PITTSBURGH - The two teams picked at the top of the Preseason NEC Coaches Poll will clash under unfamiliar circumstances when Sacred Heart visits Rooney Field to take on the Dukes Saturday, Nov. 5 for a noon kick.

Duquesne and Sacred Heart will be looking to close out the season strong with an eye towards next year, as both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention with three games remaining in the season. Saint Francis clinched the NEC's automatic bid into the FCS Playoffs with its win over Sacred Heart last week. League-leading Merrimack is in its second year transitioning from NCAA Division II and not eligible for the postseason this year. 

G9 | DUQUESNE (2-6, 1-3 NEC) vs. SACRED HEART (4-4, 2-2 NEC)
DATE: Saturday, Nov. 5
TIME: 12:00 p.m. ET
LOCATION: Pittsburgh, Pa. - Arthur J. Rooney Field
LIVE VIDEO: NEC Front Row with Tim Benz (pxp) and Ellis Cannon (analyst)
RADIO: BIG 104.7 FM HD2 / ESPN 970 AM / iHeart Radio with Alex Panormios (pxp) and Tad Maurey (analyst)

OPENING KICKOFF
- The Dukes are 117-34 all-time at Rooney including winning streaks of 16, 14 and 10 games (twice). 

- Duquesne has lost consecutive home games for the first time since back-to-back losses to Monmouth and Albany on Rooney Field in 2012.

- The Dukes have not lost three-straight home games since 2009, when they lost to Central Connecticut State (31-24), Wagner (23-17 2OT) and Bryant (20-0). Duquesne's last two losses on Rooney Field mirror those first two from 2009. The Dukes lost by seven to Merrimack and in two overtimes to LIU.

- Duquesne is 58-39 all-time in NEC contests including a 32-17 mark at home. The Dukes are 17-6 in NEC action at Rooney Field over the last seven seasons. 

- In 30 seasons at the FCS level, the Dukes have posted a .500 record or better in 27 of those years, including each of the past nine seasons. Duquesne has captured 206 wins and 16 conference titles during that span.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS OF MISCHLER'S HISTORIC PERFORMANCE
- Quarterback Joe Mischler was moved to the backup role for the first time this season last week versus LIU, but a lower-body injury to reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Week Darius Perrantes thrust Mischler back under center.

- The Erie, Pa. native went on to establish career highs in virtually every passing category, completing 35 of 50 for 414 yards and five touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown

- Mischler's 35 completions tied the school-record set by Scott Knapp in 2006 in a game versus Fordham and established a new record for a quarterback at Rooney Field.

- The 414 passing yards were the fourth-most in a single-game by a Duquesne quarterback all-time, while the five touchdown passes are tied for the fourth-most in a game.

- Mischler became the first Duquesne quarterback to throw for over 400 yards and complete over 30 passes since Dillon Buechel threw for 423 yards on 33 of 53 attempts against William & Mary on Nov. 28, 2015 in a 52-49 loss in the first round of the FCS Playoffs. 

- Buechel was also the last Duke to attempt 50 passes in a game when he attempted 51 versus Bucknell on Sept. 10, 2016.

- In two career games versus LIU, Mischler has completed 56 of 77 passes for 799 yards and eight touchdowns. 

NOTABLES
- Wide receivers Dwayne Menders, Jr. Abdul Janneh and Joey Isabella each hauled in two touchdown receptions last week versus LIU. It was the first time in Duquesne history that three receivers had multiple touchdown receptions in the same game.

- It was also the first time since 2017 that multiple Duquesne wide receivers each recorded two touchdown catches. The last pair of Dukes to do so were Nehari Crawford and Kareem Coles, Jr. vs. W.Va. Wesleyan. 

- Duquesne has been limited to under 100 yards rushing in each of the past three games and five times this season. The Dukes were held under 100 yards rushing twice all of last season.

- The Dukes are one of the least penalized teams in the FCS this season. Duquesne leads the NEC with just 4.62 penalties per game. The 37.50 penalty yards per game is the ninth-lowest total in the FCS this season.

- The Dukes are tied for seventh in the FCS with just two fumbles lost in 2022, neither of which have come from a Duquesne running back. Duquesne led the FCS with just two fumbles lost last season.
 
- Duquesne has converted each of its last four fourth-down attempts, including a 22-yard Joey Isabella touchdown catch on fourth down in overtime last week. Duquesne is converting over 66 percent of its fourth downs which leads the NEC and ranks 11th in the FCS.

- The Dukes are averaging 2.38 quarterback sacks per game to lead the NEC and rank 32nd in the FCS. Linebacker Todd Hill paces the team and ranks second nationally with 1.12 sacks per game. Hill also ranks sixth nationally with 1.6 tackles for loss per game.

- Quarterback Joe Mischler and linebacker Todd Hill were named NEC Prime Performers on Monday. Hill boosted his league-best sacks total to 9.0 after registering 2.0 in Duquesne's double overtime loss to LIU. The junior linebacker added eight tackles (six solo), 3.0 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry.   

- Quarterback Darius Perrantes and kicker Brian Bruzdewicz each garnered NEC Player of the Week honors following the team's win at CCSU. Perrantes established season highs in yards, completions and touchdowns in the victory. Bruzdewicz was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, including a career-long 40-yard kick.

- Abdul Janneh was named the NEC Offensive Player of the Week following the team's loss at Youngstown State on Sept. 3. He led the Dukes with eight catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns in that setback. Up until this past week, he was the only Duquesne player to receive a weekly NEC honor.

- The Dukes have yielded the second-fewest yards on kickoffs to opponents in the NEC this year. Duquesne is allowing 14.34 yards per return, which slots seventh overall in the FCS.

LAST MEETING
- Sacred Heart outscored Duquesne 24-0 in the second half to earn a 31-13 victory over the Dukes in Fairfield last season.

- The Pioneers outgained the Dukes 416-196 and held a 38:03-21:57 advantage in time of possession.

- Former Duquesne running back Garrett Owens totaled 113 yards on 11 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown for the Dukes.

- Malik Grant toted the ball 34 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns to lead Sacred Heart.

THE COACHES
Duquesne: Jerry Schmitt (18th season / 111-77 at Duquesne)  
- Head coach Jerry Schmitt is in his 18th season at the helm of the Duquesne program. He became the Dukes' all-time winningest coach in 2019 with a 30-21 victory over Saint Francis U for his 98th win as Duquesne's head coach. Schmitt passed Greg Gattuso (1993-2004) for the most wins in program history.

- Schmitt posted his 100th win at Duquesne with the Dukes' victory at Wagner during the spring 2021 season. He is one of 10 active coaches with 100 FCS wins at their current school.

Sacred Heart: Mark Nofri (11th season / 65-51 at SHU)  
- Mark Nofri has helped the Pioneers win five Northeast Conference title since he took over as head coach in 2011. He is a five-time NEC Coach of the Year.

- The longest tenured football coach in school history, Nofri began his coaching career at Hamilton College before coming to Sacred Heart in 1994. During his first five seasons at Sacred Heart, Nofri coached the defensive backs.

LAST TIME OUT - LIU 50, Duquesne 48 (2ot)    
- In a game that featured over 1,000 yards of total offense, the Dukes were dealt a heart-breaking 50-48 loss in double-overtime by LIU.

- Duquesne finished with 509 yards of total offense, compared to LIU, who put up 510. The Dukes threw for 448, but only rushed for 61 yards. The Sharks were more balanced with 346 yards passing and 164 yards on the ground.

- LIU was 5-of-6 for 213 yards and two touchdowns on throws of over 20 yards.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
- Sacred Heart is on a two-game skid after losses to Merrimack and Saint Francis the past two weeks.

- The Pioneers fell behind 34-0 in the second quarter to Saint Francis last week. Saint Francis had a 568-to-313 advantage in total yards, including 304 on the ground.

- Quarterback Marquez McCray leads the NEC with 216.5 passing yards per game. McCray had his best game of the season against Stonehill, when he threw for a career-high 405 yards.
 
- Running back Malik Grant crossed the 100-yard mark for the fifth time this season in the setback to Saint Francis. He was a 2021 Third-Team All-American.

 - Grant is on the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List and the Walter Payton Award Watch List, which is annually awarded to the national offensive player of the year.

- Ernest Howard is the team's leading tackler, but he did not play last week versus Saint Francis.

CLIMBING THE HILL
- Todd Hill was a Second Team All-NEC performer last season at linebacker. He has posted sacks in six of the team's eight games, including a sack at Florida State.

- The Steel Valley alum leads the NEC and ranks second in the FCS with 1.12 sacks per game. His 1.6 tackles for loss per game leads the NEC and ranks sixth nationally.

NEXT WEEK
- The Dukes will play their final road contest of the season next Saturday, Nov. 12 when they visit Loretto, Pa. to take on Saint Francis U at DeGol Field. Kick-off is slated for 12 p.m.

- Duquesne will look to avenge a 17-10 loss at Rooney Field from last season. In 42 total meetings, the Red Flash have only won consecutive games against the Dukes once (1991 & 1992).