Nov. 5, 2003
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#6 DUQUESNE (5-3, 4-0) at MARIST (3-5, 2-2)
Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 p.m.
Leonidoff Field (2,500/grass) - Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Ranking listed is from The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10 Radio: (Fox Sports Pittsburgh - WBGG-AM 970)
Alex Panormios (play-by-play) & Chris Kucharski (color)
On the internet at: www.RedZoneMedia.com
DUKES COMPLETE MAAC SCHEDULE AT MARIST
Duquesne (5-3, 4-0) completes the MAAC portion of its schedule on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Marist (3-5, 2-2). The game, set for a 1:00 p.m. kick, will air locally on Fox Sports Radio 970 AM and on the internet at www.RedZoneMedia.com.
The Dukes clinched their fifth consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League title with a 39-7 win over Saint Peter's on Oct. 18 and are looking to complete their fourth straight undefeated conference season. Duquesne, which saw a four-game win streak snapped in a tough 15-10 loss at Morehead State last weekend, enters the Marist game with a 28-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 1,171-284 (an average score of 41.8-10.1). Duquesne is 61-7 all-time in MAAC play, including a 29-4 record on the road, since joining the league in 1994. Duquesne leads the series against the Red Foxes 8-2, including a 3-1 record in games played at Poughkeepsie. The Dukes are currently ranked No. 6 in The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10. Marist, which was idle last week, is not ranked.
DUQUESNE LATELY
With his 177 yards passing last weekend at Morehead State, quarterback Niel Loebig became the first player in school history to throw for over 2,000 yards in three different seasons ... Loebig threw for 2,112 yards as a freshman and 2,685 yards as a junior ... Loebig, who already holds school career records for completions (458) and completion pct. (53.1%), needs five more touchdown passes to break the career mark of 73 set by Tony Zimmerman (1998-00) in his three seasons at DU ... Loebig's career numbers entering Marist: 458-of-862 for 6,911 yards and 69 TDs ... so far this season he has completed 146-of-256 passes for 2,114 yards and 18 scores ... Loebig needs two more TD passes to join Zimmerman as the only other QB in school history to throw for 20 or more TDs in three different seasons ... senior running back Mike Hilliard topped the 100-yard rushing mark for the fifh time in DU's last six games with 177 yards on a career-high 40 carries at Morehead State ... in the process Hilliard topped the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season to join Donte Small (1998-01, MAAC Offensive Player of the Year in '01) as the only other back in DU history to post two 1,000-yard seasons ... Hilliard currently ranks third on Duquesne's all-time rushing list with 2,806 yards behind Small (4,260) and Pedro Bowman (3,830).
DUKES VS. MARIST
all-time (1993-current)
1993 L A 12-211994 L H 7-161995 W H 16-141996 W H 30-171997 W A 27-241998 W H 39-271999 W A 31-02000 W H 49-72001 W A 21-102002 W H 36-0
Overall: Duquesne leads 8-2
At Poughkeepsie: DU leads 3-1
At Rooney Field: DU leads 5-1
MORE ON MARIST
Marist is 2-2 in league play with wins at Saint Peter's (16-14) and vs. Siena (28-14) ... the Red Foxes lost at home to La Salle (33-31) and at Iona (38-21) ... Marist, which was idle last week, has lost four in a row ... opponents have scored a total of 176 points (44/g.) over that four-game span ... this is the third of just four home games for the Red Foxes this season ... receiver Guy Smith ranks 13th nationally in receiving yards per game (97.5) and 21st in catches per game (6.13) ... Marist was picked to finish third in the MAAC in a preseason vote of league coaches ... Jim Parady is in his 12th season as head coach of the Red Foxes.
MISTER TOUCHDOWN
Running back Mike Hilliard needs one more rushing touchdown to tie the single-season school record he shares with Pedro Bowman. Bowman totaled 14 rushing TDs in 1982, while Hilliard matched that total last season.
DU HISTORY
MOST RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
1. Mike Hilliard 14 20022. Pedro Bowman 14 19823. Mike Hilliard 13 20034. Josh Rue 12 2001 Donte Small 12 2000 Andre Hatcher 12 1996 Pedro Bowman 12 1983
ECAC CLASSIC HOST
By virtue of clinching the MAAC title, Duquesne will serve as home team for the ECAC Classic on Saturday, Nov. 22 (game time 1:00 pm). The Classic matches the winner of the MAAC vs. the champion of the Northeast Conference. Monmouth (8-1, 4-1), currently ranked No. 3 in the Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10, controls its own destiny with two NEC games remaining (11/8 at Sacred Heart and 11/15 at St. Francis, Pa.). No. 7 Albany (5-1, 11/8 vs. Robert Morris), No. 9 Sacred Heart (3-2, 11/8 vs. Monmouth and 11/15 at Wagner) and No. 8 Robert Morris (4-2, 11/8 at Albany) are also in the NEC title hunt. This will be Duquesne's fifth classic appearance in the ECAC Classic (1995, 1996, 2001 & 2002 are the others). The only other school with more than two appearances is Wagner of the NEC with three (1993, 1994 & 1995).
LAST YEAR
Duquesne rolled up 460 yards of total offense in a 36-0 win at Rooney Field. Marist, which came into the game ranked second in the nation in rushing offense, was held to 17 yards on 27 carries by the Dukes. Mike Hilliard carried 23 times for 114 yards and one TD for Duquesne. Niel Loebig completed 20-of-39 passes for 257 yards and two scores. Yardon Brantley led all receivers with 7 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
ABOUT THAT TITLE
Duquesne has now won seven of the last nine MAAC championships (1995, '96, '99, '00, '01, '02, '03) including the last five in a row ... the Dukes have won their last 28 MAAC games, outscoring their opponents 1,171-284 in the process ... DU's last conference loss was on Oct. 23, 1999 at Iona (62-50) ... Duquesne is 61-7 all-time in MAAC play ... Marist is DU's final league game.
