SOMERSET, N.J. - Duquesne running back A.J. Hines (Wilson, N.C./Fike) garnered his third Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week nod this season for his performance in the Dukes' 47-30 victory on the road at Wagner on Saturday, conference officials announced today.

Hines collects his third Player of the Week accolade in as many games, tallying a season-best 232 rushing yards on a career-high 33 carries with a touchdown against the Seahawks. He eclipsed 200 yards from scrimmage for the third consecutive week, helping Duquesne win its third straight contest to improve to 3-1 in NEC play.

The junior averaged just over seven yards per carry in the triumph, rushing for nine first downs and recording four runs of at least 20 yards for the Dukes. His league-leading 12th touchdown of the year came on a one-yard rush late in the first half, shrinking the Wagner lead to one score. In the first half of action, Hines racked up 119 yards on the ground on 16 carries for Duquesne.

Hines' 38-yard run on the final play of the third quarter would put the Dukes in Wagner territory, setting up a Nehari Crawford touchdown just two plays later. Later in the quarter, Hines recorded five carries for 50 yards on a Duquesne scoring drive, as Daniel Parr connected with Stew Allen on a nine-yard touchdown pass to seal the road win for the Dukes. Hines added another 38-yard rush in the first half which set up a Parr touchdown run, minimizing Wagner's advantage to 16-14 in the second quarter.

In the last three games, Hines has registered 579 rushing yards with five touchdowns on the ground to go with 130 receiving yards and a touchdown catch. He has moved into fourth place on Duquesne's all-time rushing leaders list with 3,315 career rushing yards. This figure is also good for 13th among the NEC's all-time leaders.  

He has tallied 986 yards on the season, averaging 123.25 yards per game, needing just 14 rushing yards to achieve his third straight 1,000-yard season. He now has 17 100-yard rushing performances, including four this season. Hines ranks third in school history with 34 career rushing touchdowns, scoring a touchdown in seven of eight games played this year.

Hines also tied running back Rafiq Douglas (2015) for the most NEC Offensive Player of the Week awards in a single season in school history with three, as well as quarterback Sean Patterson (2009-12) for the most in a career with four. Hines picked up a conference-record 10 NEC Rookie of the Week honors as a freshman.

The Dukes are slated to host first-place Sacred Heart (6-3, 4-0) in the home finale this Saturday at noon at Arthur J. Rooney Field.