Oct. 13, 2016 DUKES AND COLONIALS
This is the 18th game between Duquesne and Robert Morris in a series that dates to 1994 ... in eight NEC meetings, Duquesne has won five and RMU three ... in the last meeting, Rafiq Douglas had a career day with 172 yards rushing to go along with four receptions for 31 yards as DU scored 10 second-half points to defeat the Colonials 16-7 in Moon Township ... Dillon Buechel connected with Nehari Crawford for an 8-yard TD with 13:00 remaining for the game's final points ... Christian Kuntz led the defensive charge with four solo stops to go along with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for a loss and a pass break-up ... Duquesne has won the past three meetings between the two, including the past seven on Rooney Field ... RMU's last win at DU came on Nov. 23, 1996 in the ECAC Bowl (28-26) ... Jerry Schmitt is 8-3 all-time vs. Robert Morris. Duquesne is 7-1 in NEC openers.
ON DUQUESNE
The Dukes won their third Northeast Conference title in five years, and made their first ever FCS Playoff appearance in finishing 8-4 (5-1 NEC) in 2015. Picked to defend as 2016 NEC champions by the league's coaches, the Red & Blue return seven starters on offense and six on defense, including six players who were named to the 2016 NEC preseason team. Duquesne, which saw an eight-game home win streak snapped in a 36-28 defeat to Kennesaw State on Sept. 24, is 2-1 at home (18-11 all-time on Rooney Field in NEC play).
ON RMU
The Colonials, who are 1-5 (0-3 on the road), are coming off a 24-10 conference-opening loss to Saint Francis U at Joe Walton Stadium. Robert Morris, which is averaging 8.2 points and 150 yards per game, has been forced to play four quarterbacks in six games due to injury. RMU was picked to finish sixth in the NEC in the annual preseason poll of league coaches.
LAST GAME
Dillon Buechel threw for 394 yards and a school record-tying six touchdowns and Wayne Capers caught nine balls for 235 yards and a school record-tying four TD's as Duquesne amassed 619 yards of total offense in a 54-35 win at Jacksonville. Buechel completed 16 consecutive passes between the second and fourth quarters. The Dukes trailed 14-13 when Buechel started his streak, and led 48-28 when it ended. His seventh (11 yds), ninth (65 yds), 11th (44 yds), 15th (15 yds) and 16th (12 yds) completions all went for scores. Freshman A.J. Hines carried 28 times for 134 yards and added an 11-yard TD reception for DU. Austin Crimmins added field goals of 45 and 40 yards for the Dukes who finished with 32 first downs while punting just once. Duquesne's 54 points were its most since a 56-14 win over La Salle on Nov. 5, 2005. Twenty-one of Jacksonville's points came off of DU's three turnovers. Capers (Offensive Player of the Week) and Hines (Rookie of the Week) earned NEC honors for their performance. Carter Henderson led the defense with 10 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss. Christian Kuntz added a sack to bring his career total to 24.5. With his 394 yards passing, Buechel moved to the top of the NEC all-time passing yardage list.
TRENDING
• Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt enters the Robert Morris game with 99 career wins. Schmitt, who is in his 17th season as a head coach and 12th season at DU, is 8-3 all time vs. RMU.
• With his 394 yards passing at Jacksonville, QB Dillon Buechel passed his offensive coordinator - Anthony Doria - as well as Dale Fink of Sacred Heart to move into first place on the Northeast Conference all-time passing yardage list. Buechel enters the RMU game with 8,901 passing yards. Doria threw for 8,544 yards at Saint Francis U from 2003-06. Fink had 8,803 from 2007-10.
• Freshman A.J. Hines has been named NEC Rookie of the Week in each of the past fourweeks. His four Rookie honors are the most in school history. Hines enters the weekend leading all FCS freshmen with a 101.4 ypg. average.
• All-American LB Christian Kuntz (24.5 sacks) needs three sacks to tie Antoine Bullock (27.5 from 2002-05) for the school career sacks record. Kuntz currently ranks fifth on the NEC career list.
• Leading tackler Carter Henderson (43) has scored via interception return (23 yds vs. Dayton) and fumble return (16 yds vs. Kennesaw State) this season.
• Austin Crimmins ranks first nationally with 1.80 field goals per game. His 53 career field goals currently rank tied for the most in both NEC history and among active FCS kickers.
• The pass-catching trio of Wayne Capers (105.2), Blair Roberts (75.8) and Nehari Crawford (47.0) rank 2nd, 4th and 8th in the NEC in receiving yards per game.
• Duquesne ranks fourth nationally in fumbles recovered (7), 17th in passing offense (289.2).
QUICK HITS
• Duquesne, which is coming off an 8-4 (5-1/1st in NEC) season, was the unanimous choice to repeat as Northeast Conference Champion in a vote of league coaches.
• The Dukes are in their 12th season under head coach Jerry Schmitt. Schmitt, who has led DU to six conference titles in 11 years, received a five-year contract extension on August 31, securing him on the Bluff through the 2020-21 school year. The Pittsburgh native led the Dukes to three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League titles before the program moved to the NEC and began granting scholarships in 2008. The two-time MAAC Coach of the Year has led DU to three NEC titles in the past five seasons, including the school's first outright championship and NCAA appearance last year.
• DU is 26-16 in NEC play over the past five seasons. The Dukes went 4-11 in their first two seasons in the conference while making the transition to a scholarship model.
• Six Dukes were named 2016 Preseason All-NEC: senior QB Dillon Buechel, senior WR Wayne Capers and junior OL Ben Huss were all named on offense and senior LB Christian Kuntz, senior DL Jake Radziukinas and junior LB Nathan Stone were tabbed on defense. DU's six selections were the most of any NEC team (Saint Francis U and Sacred Heart had four each on the 27-man team).
• A.J. Hines' 189 yards rushing vs. Dayton on Sept. 17 (29-189-2) was the second-highest total by a DU running back since the program moved to the FCS level in 1993. The freshman record of 195 yards was set by all-time leading rusher Larry McCoy at Nicholls on Sept. 12, 2009. Hines, who is averaging 101.4 yards per game, has topped the 100-yard mark twice (28-134-0 at Jacksonville).
• Senior consensus All-America linebacker Christian Kuntz enters Saturday's game with 24.5 career sacks. The sack total, which ranks second on DU's all-time list, also ranks fifth among all active FCS players. Kuntz, who has led the nation in tackles for loss twice (2013 & 2015), had six TFLs, including three sacks, in the Sept. 17 win over Dayton. He was named NEC Defensive Player of the Week for his effort.
• Senior quarterback Dillon Buechel is also climbing in the Duquesne record book. Buechel currently ranks second in passing yards (8,901), second in completion percentage (.579) and tied for third in TD passes (63). He also ranks second in both passes attempted and completed. With his 394 yards at Jacksonville, Buechel passed his offensive coordinator - Anthony Doria - and Sacred Heart's Dale Fink (8,803 yards from 2007-10) to become the NEC's all-time passing yardage leader. Doria threw for 8,544 yards at Saint Francis U from 2003-06.
• Senior Austin Crimmins is putting together the top kicking career in Duquesne FCS annals. The Ebensburg, Pa. native already has 14 more field goals (53) than any player in school history. In addition, his 38.2 career punting average is on pace to break the current mark of 37.6 set by Orlando Bellisario from 1997-99. Crimmins' 268 points are the most by a DU kicker.
• Senior right tackle Larson Graham leads the Dukes with 40 consecutive starts. No other player on the offensive side of the football has started more than 18 (tight end Kevin Enright). Defensively, inside linebacker Nate Stone has the most consecutive starts at 29.
