April 20, 2008

The "home" team prevailed on Sunday afternoon as Duquesne's annual Red/Blue football game finished with a 9-7 score at Pine-Richland High School.

The teams were divided with the "home" team featuring the first team offense and second string defense and the "visitors" boasting the first team defense and second team offense. All offensive players wore blue uniforms for both teams and the defenses of both teams were donned in white.

The visiting team, which was led by freshman quarterback Sean Patterson (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit), took the opening drive the length of the field and used 12 minutes off the clock, but senior Mark Troyan's (Ford City, Pa./Ford City) 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked by sophomore defensive back Cortez Newsome (District Heights, Md./Suitland) to halt the scoring chance.

"Both offenses moved the ball well between the 20's in the first half," said head coach Jerry Schmitt. "But the defenses tightened up in the red zone."

After a scoreless first half, the scoring opened as junior Kevin Rombach (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) connected with senior Alex Roberson (Waynesboro, Ga./Curtis Baptist Upper School) on a six-yard fade pattern mid-way through the second half to give "home" a 6-0 lead. The drive though, began at the "visiting" team's four-yard line in a simulated goal-line drill. Troyan connected on the point after touchdown for a 7-0 advantage.

After keeping the visitors from scoring on the next possession, home began its next drive from its own two yard line. On the fifth play of the drive, Newsome, of the visitors, scored the only other touchdown of the day off of a pitch from freshman Brett Hampton (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos) who hauled in a Rombach interception at the 30-yard line with 1:05 remaining to make it 7-7.

The visitors had one last chance to score, but a bad snap in the end zone led to a "home" safety as the game came to an end.

The first and second string defenses both had strong showings as there were a combined five sacks, five interceptions and several pass break-ups.

"I feel that both sides played hard and with excitement," said Schmitt. "Overall it was a success, we got a lot accomplished today".

Duquesne, which returns 14 starters from last year's 6-4 MAAC co-championship squad, opens the 2008 season on Sept. 6 at Bucknell.