LIU falls just short in 34-28 loss to Duquesne
Duquesne Dukes defensive lineman Kevin Kurzinger (97) tackles LIU's Camden Orth during the second half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Credit: Corey Sipkin
The thing about growth is that pain is involved.
No one, no entity can mature without adversity.
Which is why, even though the Long Island University Sharks’ 34-28 loss to the Duquesne Dukes Saturday afternoon at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium was not what anyone associated with the team wanted, coach Jonathan Gill believes it may benefit the program in the future.
"You have to go through hard losses in tough situations to prosper," he said after the loss dropped the Sharks to 2-6 overall and 2-3 in Northeast Conference play. "When you’re building something it takes a lot of hard work."
It is also about the details, which Gill and quarterback Camden Orth lamented. Both believe LIU did not take full advantage of the opportunities presented in the game.
"It’s definitely disappointing to come this close and not be able to capitalize and finish the game," said Orth, who was 21-for-36 passing for 348 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also was sacked three times, and on the game’s final play he was hit from the blind side as he rolled out from Duquesne’s 30-yard line looking for an open receiver. Orth got rid of the ball, but due to the hit it helicoptered in the air before landing incomplete.
"We’re just obviously a couple plays short," he said.
The Sharks trailed 17-14 after an entertaining first half. They jumped out to a 14-3 lead by the end of the first quarter, but the offense stalled in the second. LIU’s five second-quarter drives ended with an interception, three punts, and a field-goal attempt from 42 yards that missed wide left.
"They made some good adjustments," Orth said. Gill said Duquesne (5-3, 3-2) shifted to man-to-man coverage and utilized pressure.
Dukes quarterback Darius Perrantes threw for two scores in the second quarter. He finished 19-for-32 passing for 215 yards and three TDs with two interceptions.
"They have really good players," Gill said.
Duquesne extended its lead to 31-21 at the end of the third quarter as the Dukes sandwiched Perrantes’ 28-yard touchdown pass to Cyrus Holder and a 67-scoring run by Billy Lucas around Jonathan DeBique’s 6-yard TD run for LIU.
The LIU deficit grew to 34-21 with 5:43 left after a field goal. It took the Sharks just 1:04 to cut the lead to six when Orth connected with Tosin Oyekanmi for a 58-yard TD, but that was as close as they would come.
