SOMERSET, N.J. - Duquesne's
A.J. Hines (Wilson, N.C./Fike) garnered his fourth consecutive weekly conference award on Monday, as the junior running back was named the NEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week following his performance in the Dukes' 28-24 victory over first-place Sacred Heart on Saturday at Arthur J. Rooney Field.
Hines, who shares the weekly honor with Wagner running back Ryan Fulse, now has five career NEC Player of the Week nods which represents a program record. Quarterback Sean Patterson (2009-12) previously held the record with four career NEC Player of the Week awards.
Central Connecticut defensive back D.J. Exilhomme was named the Defensive Player of the Week, Bryant wide receiver/kick returner Jean Contant the Special Teams Player of the Week and Sacred Heart running back Julius Chestnut the Rookie of the Week.
Hines compiled over 200 yards from scrimmage for the fourth game in a row in the victory over the Pioneers. He tallied 213 rushing yards on 31 carries with a touchdown in the win.
The junior put the Dukes on top 14-0 on their second possession of the afternoon with a 32-yard rushing touchdown. When Sacred Heart cut the Duquesne advantage to 21-13 in the second half, Hines helped extend the Dukes' lead back to double-digits, tallying 53 yards on the first three plays of the possession. This gave Duquesne a 1st-and-goal at the SHU 10-yard line, setting up a
Daquan Worley (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville/Penn State) touchdown rush just two plays later.
He recorded 11 first downs in the victory, including a three-yard gain on a third-down conversion late in the fourth quarter which sealed the fourth-straight NEC victory for Duquesne.
Hines eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards on the year on Saturday, becoming just the second player in program history to post three 1,000-yard seasons. He now has 1,199 rushing yards on the season, good for fifth in the FCS.
Hines and the Dukes travel to New Britain, Conn. to take on Central Connecticut (6-4, 4-1) with the conference title on the line on Saturday at noon at Arute Field.
