Oct. 2, 2003

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Radio: (Fox Sports Pittsburgh - WBGG-AM 970)
Alex Panormios (play-by-play) & Chris Kucharski (color)
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DUKES HOST SIENA SAINTS

Duquesne, coming off a MAAC-opening 62-14 win over La Salle last weekend, continues league play on Saturday against Siena (0-4, 0-2) at 1:35 p.m on Rooney Field (Fox Sports Radio 970-AM and www.RedZoneMedia.com).

The Dukes, winner of six of the least eight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League titles (1995, '96, '99, '00, '01, '02), enter the Siena game with a 25-game league winning streak. DU's last conference loss was on Oct. 23, 1999 at Iona (62-50). Since that game, DU has outscored its MAAC opponents 1,054-234 (an average score of 42.2-9.4). The last time the Dukes dropped a home conference game was Oct. 24, 1998 (28-23 to Georgetown). Duquesne is 58-7 all-time in MAAC play since joining the league in 1994.

THE SERIES

Duquesne leads the overall series 9-1, including a 5-0 record in games played at Pittsburgh ... the Dukes have won the last eight meetings ... last year, back-up quarterback Ben Palumbo replaced an injured Niel Loebig in the first quarter to lead Duquesne to a 17-7 win at Siena ... DU took the last meeting in Pittsburgh by a 55-0 count in 2001 ... Duquesne is 46-12 at home under 11th year head coach Greg Gattuso, including 30-3 mark in league play at Rooney Field.

DUKES & SAINTS LATELY

DUQUESNE rushed for 457 yards in its win over La Salle last weekend ... it was the third-best rushing day ever by a MAAC school ... Mike Hilliard led the way with a school record 323 yards on 31 carries in three quarters of action ... Hilliard also added a school record five rushing TDs ... the TD total also tied the top mark in MAAC history ... Hilliard jumped from No. 45 to No. 2 in I-AA rushing stats with his performance last week ... he has now run for over 100 yards in his last two games (27-101 at Penn) to bring his season average to 148.0 ypg ... DU totaled 13 tackles for loss including six sacks vs. La Salle ... on the other side, the offensive line did not surrender a sack ... the Dukes have only given up six sacks in four games

SIENA is looking for its first win of the season ... the Saints are coming off a 28-10 home loss to Central Connecticut last week ... Siena has struggled offensively with just three offensive touchdowns (five total TDs) in four games ... the ground-based offense has attempted just 59 passes (just under 15/g.) with 22 completions on the young season.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

DU's Mike Hilliard etched his name in the record books with his 323 yard rushing game vs. La Salle last weekend. Some quick notes on Hilliard's memorable night:

• 323 yards broke the old school record of 317 set by Josh Rue vs. Canisius in 2001.
• The 323 yards are the best effort by a running back in NCAA Division I-A or I-AA this season.
• His 5 touchdowns (2, 40, 8, 2, 2) broke the DU school record for rushing TDs in a game and points in a game (30) and tied the MAAC record for touchdowns in a game.
• It was the second-best rushing day in the history of the MAAC (Siena's Reggie Greene ran for 379 yards vs. St. John's in 1996).
• His 240 yards at the half were 32 shy of the I-AA record for yards in a first half (272 by Towson's Tony Vinson vs. Morgan State in 1993).
• Tied his previous career high of 205 yards with 7:07 left in the second quarter.
• Came out of the game with 4:40 left in the third quarter.
• The performance vaulted Hilliard from No. 45 to No. 2 on the 2003 NCAA I-AA rushing yardage list.

Hilliard's totals by quarter

1st quarter             11-139-22nd quarter             11-101-2        Half Total              22-240-43rd quarter             9-83-14th quarter             Did not play        Game Total              31-323-5

LAST YEAR

Duquesne's defense overcame five turnovers in a 17-7 win at Siena ... true freshman Ben Palumbo, forced into action due to an injury to starting quarterback Niel Loebig, completed 12-of-24 passes for 171 yards and junior running back Mike Hilliard carried 28 times for 102 yards to pace the DU offense ... the DU defense, which held Siena to 40 yards rushing on 42 carries on the day, limited the Saints to just 17 yards on the ground in the opening 30 minutes ... Siena pulled to within three with an eight-play, 87-yard drive in the opening moments of the fourth quarter ... Duquesne sealed the win on a Matt Hrutkay two-yard run with 1:45 to go ... Loran Cooley and Yardon Brantley led DU with three catches each ... the DU defense posted 15 tackles for loss on the day ... the Dukes outgained the Saints 312-to-124 and enjoyed a 21-6 edge in first downs ... turnovers were the difference, with Duquesne losing four fumbles and throwing one interception, while Siena did not turn it over on the afternoon.

BY QUARTER      1        2       3       4       FINAL
DUQUESNE        0       10       0       7       17SIENA           0        0       0       7        7

LEADERS

Rushing (Att./Yds./TD)
DU - Hilliard (28-102-0
SIE - Jeraci (9-25-0)

Passing (Att./Comp./Int./Yds./TD)
DU - Palumbo (24-12-1-171-0)
SIE - Karolus (11-4-0-59-1)

Receiving (Att./Yds./TD)
DU - Cooley (3-44-0), Brantley (3-31-0)
SIE - Reese (3-32-1)

Tackles (Tot./Solo)
DU - Wissner (12/5), Rodgers (11/5)
SIE - Smacchia (18/11)