Oct. 19, 2016 DUKES AND RED FLASH
This is the 43rd game between Duquesne and Saint Francis U in a series that dates to 1913 ... in eight NEC meetings, Duquesne has won six and SFU two ... DU has won 15 of the past 17 meetings, with both Saint Francis wins coming at home (31-14 on Oct. 24, 2009 and 26-16 in the last meeting on DeGol Field on Nov. 1, 2014) ... last year, in a showdown for the NEC title in the final regular-season game, Duquesne overcame a 14-0 first quarter deficit to defeat the Red Flash 30-20 on Rooney Field to clinch the NEC outright title and FCS Playoff bid ... Dillon Buechel threw for 281 yards and Wayne Capers caught four balls for 104 yards, including a 62-yard go-ahead TD with 30 seconds left in the first half (making the score 16-14) ... DU, which got 165 yards rushing and three TDs from Rafiq Douglas, outgained SFU 461-324 ... the Dukes held the Red Flash to 117 yards rushing ... DU head coach Jerry Schmitt is 9-2 all-time vs. Saint Francis U ... this is Homecoming for the Red Flash.
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 is 1-1 on the road with a 45-10 loss at Youngstown State and 54-35 win at Jacksonville.
ON SFU
The Red Flash (4-3, 2-0), who are coming off an impressive 38-3 NEC home win over Bryant, were picked to finish third in the NEC in the annual preseason poll of league coaches. The 33-point margin was SFU's largest-ever in an NEC game.
A CLOSER LOOK
Saint Francis leads the FCS in sacks (30), ranks third nationally in tackles for loss (9.0/g.) and eighth nationally in turnover margin at +1.29. Duquesne ranks fifth in the conference in turnover margin at -0.33. DU has given up 13 sacks this season (2.2/g.). The Red Flash have picked off 12 passes (2nd nationally) and recovered six fumbles. Duquesne and Saint Francis rank first and second in the NEC in time of possession at 31:59 and 31:39 respectively. SFU has held its past three opponents to 10 or fewer points.
LAST GAME
Duquesne outgained Robert Morris 491-155 and had a 25-6 advantage in first downs, but didn't manage its first lead until P.J. Fulmore's touchdown run with 7:54 left in a 31-24 win over the Colonials at Rooney Field. Dillon Buechel, who completed passes to nine receivers, became DU's all-time completions leader in going 22-of-33 for 258 yards and three TDs. Freshman A.J. Hines continued his torrid pace with 27 carries for 182 yards to led the DU ground game. Robert Morris turned two Duquesne fumbled punts - both inside the DU 15 - into 10 points and added another score on a 63-yard blocked field goal return. Fulmore, in his first game back from injury, ran for 75 yards on 15 carries. Wayne Capers led DU receivers with six catches for 91 yards. Carter Henderson led the defense with seven tackles. All-American linebacker Christian Kuntz added 2.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks. The win, which was Duquesne's fourth in a row over RMU, was the 100th career victory for DU head coach Jerry Schmtt.
TRENDING
• Freshman A.J. Hines has been named NEC Rookie of the Week in each of the past five weeks. His five Rookie honors are tied for second-most in NEC history. Hines enters the weekend ranked eighth nationally with a 114.8 ypg. average.
• All-American LB Christian Kuntz (26.0 sacks) needs 1.5 sacks to tie Antoine Bullock (27.5 from 2002-05) for the school career sacks record. Kuntz needs four sacks to become the NEC all-time leader.
• With his 394 yards passing at Jacksonville on Oct. 1, QB Dillon Buechel passed his offensive coordinator - Anthony Doria - as well as Dale Fink of Sacred Heart to move into first place on the NEC all-time passing yardage list. Buechel enters the SFU game with 9,159 passing yards. Doria threw for 8,544 yards at Saint Francis U from 2003-06. Fink had 8,803 from 2007-10.
• Leading tackler Carter Henderson (50/8.3) has scored via interception return (23 yds vs. Dayton) and fumble return (16 yds vs. Kennesaw State) this season.
• Austin Crimmins ranks second nationally at 1.67 field goals/g. His 54 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 (102.8), Blair Roberts (62.2) and Nehari Crawford (44.8) rank 1st, 5th and 8th in the NEC in receiving yards per game.
• Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt notched his 100th career win last Saturday. Schmitt is in his 17th season as a head coach and 12th at DU.
• Duquesne ranks 16th nationally in total offense (448.3).
