BRIDGEWATER, N.J. -- With a championship-clinching victory at Merrimack this past weekend, the Duquesne University football team received three of the four Northeast Conference weekly awards for Week 12. Darius Perrantes was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Gianni Rizzo took home Defensive Player of the Week honors, and Edward Robinson claimed his third Rookie of the Week selection.

It is the first time in program history that Duquesne has won offensive, defensive, and rookie weekly honors in the same week.

Perrantes helped lead the Dukes to the NEC crown with three touchdowns over 11-of-18 passing and 218 yards. He leads the NEC with 21 touchdown passes on the season - at least six more than any other NEC quarterback and the most by a Duke since Tommy Stuart's 27 in 2017. Perrantes has thrown for 200+ yards in every conference outing, averaging a league-best 208.3 passing yards per game. Averaging 19.8 yards per completion in last week's win, the junior quarterback from Los Angeles now ranks first in the FCS at 17.9 yards per completion for the year.

Rizzo, a junior linebacker from North Huntingdon, Pa., posted a game-high 10 tackles, nine of which solos, and had 1.5 TFLs in the win at Merrimack. He recorded a TFL in six of the seven NEC matchups this season and was a leader on the Dukes defense that shutout Merrimack in the second half, holding the Warriors to 61 yards of total offense. Rizzo is currently tied for third in the NEC in tackles for loss and leads Duquesne with 10.0.

Robinson capitalized four plays after a 4th quarter fumble recovery with a 10-yard touchdown run putting the Dukes up by two scores with six minutes to play. The Maple Heights, Ohio product led the Dukes with 89 yards on the ground, his fifth game above 80 this year, and scored his seventh touchdown of his freshman campaign - which is the third-most in the NEC. Robinson ties Dillon Beuchel (2013) for second-most rookie of the week honors by a Duke, only behind A.J. Hines - who captured a league-best 10 in 2016.

The Dukes will make their third NCAA Division I FCS Championship appearance on Saturday, traveling to No. 21/23 Youngstown State for a first-round matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 pm and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased here.

FCS CHAMPIONSHIP LINKS
Championship App  |  Full Bracket

FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne football online all season at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqFB).