PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Duquesne Dukes erupted for 28 points in the first quarter and never looked back, delivering a dominant 52-7 victory over the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash in a non-conference football game Saturday at Forbes Field.

The Dukes’ offense was firing on all cylinders from the opening kickoff, while their defense suffocated the Red Flash, holding them scoreless until a late fourth-quarter touchdown. The win elevates Duquesne’s season record to 3-3, while Saint Francis remains winless at 0-5.

The tone was set on the game’s very first play. After Saint Francis kicked off, Duquesne’s Joel Kpassou fielded the ball at his own 6-yard line, found a seam and raced 94 yards for a touchdown. The electrifying return immediately put the Red Flash in a hole they would never escape.

Duquesne’s offense, led by quarterback Tyler Riddell, quickly took over. Riddell, a Tampa, Florida native, connected on a 57-yard touchdown pass to Joey Isabella of Mayfield, Ohio, later in the first quarter. He then found Ryan Petras of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, for a 12-yard score and Jermaine Johnson of Washington, D.C., for a 21-yard strike, capping a staggering first-quarter outburst that put the Dukes ahead 28-0.

The onslaught continued in the second quarter. Kicker Matt Marcinko of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, converted a 32-yard field goal, and Riddell tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the half, a 7-yard connection with B.J. Alexander of Miami Gardens, Florida, to send the Dukes into halftime with a commanding 45-0 lead.

Riddell finished his day 12-for-24 for 185 yards and the four touchdowns. Isabella was his top deep threat, hauling in two passes for 63 yards and the long score.

The Dukes’ defense was equally impressive, consistently pressuring Saint Francis quarterbacks. Linebacker Tyson Meiguez of Fairburn, Georgia, recorded a sack, and cornerback TJ Jones of Melbourne, Florida, snagged an interception to halt a Red Flash drive. The unit held Saint Francis to just 58 passing yards from starter Nick Whitfield Jr. of Fredonia, New York, who completed 11 of 20 attempts.

Duquesne added another touchdown in the third quarter as backup quarterback Logan Kushner of Pittsburgh entered the game and found fellow Pittsburgher Alex Gochis for a 17-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 52-0.

Saint Francis finally broke through on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Jeff Hoenstine orchestrated a drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown pass to Payton Wehner of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, avoiding the shutout.

The Red Flash offense struggled to find consistency all afternoon. Running back Raph Ekechi of Tampa, Florida, was a bright spot, rushing for 29 yards and adding 10 receiving yards. Jahmil Perryman of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, provided a spark in the return game, amassing 115 yards on five kickoff returns.

For Duquesne, the running game was balanced, with Dazhaun Hopkins of Norristown, Pennsylvania, leading the way with 52 yards on 11 carries.

The lopsided result far exceeded the projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 36-29 Duquesne victory and whose ELO system gave the Dukes a 91.5 percent probability to win.

Duquesne looks to build on this momentum when they travel to face Mercyhurst on Oct. 18. Saint Francis (PA) has a bye week before returning home to host Robert Morris on Oct. 25.