Nov. 1, 2004

Duquesne University senior defensive end Ryan Tolan (LaVerne, Calif./Bonita) and freshman receiver Bruce Hocker (Upper Marlboro, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) were both honored by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League for their performances in Duquesne's 7-3 MAAC title-clinching win over Marist on Saturday.

Tolan was named Defensive Player of the Week for his seven-tackle, 3.5 sack effort against the Red Foxes. Tolan, who also forced a pair of fumbles, helped the Dukes limit Marist to 24 yards on 29 second-half plays. The 3.5 sacks now give him 10.5 on the season, breaking the school record of 9.5 set by John Wojciechowski in 1995. This is the second time in three weeks Tolan - a starter at outside linebacker last season - has earned MAAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Hocker, who has a touchdown catch in six of Duquesne's first seven games, made his biggest grab of the season when he went high to pull in an 11-yard pass from Niel Loebig to give the Dukes the lead with 12:42 left on Saturday to earn Rookie of the Week. Hocker, who was also named league Rookie of the Week on Sept. 6, has 18 catches for 284 yards (15.8 ypc.) on the season.

Duquesne (5-2, 3-0) clinched its sixth consecutive MAAC title - and eighth championship in the last 10 seasons - with its 7-3 win over Marist. The Dukes, who have won a nation's best 32 consecutive league games, complete the MAAC portion of the schedule at La Salle (3-6, 1-2) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. (WKFB-AM 770 locally).