DUQUESNE DUKES (6-4, 4-2 NEC) vs #18/18 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE BLUE DEVILS (10-1, 6-0 NEC)
Saturday, Nov. 23 / 12 p.m. / Pittsburgh, Pa. / Rooney Field
 
Watch: ESPN3
Play-by-Play: Paul Dottino
Analyst: Jeff Feagles
Sideline: Craig D'Amico
 
Listen: WJAS 1320 AM / iHeart Radio
Play-by-Play: Alex Panormios
Analyst: Tad Maurey
 
Live Stats: GoDuquesne.com
 
 
OPENING KICKOFF
► Duquesne caps the 2019 campaign on Saturday hosting 18th-ranked Central Connecticut State at Rooney Field. 
 
► The Dukes have dropped two in a row on the road at Robert Morris and Bryant. The Blue Devils secured their sixth NEC title and second FCS Playoff in three seasons with a 49-28 win over  RMU last Saturday.
 
► Saturday's matchup features two of the top defenses at the FCS level. Duquesne ranks second in the FCS in first downs defense (146), sixth in total defense (288.4 ypg) and eighth in pass defense (166.6 ypg). The Blue Devils are tied atop the FCS ranks in total defense (274.1 ypg) and also pace the country in rushing defense (63.8 ypg).
 
► All-American running back A.J. Hines leads all active FCS players in career rushing yards and touchdowns. He became  Duquesne's all-time leading rusher at Bryant last week.
 
► The Dukes are 23-7 in NEC action since the start of 2015, including a 13-2 mark at Rooney Field. 
 
► Duquesne will honor the accomplishments of its 31 seniors prior to Saturday's matchup vs. CCSU.
 
 
THE SERIES
- This marks the 13th meeting between the Dukes and Blue Devils in the series which is deadlocked at 6-6.
 
- Duquesne has won five of the last six meetings after CCSU won five of the first six games between the two teams.
 
- The last two contests in the series have had
conference championship and postseason
implications. Neither of these games were short of drama, each coming down to the final minute of action.
 
- The Dukes claimed their fifth NEC title and second FCS Playoff bid last season with a 38-31 win in New Britain on Daniel Parr's 56-yard touchdown pass to Nehari Crawford with just 24 ticks remaining.
 
- In 2017, the Blue Devils erased a 13-point Duquesne lead in the final seven minutes of action to earn the league crown and NEC's FCS Playoff bid.
 
- The Dukes and Blue Devils have won at least a share of the NEC title in every season since 2015:
2015: Duquesne
2016: Duquesne, Saint Francis U
2017: Central Connecticut
2018: Duquesne, Sacred Heart
2019: Central Connecticut
 
 
SCOUTING #18/18 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
- The Blue Devils have now won a school-record 10 games. 
 
- CCSU has appeared in the national rankings in six straight weeks. It is the first time the Blue Devils have been ranked since Oct. 2006.
 
- The Blue Devils are one of just four teams to not lose to an FCS team this season. The other three are #1/1 North Dakota State, #2/2 James Madison and #12/13 Florida A&M.
 
- CCSU's lone loss came at FBS Eastern Michigan by a score of 34-29. The Eagles blocked a Blue Devil punt and returned it for the game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds remaining.
 
- Ryan McCarthy was named CCSU head coach on Oct. 16, 2019, lifting the interim tag. McCarthy spent the previous four seasons as the Blue Devils' offensive coordinator.
 
- CCSU boasts the top scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense, total defense, rushing offense and rushing defense in the NEC.
 
- Georgia State graduate transfer quarterback Aaron Winchester buoys the CCSU offense, ranking third in the FCS in pass efficiency (172.8), fourth in completion percentage (0.671) and seventh in yards per completion (14.8).
 
- Winchester is also the Blue Devils' leading rusher, ranking fifth in the NEC averaging 66.2 yards per game. He paces the league in total offense (269.3 ypg) as well.
 
- Wide receiver Tyshaun James leads the conference with 13 touchdowns on the year, good for 19th in the FCS.
 
- Linebacker Tre Jones is third in the NEC in sacks (8.0) and fourth in tackles for loss (12.5) while Dexter Lawson leads the league with six interceptions.
 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Bryant 20, Duquesne 16
- Duquesne rallied back from a 20-3 deficit in the second half of an NEC matchup at Bryant last Saturday, but the Dukes' come-from-behind effort fell just short as the Bulldogs claimed a 20-16 victory at Beirne Stadium.
 
- With 106 yards on the ground, Duquesne running back A.J. Hines became the program's all-time leading rusher in the contest. Hines now has 4,619 career rushing yards, surpassing current Dukes running backs coach Larry McCoy, who tallied 4,549 yards from 2009-12.
 
- The Dukes, who came into the game ranked sixth in the FCS in total defense, posted another stifling defensive performance, limiting Bryant to 216 total yards in the contest.
 
- Duquesne outgained the Bulldogs 370-216 including an advantage of 231-111 on the ground. The Dukes also possessed the ball for 38:05 compared to Bryant's 21:55.
 
- Mark Allen rushed for 119 yards on 26 carries on the afternoon while Hines toted the ball 33 times for 106 yards. Allen and Hines are the first Duquesne players to each rush for 100 yards in the same game since P.J. Fulmore (128 yards) and Klartel Claridy (105 yards) on Sept. 5, 2015.
 
- Spencer DeMedal led Duquesne with eight tackles (six solo) with a forced fumble. Daivon Ellison had seven tackles (six solo) including a tackle for loss.
 
- Mitch MacZura is the first Duke to connect on three field goals (19, 24, 20) in a game since John Domit at Sacred Heart on Oct. 28, 2017.
 
- Brett Brumbaugh finished 14-of-23 for 139 yards and Kellon Taylor recorded six receptions for 51 yards to pace the Dukes' receiving corps.
 
 
LAST MEETING (11.17.18)
Duquesne 38, CCSU 31
- With the score knotted 31-31 with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, Daniel Parr hit Nehari Crawford with a strike across the middle before Crawford shook off a pair of Blue Devil tackles, sprinting into the end zone for the 56-yard touchdown.
 
- Leaving CCSU with just 17 seconds to drive 81 yards, Duquesne forced three straight incomplete passes to seal the NEC title, knocking off the defending conference champions.
 
- After hauling in 10 catches on Saturday, Crawford became Duquesne's all-time leader in career receptions with 182. He tallied 124 receiving yards in the win, moving into second place in school history in receiving yards.
 
- A.J. Hines finished with 31 carries for 125 yards and two touchdowns while Parr recorded 277 yards through the air on 23-of-33 attempts with a pair of touchdown passes and a rushing score in the win.
 
- Success on third downs proved to be crucial for Duquesne, as the Dukes converted on 11-of-18 attempts – including the game-winning score – compared to CCSU's 3-of-12 rate on third down.
 
- Brett Zanotto paced the Duquesne defense with nine tackles (four solo). Jonathant Istache tallied six tackles to go with the interception and pass breakup, while Jalen Booker added six tackles.
 
 
QUICK HITS
- The Dukes are 23-7 in NEC action since the beginning of the 2015 campaign, including a 13-2 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 65 wins since 2011, at least nine more victories than any other NEC team. In addition, the Dukes' 39 conference wins in that time span are the most in the league. Sacred Heart has the
second-most wins with 56 while Bryant is second in NEC wins with 31.

- 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.
 
- The Dukes will honor 30 seniors prior to Saturday's game including:
 
            Mark Allen - RB - Hyattsville, Md.
            Chuk Anya - DB - Germantown, Md.
            Peter Ausiello - DB - Waxhaw, N.C.
            Justin Baker - OL - Oakdale, Pa.
            Zack Blystone - OL - Charleroi, Pa.
            Connor Brennan - WR/P - Pittsburgh, Pa.
            Jordan Briscoe - LB - Monongahela, Pa.
            Marquis Brown - RB - Washington, D.C.
            Brett Brumbaugh - QB - McDonald, Pa.
            Kam Carter - DL - Germantown, Md.
            Peter Ciesielski - OL - Broomall, Pa.
            Kareem Coles Jr. - WR - San Diego, Calif.
            Sean Edmonds - DB - Hudson, Ohio
            Daivon Ellison - DB - Linden, N.J.
            Chris Favoroso - DL - Port St. Lucie, Fla.
            Bryan Glover - LB - Pittsburgh, Pa.
            Reid Harrison-Ducros - DB - Colleyville, Texas
            A.J. Hines - RB - Wilson, N.C.
            Sterling Jenkins - OL - Pittsburgh, Pa.
            Kevin Lenz - TE - Mechanicsburg, Pa.
            Mitch MacZura - K/P - Pittsburgh, Pa.
            Ricky Mellick - DB - Pittsburgh, Pa.
            Matt Natale - LB - New Castle, Pa.
            Mike O'Malley - DL - Lakewood, Ohio
            Emilio Paesano - OL - Dublin, Ohio
            Daniel Parr - QB - Jupiter, Fla.
            Gabe Spurlock - OL - Mars, Pa.
            Kellon Taylor - WR - Landover, Md.
            Brendan Thompson - LB - Germantown, Md.
            Mason Williams - DB - Pasadena, Calif.
            Brett Zanotto - LB - Murrysville, Pa.
            Hunter Geisel - Student Assistant Coach
            Erika Bakirtzis - Student Photographer
 
- Duquesne ranks second in the FCS in first downs defense (146), sixth in total defense (288.4 ypg), 10th in pass defense (166.6 ypg) and 21st in scoring defense (21.7 pgg).
 
- Duquesne is the top third-down conversion team in the NEC, converting on 45.3 pct of attempts (65-of-146).
 
- With 106 yards on the ground last week at Bryant, Duquesne running back A.J. Hines became the Dukes' all-time leading rusher, passing current running backs coach Larry McCoy.
 
- With a one-yard touchdown rush as time expired in the first half of the Dukes' 28-24 win over Wagner, Hines set a new Duquesne career record for rushing touchdowns with his 42nd rushing score. He added a touchdown in each of the last two games at Robert Morris and Bryant, as well.
 
- In addition, with 106 yards at Bryant, Hines shattered McCoy's school record with 25 career 100-yard rushing performances.
 
- Hines eclipsed the 5,000 career all-purpose yardage mark against Saint Francis U (4,619 rush, 580 receiving, 19 kick return).
 
- Hines and Mark Allen have been a dynamic duo in the backfield for the Dukes this season, as the pair has combined to rush for 1,459 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year. Hines is averaging 96.3 yards per game and Allen 68.9 yards. The two backs have tallied seven 100-yard individual rushing performances on the season.
 
- Brendan Thompson leads the Duquesne defense with 68 tackles, including 8.0 TFL and three forced fumbles.
 
- Spencer DeMedal is second on the team with 58 tackles with 38 solo stops, 4.5 tackles for loss and an interception while Daivon Ellison is third with 44 tackles (32 solo) with 5.0 tackles for loss and three interceptions in just eight games.
 
- Chris Favoroso has recorded team highs of nine tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks in addition to nine quarterback hurries on the season. He is part of a Duquesne defensive line along with First Team All-NEC selection Kam Carter and Mike O'Malley which has played a big role in applying pressure and allowing the Dukes to force turnovers all season. 
 
- The Dukes have had six different players lead them in tackles through the first 10 games of the year:
Walsh: Brendan Thompson (8 tkl, 8 solo, 2 TFL)
YSU: Chris Favoroso (10 tkl, 6 solo, sack)
Dayton: Spencer DeMedal (10 tkl, 4 solo, TFL)
UNH: Brendan Thompson (8 tkl, 3 solo, TFL)
LIU: Spencer DeMedal (7 tkl, 6 solo, .5 TFL)
Todd Hill (7 tkl, 4 solo, 1.5 sacks)
Brendan Thompson (7 tkl, 4 solo 1.5 TFL)
Mason Williams (7 tkl, 3 solo, .5 TFL)
SHU: Brendan Thompson (11 tkl, 7 solo, 1.5 TFL)
Wagner: Brendan Thompson (6 tkl, 5 solo)
SFU: Brendan Thompson (6 tkl, 4 solo, FF, FR)
Daivon Ellison (6 tkl, 5 solo)
RMU: Spencer DeMedal (10 tkl, 4 solo, .5 TFL)
Bryant: Spencer DeMedal (8 tkl, 6 solo, FF)
 
- Both Kellon Taylor and Kareem Coles Jr. hauled in touchdown receptions in the win at Dayton, representing each of their first touchdown grabs of the season. 
 
- In fact, it was Coles Jr.'s first touchdown catch since Sept. 30, 2017 when he tallied a pair of touchdown receptions from quarterback Tommy Stuart. Coles Jr. was tied for the team lead for receiving touchdowns with Nehari Crawford following that game, but missed the rest of the season due to injury. Crawford went on to lead the FCS in touchdown receptions.
 
- Taylor notched his first career 100-yard receiving game in the win over Saint Francis, hauling in eight receptions to match a career high as well. The 6-5 senior followed that up with another career day at Robert Morris with six receptions for 113 yards. He paces the Dukes with 50 catches for 512 receiving yards with a team-high four touchdown receptions on the year. 
 
- Coles Jr. has 39 catches for 404 yards on the season with three touchdowns. He notched career bests of 10 catches for 100 yards at Robert Morris.
 
- The game at Robert Morris marked the first time Duquesne had two 100-yard receivers in the same contest since Chris King (9-111-TD) and Wayne Capers (6-144) on Nov. 7, 2015 at Sacred Heart.
 
- Davie Henderson has a pair of touchdown receptions for Duquesne and averages a team-best 18.3 yards per reception while Dominic Thieman has hauled in 21 catches for 305 yards and a pair of scores.