SOMERSET, N.J. – Duquesne defensive back Spencer DeMedal (New Wilmington, Pa. / Wilmington Area) earned Northeast Conference (NEC) Defensive Player of the Week honors while freshman running back Billy Lucas (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep) was named the NEC Co-Rookie of the Week for their performances in the Dukes’ 20-10 victory at Bryant on Sunday.
DeMedal finished with eight tackles with seven solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss to go with an interception and a pair of pass breakups for Duquesne. He helped the Dukes’ defense keep the Bulldogs out of the end zone in the final three quarters of action.
With Duquesne holding a 20-10 lead, DeMedal picked off Bryant quarterback Ryan Clark with just under five minutes to play to preserve the Dukes’ advantage. Four of his tackles, the interception and two pass breakups all came in the fourth quarter for the Dukes.
Lucas toted the ball 26 times for 110 yards with a touchdown in a game when Duquesne relied heavily on the run game with the rainy conditions.
The freshman put the Dukes ahead 20-10 in the fourth quarter with his first career touchdown from two yards out. Lucas recorded 26 yards on Duquesne’s first scoring drive of the game. He added a season-long 35-yard rush late in the fourth quarter for the Dukes, as well.
He is the first Duquesne freshman to rush for over 100 yards in a game since A.J. Hines ran for 110 yards with a pair of touchdowns on Nov. 19, 2016.
