Oct. 8, 2002
Sophomore quarterback Niel Loebig (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) today was named Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his school record performance in Duquesne's last minute 23-22 win over Lafayette this past Saturday.
Loebig completed 4-of-7 passes for 66 yards to key DU's game-winning 71-yard drive that set-up placekicker Earl Bellisario's field goal with just 10 seconds left in the final quarter.
Loebig, who briefly left the game in the second quarter with an injury, completed 29-of-54 passes for 349 yards and two scores (20, 6). Loebig's 29 completions and 54 attempts were both DU single-game records. The sophomore has now thrown for two or more TDs in 13 of 15 regular-season starts.
This is the second award to a DU player by this publication this season. Last week, senior receiver Jeremy Conley was also named NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Loebig tops all MAAC Football League signal-callers with 242.0 yards per game on 84 for 185 passing with 11 touchdowns against six interceptions. These stats, which include his limited performance in the Dukes' 17-7 win over Siena when his shoulder injury forced Loebig to the sidelines after DU's first offensive series, still put him in 24th place nationally among all Division I-AA quarterbacks. He has a passing efficiency rating of 132.9, 30th in the nation; this exceeds the next closest MAAC QB by over 35 points.
Loebig's 1,210 yards passing this season has moved the redshirt soph to fourth all-time among Duquesne quarterbacks with 3,322 yards. His performance on Saturday pushed Loebig past Todd Cunningham who threw for 3,081 yards during his career (1989-92) when DU was playing a Division III schedule.
Duquesne returns to action this Saturday as they travel to Jersey City, N.J., for a MAAC Football League matchup with St. Peter's (4-2, 3-0 MAAC). The game (noon kickoff) will be broadcast by Fox Sports Pittsburgh Radio, WBGG-AM 970, and over the internet at www.redzonemedia.com.
