PITTSBURGH - Coming off its fifth Northeast Conference (NEC) title and an appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs Second Round, the Duquesne football team today released its 2019 schedule.

The 11-game slate begins with four non-conference contests before the Dukes begin their defense of the NEC crown.

Duquesne opens up the season at Arthur J. Rooney Field for the first time since 2015 hosting Walsh on Sept. 7 in the latest season-opening game since 2002, when the Dukes took on Bucknell also on Sept. 7. This will be the first meeting between Duquesne and the Cavaliers.

The Dukes then travel to the Buckeye State the next two weeks to take on Youngstown State (Sept. 14) and Dayton (Sept. 21). 

Duquesne last faced Bo Pelini's Penguins to open the 2016 campaign. The Dukes are 0-3 all-time against four-time national champion YSU.

Dayton is a familiar foe for Duquesne, as the Dukes and Flyers have faced each other in each of the last 11 seasons. DU owns a 10-6 advantage in the all-time series.

Duquesne then rounds out its non-conference slate with a road matchup at New Hampshire out of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). This is the first meeting between the Dukes and Wildcats, who made 14 straight FCS Playoff appearances from 2004-17, advancing to the quarterfinal round just two seasons ago. 

DU will open up NEC action at home on Oct. 5 hosting new member Long Island University, which is in its first year of a transition to competing at the Division I level in the NEC following a unification of the athletic departments at LIU Brooklyn and NCAA Division II LIU Post.

Following a bye week, Duquesne then travels to 2018 NEC Co-Champion Sacred Heart on Oct. 19. The Dukes have won four straight over the Pioneers, including a 28-24 victory at Rooney Field in 2018.

The Dukes then host Wagner (Oct. 26) and Saint Francis U (Nov. 2) before making the short trek to Moon Township to battle Robert Morris (Nov. 9).

Duquesne makes its final road trip of the regular season at Bryant on Nov. 16 before hosting Central Connecticut State on Nov. 23 in a showdown of the last two NCAA FCS Playoff automatic qualifiers from the conference. Each of the last two meetings between the Dukes and Blue Devils have been thrilling, as Daniel Parr's 56-yard touchdown pass to Nehari Crawford with under a minute left in the game lifted Duquesne to a 38-31 win in New Britain last season, giving the Dukes their fifth NEC title and second FCS Playoff appearance in program history.

Game times for the 2019 campaign will be announced at a later date.

Season tickets are now on sale for all five home games at Rooney Field. Individual game tickets will be available starting August 1. For ticket information for the 2019 season - CLICK HERE.


2019 Duquesne Football Schedule
Sept. 7 - vs Walsh
Sept.14 - at Youngstown State
Sept. 21 - at Dayton
Sept. 28 - at New Hampshire
Oct. 5 - vs Long Island
Oct. 19 - at Sacred Heart
Oct. 26 - vs Wagner
Nov. 2 - vs St. Francis U
Nov. 9 - at  Robert Morris
Nov. 16 - at Bryant
Nov. 23 - vs Central Connecticut State