PITTSBURGH -- The Duquesne University football team travels to Saint Francis on Saturday for the NEC Game of the Week on ESPN+.
GAMEDAY INFOÂ
October 12, 2024 | 12:00 PM | DeGol Field (Loretto, Pa.)
(RV) Duquesne Dukes (3-2, 1-0 NEC)Â
Saint Francis Red Flash (2-3, 0-1Â NEC)
LINKS
OPENING KICKOFF
- Duquesne began its NEC title defense with a
dominating, 47-21, victory over LIU last week on Homecoming and Family Weekend at Rooney Field ... Quarterback
Darius Perrantes threw for five touchdowns and rushed in another to tie a program and NEC single-game record with six touchdowns responsible for ...
Joey Isabella and
Tedy Afful each caught two touchdowns, while
JaMario Clements eclipsed 100 yards for the second time this season, rushing for 147.
- The Dukes have won three straight games and are 2-0 in FCS matchups this season,
defeating No. 21/20 Youngstown State in Week 3 for DU's second win over a ranked opponent in program history and LIU.
- Duquesne is receiving votes in both national polls for the fourth straight week ... This week's 25 points in the Stats Perform Poll and 24 points in the AFCA Coaches Poll are the most for DU this season.
- Dukes senior QB
Darius Perrantes was named the
NEC Offensive Player of the Week and an honorable mention for Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week ... SFU QB Jeff Hoenstine was named NEC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season after throwing two touchdowns in the Delaware State win.
- Saint Francis (2-3, 0-1 NEC) became the second NEC program, joining DU in 2021, to defeat an FBS team with its
23-17 win over Kent State in Week Two ... The Red Flash scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to complete a
28-17 comeback victory at Delaware State last week ... SFU dropped its lone conference game thus far,
27-20 vs. CCSU.
- Duquesne ranks second in the NEC in rushing yards per game (177.0) ... The Red Flash allow the fewest yards per game (279.0 - 8th in FCS) and rushing yards (96.6 - 11th in FCS) in the NEC, while boasting a third-down defense that is 9th in the FCS (28.4% conversion pct).
- Duquesne won its sixth NEC title last season with a 6-1 conference mark and made its third appearance in the FCS playoffs
-
Jerry Schmitt (DU - 20th season) and Chris Villarrial (SFU - 14th season) are the two longest tenured coaches in the NEC.
THE SERIES
- The Dukes and Red Flash meet for the 50th time ... SFU is the most familiar opponent in DU's 97-year history.
- The Dukes hold a
39-10 all-time advantage, including a 38-35 victory in last year's matchup ... Duquesne was up 31-7 at halftime but had to fend off a late push by the Red Flash, holding on for the three-point win ...
Darius Perrantes threw for three touchdowns, including a 69-yard connection to
Joey Isabella, leading the Duquesne offense to victory ... SFU scored three times in the fourth quarter and had a 45-yard field goal attempt to send it to overtime, but missed.
- The Dukes have won 16 of the 23 matchups at Saint Francis.
- The series began in 1913 with a 19-0 Duquesne win in Pittsburgh.
- The matchup has been played for 18 consecutive fall seasons. (did not play in 2021 spring/COVID season)
- Three of the last five meetings have been decided by one possession.
WINNING TRADITIONÂ Â
- Duquesne has won a conference title 17 times (11 MAAC and 6 NEC) since 1995 (29 seasons) and has posted a .500 or better record in 28 of the 31 seasons played at the FCS level.
- Duquesne's six NEC titles, all since 2011, are the most in the last 13 seasons and are tied with Albany, Central Connecticut State, Robert Morris and Sacred Heart for the most in conference history ... Duquesne, CCSU and Robert Morris are the only active teams in the conference.
- DU leads the NEC with 90 overall and 58 conference wins since 2011, at least 23 more overall victories and 14 more NEC wins than any other active team in the league.
RECORD BOOK UPDATE
- In addition to adding his name to the single-game record books, senior quarterback
Darius Perrantes is now fifth all-time at Duquesne in career touchdown passes, passing Dave Loya, with 52 after the LIU win ... Perrantes' six touchdowns responsible for tied a single-game program and NEC record vs. LIU and his five touchdown passes tied a Rooney Field record.
STAT STANDOUTS
- Redshirt junior running back
JaMario Clements is averaging an NEC-best 98.6 yards per game (64 carries - 493 yd - 2 td) and his 7.7 yards per rush ranks fifth in the FCS.
- Clements has eclipsed 100+ yards in two of the last three games ... He has two of the top four rushing games in the NEC this season (#1 - 204 at YSU, #4 - 147 vs. LIU).
- Five different players have caught touchdown passes for the Dukes, paced by
Tedy Afful with four - which is tied for third-most in the NEC ... Duquesne is the only team in the NEC with three players that have multiple TD catches (Afful - 4, Isabella - 3, Johnson - 2).
- Sophomore
Jack Dunkley is tied for fourth in the NEC in sacks with 3.0.
- Redshirt freshman and Purdue transfer
Ethon Cole is tied for second in the conference with four pass breakups.
- The Dukes defense has recorded four interceptions over the last three games, all by different players (Epps at YSU, Miller & Barnes vs. WVWC, and Davis vs. LIU) ... Duquesne has scored a touchdown on the following drive of all four interceptions.
- Despite battling injuries, the Dukes offensive line is first in the NEC and 19th in the FCS in fewest TFLs allowed (4.0/game) ... DU has allowed just five sacks, the second-fewest in the NEC behind CCSU (3).
- Duquesne is second in the conference in red-zone offense, converting at an 83.3% rate (15-for-18 with 14 TDs) and is the only NEC offense to not have a turnover in the red zone this year.
- The Dukes are 8-for-9 on 4th down conversions this season (2-2 at TOL, 0-1 at YSU, 4-4 vs. WVWC, 2-for-2 vs. LIU) ... An 89% conversion rate on 4th down ranks fifth in the FCS.
THAT'S OUR COACH
- Reigning NEC Coach of the Year
Jerry Schmitt's 123 wins at the FCS level rank sixth among active coaches ... He is one of seven active FCS coaches to win 150 or more career games.
- With this season, Schmitt will pass Dan McCann for the longest tenured coach in program history ... McCann coached 19 seasons (1970-'83 and 1988-'92) ... Schmitt, in his 31st season on the Duquesne staff, spent 11 years as an assistant at DU over a trio of stints (1985-87, '92 and '93-'99) before being named head coach in 2005.
- Schmitt is the longest tenured coach in the NEC ... He ranks third among active FCS coaches for longest tenured (20 seasons) at their current school and is tied third for overall seasons as a head coach (25).
DUQ-SFU CONNECTIONS
- Duquesne offensive coordinator
Anthony Doria was a record-setting quarterback for Saint Francis where he graduated from in 2007 ... He was the NEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2005 and threw for an NEC-record 8,544 passing yards in his career.
- DUQ senior receiver
Tedy Afful and SFU senior defensive lineman Eddie Bierals were high school teammates on a DePaul Catholic team that won a New Jersey state title in 2019 at MetLife Stadium.
MORE ON THE DUKES
- A full preview of Duquesne is available in the game notes packet,Â
here.
THIS WEEK ON THE JERRY SCHMITT COACH'S SHOW
- The newest episode of theÂ
Jerry Schmitt Coach's Show airs on SportsNet Pittsburgh on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. ... Quarterback
Darius Perrantes is this week's player guest ... VisitÂ
sportsnetpittsburgh.com for more viewing information.
UP NEXT
- Duquesne will be off next week for its second of two byes this season, then return to action on October 26 at Stonehill.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
- Follow Duquesne football online all season atÂ
GoDuquesne.com, as well as onÂ
X (Twitter),Â
Instagram, andÂ
Facebook (@DuqFB).
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