Dukes Comeback Effort Falls Short Versus Albany, 38-31
Nov. 10, 2012
Duquesne allowed a season-high 309 yards rushing, including 221 in the first half as visiting Albany defeated the Dukes, 35-24 Saturday at Rooney Field. The loss dropped DU to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the Northeast Conference. Albany improved to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the NEC, placing them in a tie with Wagner for first place in the conference with one game remaining for each team. It was a tale of two halves as Albany controlled play for the majority of the first half and Duquesne controlled the tempo for most of the second half. After receiving the opening kick, Duquesne went three and out as Albany took over at its own 24, following a Charlie Leventry 45 yard punt. The Great Danes set the tone for the first half by marching 76 on 14 plays as Drew Smith ran it in from one yard out. Sean Kenny's point after attempt was good and UA had a 7-0 lead they would never relinquish. The Dukes moved the ball to the Albany 37 on its second possession before Sean Patterson's pass attempt on third and six was intercepted, ending the drive. The teams exchanged punts on the next two possessions before Omar Osbourne scampered into the end zone from three yards out 57 seconds into the second quarter, capping a seven play, 64 yard drive which took just 1:59. Duquesne cut the deficit in half on its next possession as Larry McCoy plunged for paydirt from the two yard line. Leventry connected on the PAT for a 14-7 score. The touchdown was set up by a 38-yard pass from Patterson to Gianni Carter to the two yard line. The Danes and Dukes exchanged punts again before Albany scored on its next three possessions without a Duquesne answer to end the first half. Kevin Chillis scored on a 34-yard run with 7:30 left in the half, quarterback Will Fiacchi ran one in from 10 yards out with 2:12 remaining and Fiacchi connected with Cole King on a 23-yard score with just six ticks left in the half for a 35-7 lead. Momentum shifted in the second stanza as DU's Charles Lipp blocked a Paul Layton punt, which was recovered by Rich Piekarski at the Albany 22. On the ensuing play, Patterson found Carter for a 22-yard touchdown strike, which turned out to be the only scoring play of the quarter. Leventry was successful on a 26-yard field goal try with 12:54 remaining to make the score, 35-17. The Dukes were then successful on an on-side kick, taking over at their own 46 yard line. Eight plays later, Patterson ran in from the four yard line to make it a two possession game at 35-24 with 10:29 on the clock. After a pair of punts, Albany made it a two touchdown game as Kenny hit a 30 yard field goal, taking 5:29 off the clock and leaving the Dukes with just 2:12 left and no timeouts. On the Dukes possession, a pass and catch of 51 yards from Patterson to McCoy took the ball to the Albany 19. Four plays later, Patterson hit Sean Brady with a 10-yard touchdown strike to make it 38-31 with 11 seconds remaining. The ensuing on-side kick was unsuccessful. Four different Danes scored touchdowns on the ground, led by Smith who had 143 yards on 25 carries and a score. Fiacchi threw for one score and ran for another. Patterson and McCoy scored on the ground for DU while Brady and Carter scored through the air. Horvin Latimer was the games top tackler with 11 stops (7 solo), Chris Wilk led UA with seven stops, all solo. Duquesne wraps up the 2012 campaign as it travels to conference co-leader Wagner (6-3, 6-1) on Saturday, Nov. 17. Scoring by Quarters
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