DUQUESNE DUKES (5-2, 3-0 NEC) vs SAINT FRANCIS U RED FLASH (4-4, 2-2 NEC)
Saturday, Nov. 2 / 12 p.m. / Pittsburgh, Pa. / Rooney Field
OPENING KICKOFF
► The Dukes take a three-game winning streak into another NEC tilt at home against intrastate foe Saint Francis U on Saturday at Rooney Field.
► Duquesne ranks seventh in the FCS in pass defense (164.6 ypg), ninth in the country in total defense (270.0 ypg) and 13th in scoring defense (19.3 ppg).
► All-American running back A.J. Hines leads all active FCS players in career rushing yards and touchdowns. Named a preseason All-American by a number of organizations, Hines set the Duquesne record for career rushing touchdowns in the win over Wagner. He recently moved into second among the school's career leaders in rushing yards.
► With the win over Wagner, head coach Jerry Schmitt tied Greg Gattuso for the most wins (97) in Duquesne history.
► The Dukes - picked to repeat as NEC champions in the conference preseason poll - are 22-5 in NEC action since the start of 2015 with a 12-2 mark at home. DU has been selected to finish first or second in the poll for nine straight years.
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: ESPN3
Play-by-Play: Paul Dottino
Analyst: Rasheed Marshall
Sideline: John Schmeelk
Listen: WJAS 1320 AM / iHeart Radio
Play-by-Play: Alex Panormios
Analyst: Tad Maurey
Live Stats: GoDuquesne.com
THE SERIES
- This Saturday's game marks the 46th meeting between the Duquesne and Saint Francis. The Dukes - who own a 37-8 advantage over the Red Flash - have played Saint Francis more than any other team in a storied series which dates back to the 1913 season.
- Duquesne is 21-2 all-time against the Red Flash in Pittsburgh and 8-0 at Rooney Field.
- Jerry Schmitt is 11-3 vs Saint Francis while Chris Villarrial is 2-7 vs the Dukes.
- Duquesne has won three of four and two in a row over the Red Flash, including a 27-20 victory in Loretto last season.
SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS U
- The Red Flash have dropped two of their last three contests in overtime, including a double overtime loss against Robert Morris.
- QB Jason Brown is second in the NEC in passing yardage (229.5 ypg) and passing touchdowns (14).
- LB Da'Jon Lee is fourth in the country in tackles for loss (1.8 per game) while DB Martin Foray Jr. has eight forced fumbles on the year.
- Return specialist Nick Rinella ranks in the top 20 in the nation in punt return yardage (ninth - 14.3 ypr) and kick return yardage (11th - 28.2 ypr).
- Red Flash kicker Trevor Thompson has a league-high 11 field goals on the year.
- Saint Francis ranks third in the FCS in pass efficiency defense (106.0) and eighth in the country in tackles for loss (8.4 per game). The Red Flash are second in the NEC in rushing defense (116.4 ypg).
- Head coach Chris Villarial is in his 10th season at the helm of the Red Flash program, helping Saint Francis to its first NEC title in 2016.
LAST TIME OUT
Duquesne 28, Wagner 24
- Duquesne erased a 14-0 deficit and held off a late Wagner surge in a 28-24 victory over the visiting Seahawks on a rainy homecoming game last Saturday afternoon at Arthur J. Rooney Field.
- The Dukes scored 28 straight points to win their third consecutive game.
- A.J. Hines rushed for over 100 yards for the third game in a row with 113 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown to pace the DU offense. With his 42nd career rushing touchdown, he shattered the 35-year old Duquesne school record for rushing touchdowns previously held by Pedro Bowman (1981-84).
- In addition, with the victory, 15th-year head coach Jerry Schmitt earned his 97th win at Duquesne tying Greg Gattuso for the most wins in program history.
- With his third 100-yard rushing game in a row and fourth of the season, Hines now has 24 100-yard rushing performances in his career, matching the Duquesne career record set by Larry McCoy (2009-12). Hines now has 4,384 career rushing yards, trailing the school's all-time leading rusher McCoy by just 165 yards.
- Brendan Thompson led the Duquesne defense in tackles for the second straight game, tallying six stops (five solo) on the afternoon. Kam Carter added five tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss for the Dukes.
- Mark Allen finished with 156 all-purpose yards and two total touchdowns on the day, including a 65-yard punt return for a score.
- Duquesne outgained the Seahawks 290-268, including a 218-77 advantage on the ground.
- The Dukes were 10-of-18 on third down and held Wagner to convert just 2-of-9 third-down attempts.
LAST MEETING (10.20.18)
Duquesne 27, Saint Francis 20
- A.J. Hines recorded 256 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns as Duquesne overcame a slow start to earn a 27-20 comeback road win over Saint Francis U.
- Trailing 13-6 at halftime, the Dukes outscored the Red Flash 21-7 in the second half en route to the NEC victory.
- Hines finished with 165 yards on the ground with a touchdown on 28 carries to go with three catches for a team-high 91 yards and a receiving score.
- Duquesne finished with a 364-313 edge in total yards, including a 181-70 advantage on the ground. The Dukes limited the Red Flash to the lowest rushing output for an opponent since holding Bryant to 58 rushing yards in last year's season finale.
- Harvey Clayton Jr. led Duquesne with a career-high nine tackles (eight solo) with the interception and a pair of pass breakups.
- Daniel Parr completed 12-of-28 attempts for 183 yards and two touchdowns, converting on 8-of-12 passes with the two scores in the second half.
QUICK HITS
- The Dukes are 22-5 in NEC action since the beginning of the 2015 campaign, including a 12-2 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 64 wins since 2011, at least 11 more victories than any other NEC team. In addition, the Dukes' 38 conference wins in that time span are the most in the league. Sacred Heart has the second-most wins with 53 while Bryant is second in NEC wins with 30.
- Duquesne was 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 is seventh in the FCS in pass defense (164.6 ypg), ninth in the country in total defense (270.0 ypg) and 13th in the nation in scoring defense (19.3 ppg).
- The Dukes are the top third-down conversion team in the NEC, converting on 48.5 pct of attempts (48-of-99). Duquesne also averages just 49.6 penalty yards per game, the top figure in the league.
- With a one-yard touchdown rush as time expired in the first half of the Dukes' 28-24 win over Wagner, A.J. Hines set a new Duquesne career record for rushing touchdowns with his 42nd rushing score.
- Hines finished with 113 rushing yards in the victory, tying Larry McCoy's school record of 24 career 100-yard rushing performances. Hines trails McCoy by just 165 yards as the program's all-time leading rusher.
- Hines has 4,965 career all-purpose yards coming into Saturday's game against Saint Francis U (4,384 rush, 562 receiving, 19 kick return).
- Mark Allen is leads the NEC and ranks 16th in the FCS in all-purpose yardage at 139.6 yards per game.
- Reid Harrison-Ducros is eighth in the country in interceptions per game (0.5).
- Brendan Thompson leads the Duquesne defense with 48 tackles, including a team-high 6.0 TFL. Spencer DeMedal is second on the team with 37 tackles with 26 solo stops while Harvey Clayton Jr. has 29 tackles and a team-high four pass breakups.
