The Duquesne Dukes dropped their first NEC game on Saturday, falling to a previously winless Central Connecticut State team, 38-31. The Blue Devils jumped out to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter, and the Dukes would never quite recover to get a lead.
Duquesne pulled even at 17-17 with five minutes to go in the third quarter, but then energy expended fighting back from the early hole would undo them over the final 20 minutes of the game. Central Connecticut pounded the ball on the ground with running back Rob Hollomon, grinding out the game in the fourth quarter. Hollomon rushed it 23 times for 164 yards, setting a new career-high against the Dukes defense.. He broke off a 29-yard run with a little over eight minutes remaining for his first touchdown of the game. The score would prove to be the game-winner for the Blue Devils, as they held on for the seven-point upset.
The early deficit forced Duquesne to play much of the game through the air, and quarterback Sean Patterson responded with a big second half. He connected with Sean Brady on a 29-yard score with a little over six minutes remaining, but the offense would be unable to get one more to even things up. Patterson fired three touchdown passes in the second half, and finished with 248 yards in the air.
At 4-2 on the season, Duquesne will now return home and host Sacred Heart next week at Rooney Field.