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Limits Marist to 66 total yards

Sunday, September 22, 2002

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

What was billed as a potential threat to Duquesne's dominance of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference turned into another in a growing series of showcase performances for the Dukes.

	Duquesne wide receiver Matt Mrdjenovich celebrates after catching a 44-yard touchdown pass against Marist yesterday. (John Heller, Post-Gazette)

Marist was no match.

Duquesne's defense pitched a shutout that was nearly a perfect game and the offense took care of business in a 36-0 victory against the visiting Red Foxes yesterday at Rooney Field.

The victory was Duquesne's 18th consecutive against MAAC opponents and provided further evidence that the Dukes are on their way to a fourth consecutive league title. Ranked No. 2 in the I-AA Mid-Major Sports Network poll, Duquesne is 3-0 and 1-0 in the MAAC.

Duquesne did a number on Marist, which came to town with some gaudy statistics: 33 points and 340 yards rushing per game while allowing 8.5 yards rushing. The fourth-ranked Red Foxes (2-1, 1-1) left with red faces and a bruised and battered ego.

Marist didn't get a first down until 9:21 of the third quarter and finished with five first downs and 66 yards on 49 plays from scrimmage. That comes out to about 40 inches per snap. Duquesne stuffed Marist's ground attack, limiting the Red Foxes to 17 yards on 27 rushes.

"We take a lot of pride in our run defense," Duquesne Coach Greg Gattuso said. "Our defense had a lot of heart. They play hard. We're really athletic on defense."

Basically, the Dukes stuck to the fundamentals with the front four suffocating Marist's offense.

"Not one blitz," Gattuso said. "We kept it very basic. They take it personal, a great challenge when you try to run against them."

Gattuso mixed things up on offense, lining up without a huddle to keep Marist from getting set.

"They're a very aggressive, blitzing defense," Gattuso said. "We wanted to get them out of the blitz and were kind of winging it out there."

Quarterback Niel Loebig, who played only the first series against Siena last week after aggravating a shoulder injury, picked the Red Foxes apart with quick passes. When Marist's beleaguered backs crept closer to the line to take away the short passes, Loebig threw deep and let his taller and stronger receivers duel Marist's defensive backs for the ball.

Loebig, a redshirt sophomore from South Fayette, completed 20 of 39 passes for 257 yards and touchdown passes of 44 yards to Matt Mrdjenovich and 5 yards to Yardon Brantley.

Brantley had seven catches for 73 yards and Jeremy Conley six for 84 yards. Duquesne's offense moved the ball effectively behind Loebig's passing, and Mike Hilliard's 114 yards rushing that included touchdown runs of 10 and 14 yards. The Dukes had 27 first downs and 460 yards.

"Niel was in control so much," Gattuso said. "He had good command of what was going on out there and what we wanted to do."

Brantley's touchdown reception on third down came four seconds before halftime to build Duquesne's lead to 17-0. The Dukes played beat the clock in the final two minutes, with Loebig's 15-yard run to the 5 the big play.

"We needed a touchdown. Even a field goal there would not do it," Gattuso said. "That was the most crucial play of the game. It gave us something to feel good about and changed Marist's thinking."

Until that score, Marist was down by only nine points despite being outplayed dramatically on both sides of the ball.

"We never gave them a chance to come back," Gattuso said. "The defense was unbelievable."

It forced Marist to punt 11 times and allow Duquesne's Randy Vulakovich to set a school record with eight returns.