battlers Brandon Jones picked up 77 yards on 18 carries.
