► Both teams are coming off losses, as the Dukes dropped a 23-6 decision at New Hampshire to cap non-conference action while the Sharks fell by a score of 24-14 at Wagner.

► Duquesne ranks ninth in the FCS in pass defense, limiting opponents to 164 passing yards per game.

► The Dukes were picked to repeat as NEC champions in the conference preseason poll. Duquesne has been selected to finish first or second in the poll for nine straight years.

► All-American running back A.J. Hines returns for his senior season pacing all active FCS players in career rushing yards and touchdowns. Named a preseason All-American by a number of organizations, Hines is just 11 yards from becoming the third player in program history to rush for 4,000 yards.

► Duquesne is 19-5 in NEC games since the start of 2015 with a 10-2 mark in league home contests.

Watch: NEC Front Row

Play-by-Play: Tim Benz

Analyst: Ellis Cannon
 

Listen: WJAS 1320 AM / iHeart Radio

Play-by-Play: Alex Panormios

Analyst: Tad Maurey
 

Live Stats: GoDuquesne.com


THE SERIES
- Saturday marks the first meeting between the Dukes and Sharks.

SCOUTING LIU
- The Sharks are in their first season competing at the Division I level in football in the NEC following the consolidation of Long Island University's Brooklyn and Post athletic departments prior to the 2019-20 academic year.

- Defensive back Jerome Brooks III (10 tkl/gm)and linebacker Liam McIntyre (9 tkl/gm) rank first and second, respectively, in the conference in tackles per game.

- The Sharks dropped a 24-14 conest at Wagner last week. Wide receiver Jake Bofshever garnered NEC Prime Performer after tallying six receptions for 89 yards.

- Head coach Bryan Collins is in his 22nd year at the helm, leading the then-Pioneers to six NCAA Division II Playoff appearances.

- A very successful program at the Division II level, LIU Post recorded a 10-1 mark in 2018, winning a Northeast 10 championship and qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament.

LIU SHARKS: Roster / Schedule / Stats / News


LAST TIME OUT
New Hampshire 23, Dukes 6
- Duquesne dropped a 23-6 decision to host New Hampshire out of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) at Wildcat Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

- Limiting Duquesne to 10 yards in the first half, UNH built a 13-0 halftime lead with a Dylan Laube five-yard touchdown run and a pair of field goals from Jason Hughes.

- Hughes added a 38-yard field goal in the third stanza before a 72-yard touchdown rush by Evan Gray put the Wildcats on top 23-0 with just under three minutes to play.

- The Dukes got on the board with 58 seconds remaining in the game when Daniel Parr found Kareem Coles Jr. on a 12-yard strike. Parr hit Davie Henderson on a 32-yard connection and Coles Jr. on an 18-yard gain on the scoring drive for Duquesne.

- Parr finished 14-of-32 for 183 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

- Coles Jr. had a team-high five receptions for 54 yards and a score while Henderson hauled in a pair of catches for 81 yards.

- Mark Allen paced the Dukes on the ground with 13 rushes for 50 yards.

- With a 36:18-23:42 advantage in time of possession, the Wildcats outgained Duquesne 433-233 on the day.

- Brendan Thompson led Duquesne with eight tackles (three solo) with a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries. Harvey Clayton Jr. added seven tackles (five solo) and Reid Harrison-Ducros had a team-high six solo tackles. Chris Favoroso and Logan DeBoer each registered a sack for the Dukes.

QUICK HITS
- The Dukes are 19-5 in NEC action since the beginning of the 2015 campaign, including a 10-2 mark at Rooney Field. Duquesne has won three out of the last four NEC titles in that span with a pair of NCAA Playoff appearances.

- DU has recorded 61 wins since 2011, at least eight more victories than any other NEC team. In addition, the Dukes' 35 conference wins in that time span are the most in the league.

- Duquesne is just seven points away from making four straight FCS Playoff appearances after a 14-10 loss at eventual NEC champion Saint Francis U in 2016 and dropping a 28-27 decision to CCSU at Rooney Field in 2017.

- Duquesne ranks ninth in the FCS in passing yards allowed, holding opponents to 164.0 yards per game through the first four contests of the season.

- The Dukes pace the NEC in total defense, limiting opponents to 306.5 yards per game. Duquesne is also second in the conference in rushing offense, averaging 159.2 yards on the ground.

- Mark Allen leads the NEC and ranks 14th in the FCS in all-purpose yardage at 146.8 yards per game while Jassir Jordan is sixth in the country in kickoff return yardage at 32.0 yards per return.

- Duquesne sports the top red zone offense in the conference, scoring on 11-of-13 trips.

NEXT UP 
- The Dukes have a bye week before traveling to Fairfield, Conn. to take on Sacred Heart on Oct. 19 in a matchup of the 2018 NEC co-champions. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. and the game will air live on ESPN3 and WJAS 1320 AM / iHeart Radio.