Perrantes throws for 3 touchdowns, Duquesne claims NEC championship with 26-14 win over Merrimack

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (AP) Darius Perrantes threw three touchdown passes and Duquesne wrapped up the Northeast Conference championship with a 26-14 victory over Merrimack on Saturday.

Duquesne, which joined the NEC in 2008, won at least a share of the conference title for the seventh time, but just the second time as the outright champion.

The score was tied at 14 at halftime before the Dukes (7-4, 6-1) clamped down on defense, allowing just 61 yards in the second half.

Perrantes threw touchdown passes of 38 and 16 yards to Keshawn Brown in the first half and his 1-yard toss to Darryl Powell Jr. late in the third quarter put the Dukes ahead for good. Edward Robinson added a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Perrantes completed 11 of 18 passes for 218 yards and was intercepted once. Robinson had 89 yards rushing.

Second-place Merrimack's Malakai Anthony was 9-for-23 passing for 68 yards and was intercepted once. Tyvon Edmonds Jr. led the Warriors (5-6, 4-3) with 77 yards on the ground. Anthony and Edmonds scored rushing touchdowns.

Duquesne had a 325-202 advantage in total yards. Duquesne, a former member of the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference, has won or shared 18 conference championships in the past 29 seasons.

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