OPENING KICKOFF

• The Dukes return to action with another home non-conference matchup against Valparaiso on Saturday at Rooney Field.
• Duquesne is coming off a 45-0 shutout win over Lock Haven last Saturday while the Crusaders begin their season with the matchup with the Dukes.
• These two teams met last year with Duquesne claiming a 45-40 victory in the Hoosier State. The contest featured plenty of offense as the teams combined for 1,053 total yards.
• In last week's 45-0 triumph over Lock Haven, Nehari Crawford finished with three total touchdowns, including two receiving and one punt return for a score. The DU defense held the Bald Eagles to just 81 passing yards.
• Duquesne is 24-3 in home non-conference games under 14th-year head coach Jerry Schmitt.

QUICK HITS

• After earning their first win of the season in shutout fashion with a 45-0 victory over Lock Haven last Saturday at Rooney Field, the Dukes will battle their first FCS opponent of the season this Saturday hosting Valparaiso.
• Duquesne returns 11 starters from last year's team which posted a 7-4 overall mark and a 4-2 ledger in Northeast Conference play.
• The Dukes put together a seven-game winning streak in 2017, their most victories in a row since posting 11 straight wins to open the 2002 season.
• DU has recorded 51 wins since 2011, at least eight more victories than any other NEC team. In addition, the Dukes' 30 conference wins in that time span are the most in the league. Duquesne has registered at least seven total victories in three straight seasons and five of the last seven years.
• For the first time in program history, the Dukes will face two FBS opponents in the same season in 2018. Duquesne traveled to Massachusetts to open the season on Aug. 25 and will make the trip to Hawaii for a Sept. 22 matchup. These are both first-time opponents for DU and represent the second and third games, respectively, against FBS teams for the Dukes. Duquesne took on Buffalo to open the 2014 season.

GAME COVERAGE

• TV: NEC Front Row - Tim Benz (PxP) / Ellis Cannon (Color)
• RADIO: WJAS AM 1320 / iHeartRadio - Alex Panormios (PxP) / Tad Maurey (Color)
• LIVE STATS: DUQStats.com

THE SERIES

• Duquesne owns a 3-0 advantage in the series, with a 1-0 mark at Rooney Field and a 2-0 record in Valparaiso, Ind.
• The Dukes topped the Crusaders by a score of 49-14 at Rooney Field on Sept. 17, 2011. In that contest, Duquesne featured two 100-yard rushers as all-time leading rusher Larry McCoy ran for 164 yards on 21 carries while Bill Blair added 154 yards on the ground on 16 touches.

LAST MEETING

Duquesne 45, Valpo 40
Sept. 9, 2017

• The Dukes used a balanced offensive attack to defeat host Valpo, tallying 292 yards through the air and 250 on the ground in the victory.
• Duquesne would build a 17-point lead at 45-28 in the fourth quarter before two Crusaders touchdowns brought Valpo within five points at 45-40.
• The Crusaders had a chance to take the lead late in the contest, but an interception by defensive back Brandon Stanback sealed the road win for the Dukes.
• Tommy Stuart earned his first win for Duquesne, completing 28-of-38 passes for 292 yards and three touchdown passes.
• A.J. Hines finished with 100 rushing yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns while P.J. Fulmore added 93 yards on the ground for the Dukes.
• Nehari Crawford led the Duquesne with nine catches for 138 yards.
• Linebacker Carter Henderson paced the Dukes with 11 tackles followed by Brett Zanotto with a career-high nine stops.

SCOUTING VALPO

• The Crusaders open the 2018 season on the road at Duquesne following a 6-5 mark last season, including a 5-3 ledger in Pioneer League play.
• Fifth-year head coach Dave Cecchini was named the PFL Coach of the Year, becoming the first Valpo coach to win the award since 2003. He was also the FCS Region 4 Coach of the Year and a finalist for AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year.
• The Crusaders return a trio of Second Team All-PFL selections in offensive lineman Tom Schofield, linebacker Nick Turner and return specialist Bailey Gessinger. The Crusaders won four of their last five games of the 2017 campaign.

LAST TIME OUT

Duquesne 45, Lock Haven 0

• The 45-point victory was the largest for the Dukes since a 62-14 win over La Salle on Sept. 27, 2003.Duquesne won its 11th-straight home opener and improved to 22-3 in home-opening games at Rooney Field.
• Nehari Crawford hauled in five receptions for 140 yards and a pair of touchdown catches to go with a 44-yard punt return for a touchdown to lead Duquesne in the win.
• Daniel Parr completed 10-of-15 pass attempts for 197 yards and two touchdowns while A.J. Hines paced the Dukes on the ground, averaging 11.0 yards per carry, finishing with 77 yards on seven touches with a score.
• Brett Zanotto led the Duquesne defense with eight tackles on the day. The Dukes limited the Bald Eagles to 195 total yards including 81 yards through the air, the Dukes' fewest passing yards allowed since holding Wagner to 80 yards on Nov. 15, 2014.
• Duquesne finished with 460 total yards in the victory.

• Duquesne University Athletics coaches shows will make the move from radio to television in 2018-19, through an agreement with AT&T SportsNet announced earlier this week.
• Football shows are scheduled to air on August 23 & 30; September  6, 13 & 27; October 4, 11 & 18 and November 8 & 15, all of which fall on Thursdays.
• The shows, which will be hosted by Pittsburgh Tribune Review columnist and Steelers Radio Network host Tim Benz, will be presented by UMPC and Red Ring Bar & Grille.

LOOKING AHEAD

Duquesne vs. Dayton

• The Dukes wrap up a three-game home stand next Saturday, Sept. 15 hosting Dayton in a non-conference matchup.Duquesne has won three of its last four against the Flyers, including a 28-23 win last season in Ohio.
• The Dukes are 6-2 against the Flyers at Rooney Field.
• Dayton defeated fellow NEC member Robert Morris in week one and the Flyers travel to Southeast Missouri State of the Ohio Valley Conference this week.