The newly installed turf glistened under the bright lights, the new seats were filled with fans and a cooling breeze made for a comfortable evening.

The setting was perfect for Duquesne University to make its debut in the Northeast Conference.

The game might not have been an artistic masterpiece, but Duquesne will gladly accept a 21-7 victory against Saint Francis last night before an overflow crowd of 2,454 at renovated Rooney Field.

Duquesne quarterback Connor Dixon, a transfer from Michigan State, got rolling after a sluggish start to complete 13 of 25 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns, and Cleotis Williams rushed for 129 yards on 23 carries. The defense made three interceptions to stifle the Red Flash (0-3, 0-1), who have lost 10 consecutive games against the Dukes (1-1, 1-0).

All the scoring came in the first half.

Once Dixon found the range Duquesne's offense kicked into high gear.

Dixon, who misfired on his first five passes and was 2 of 8 for 4 yards in the first quarter, completed all five of his throws in the second quarter for 150 yards and three touchdowns to give the Dukes a 21-7 lead at the half.

Dixon and the Dukes took advantage of the limited time they had the ball because Saint Francis had possession for 22 of the first 30 minutes. Duquesne's defense, which was on the field most of the time, was pushed around but came up with three interceptions to thwart the Red Flash. Chidozie Oparanozie, a freshman linebacker who grew up on the North Side and graduated from Linsly (W.Va.) School, set up two touchdowns with interceptions.

Duquesne tied it, 7-7, on Dixon's 12-yard rainbow pass to Alex Roberson, who made the catch deep in the corner of the end zone. Saint Francis had gone in front, 7-0, on Calvin Williams' 9-yard run late in the first quarter.

Oparanozie returned his first interception 55 yards down the sideline to the Saint Francis 33. That set the stage for Dixon's 9-yard slant to Michael Rasky for a touchdown and a 14-7 advantage.

The Red Flash appeared to be on the verge of tying the score when Oparanozie went high in the air to intercept a tipped pass at Duquesne's 2 with less than a minute remaining in the half.

The Dukes weren't content to just run out the clock. With 20 seconds left in the half Dixon's long pass was pulled in by Conrad Carter, who made the over-the-shoulder reception near midfield and outraced defenders to complete a 91-yard touchdown, the second-longest pass play in school history.

Dixon also got off to a slow start in the third quarter and had an attempted screen pass intercepted at the Saint Francis 40 midway through the third quarter.

The Red Flash put together another time-consuming march that stalled on Duquesne's 31 with two incomplete passes with just seconds left in the third quarter. Not much happened in the fourth quarter as the defenses stiffened and the offenses fizzled.

Saint Francis was led by quarterback George Little, a junior from Duquesne High School who completed 15 of 31 passes for 144 yards. He was intercepted three times. Calvin Williams rushed for 74 yards and Daniel Conley, a freshman from Burgettstown had 52 yards on six carries.

Duquesne's next game is at home Saturday against Dayton.