PITTSBURGH – The No. 22/21 Duquesne University football team wraps up its 2024 home schedule on Saturday hosting Wagner with a chance to secure at least a share of the Northeast Conference title.
GAMEDAY INFO
November 16, 2024 | 12:00 PM | Rooney Field (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Wagner Seahawks (4-6, 2-2 NEC)
(No. 22/21) Duquesne Dukes (7-2, 4-0 NEC)
LINKS
OPENING KICKOFF
- Duquesne will look to clinch at least a share of the 2024 Northeast Conference title for the seventh time in program history and second back-to-back title since joining the league in 2008 ... A win for Duquesne clinches a share of the NEC title, while the NCAA FCS Playoff automatic bid can be secured if Duquesne wins and Robert Morris defeats Central Connecticut State ... If CCSU wins this week, the Dukes and Blue Devils will play a winner-take-all matchup next Saturday in New Britain for the league's automatic bid.
- Duquesne moved up in the national rankings to No. 22 in the Stats Perform Poll and No. 21 in the AFCA Coaches Poll ... It is the second straight week DU is in the top 25 after receiving votes for seven consecutive weeks prior ... This is the first season Duquesne is ranked since the spring 2021 campaign ... The No. 21 ranking in the coaches poll is tied for the highest the Dukes have been as NEC members (21st in 2018 final Stats Perform Poll).
- The Dukes are one of four remaining unbeaten teams in FCS play this season ... DU owns a 6-0 record versus FCS opponents this season, including a ranked win at then No. 21/20 Youngstown State in Week 3 ... Unbeaten FCS teams also include Montana State, North Dakota State and UC Davis.
- Duquesne rides a seven-game win streak into the contest, the longest for DU since 2017 ... Eight in a row would be the most as an NEC member and since an 11-0 regular season in 2002 ... The Dukes are 4-0 this season at Rooney Field and will vie for their first unbeaten home season since 2015 ... DU has five unbeaten home conference slates at Rooney Field since 2010 ... A win would tie the 2023 team for the best NEC start in program history at 5-0.
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John Erby caught three first-half touchdowns and racked up a career-best 126 receiving yards to earn NEC Offensive Player of the Week after the Robert Morris win ...
Ty Howard intercepted a pass in the red zone for the second straight week and extended his takeaway streak to four games, earning NEC Defensive Player of the Week ... The Dukes built a 21-0 halftime lead and DU cruised past RMU, 31-6, in the first matchup since 2019 last week ... DU's defense charted a season-high seven sacks and held the Colonials to 1-for-11 on third down.
- Wagner enters off a bye and with a 2-2 NEC mark falling to CCSU (24-14) and Robert Morris (21-14), while defeating Stonehill (28-7) and Saint Francis (14-0) ... The Seahawks allow just 13.0 points per game in NEC play - the fewest in the league - and have a pass defense that ranks top-10 in the FCS at 158.6 yards per game ... Offensively, Wagner has scored more than 14 points in just two of its nine Division I games.
- In NEC play, Duquesne is averaging 41 points per game (11.2 more than second-best) and allowing just 17 ppg.
STARTING FAST
- In every conference game the Dukes jumped ahead early with a 26-0 lead in the second quarter vs. LIU, 17-0 halftime advantage at Saint Francis, 21-0 start at Stonehill and 21-0 halftime lead vs. Robert Morris.
TRENDS TO NOTE
- Over the past two seasons (2023 and '24), Duquesne is 11-0 when scoring more than 30 points, 12-0 when holding opponents under 30 points and 11-0 when leading after the first quarter.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
- Duquesne has posted a takeaway in eight straight games ...
Ty Howard has been in on each of the last four (interception in red zone vs. RMU and Mercyhurst, fumble recovery - forced by
Luke Miller - at Stonehill and 40yd pick-six at Saint Francis).
- Five different players have interceptions;
Ty Howard leads with three - which is tied for an NEC lead, along with
Antonio Epps at YSU, Miller &
CJ Barnes vs. WVWC,
Nell Davis vs. LIU) ...
Jack Dunkley had a strip sack at Boston College (recovered by
Kevin Kurzinger), Malichi Lowery forced, scooped and scored at Saint Francis and
Justin Harris jumped on a muffed punt also at SFU.
- Howard's 40-yard pick six is the only pick-six by an NEC defender this year ... He is also the only NEC defender with multiple interceptions in league play.
- Sophomore
Jack Dunkley had a career-high 3.0 sacks last week and now leads the conference with 8.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss ... His sacks per game (0.94) ranks fifth in the FCS.
- As a team, DU has posted 17 sacks over the last three games with a season-high seven vs. RMU ... The Dukes rank 17th in the FCS in sacks per game as a team at 2.67 per game ... 12 different players have at least half a sack ...
Adrian Ramirez has posted a sack in three consecutive games.
- Redshirt freshman
Ethon Cole and
Jack Dunkley are two of seven NEC defenders with multiple forced fumbles (2).
BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK
- Quarterback
Darius Perrantes is averaging a league-best 260 yards with 16 TDs in NEC play ... Overall, Perrantes is atop the conference in passing efficiency (152.8), passing yards per completion (13.52) - also ranks 15th in FCS - and is 6th in the FCS in points responsible for (16.5/g).
- Perrantes is one of four FCS quarterbacks to throw 5+ touchdown passes in multiple games this season.
- Redshirt junior running back
JaMario Clements enters Week 12 with the NEC lead in rushing touchdowns (6), yards (970), yards per game (107.8) and yards per carry (6.9) ... Nationally, he is seventh in the FCS in yards per carry and ninth in rushing yards per game.
- Clements had a career-high 204 yards in win at YSU and has eclipsed 100 yards five times this season, including three straight games ... He owns the only 200-yard game by an NEC back this season and has three of the five longest runs in the league this year (86 yard TD vs. Mercyhurst, 75 yard TD and 72 yard rush at YSU).
- Seven different players have caught touchdown passes for the Dukes and four have three or more (
Joey Isabella - 7,
John Erby - 6,
Tedy Afful - 5,
Jermaine Johnson - 3) ... Isabella, who has caught one in six straight games, is tied for second in the NEC with seven TDs.
- In six FCS games this season, Duquesne has outgained opponents 1074-581 (+493) on the ground.
- The Dukes have totaled over 400 yards of offense four times this season, all in the last six games.
PROTECTING THE POCKET
- The Duquesne offensive line ranks fifth in the FCS allowing just 0.67 sacks per game and has allowed just one in the four NEC games ... DU also is sixth in the FCS in tackles for loss allowed, at 3.44 per game.
CONVERSION KINGS
- Duquesne is No. 1 in the FCS on fourth down conversions (92.3%) and has converted each of its last 10 on fourth downs, including a key 4th down on the opening drive last week vs. RMU.
- The Dukes lead the NEC on third downs at 44.8% and 59% in conference play ... DU's defense is holding NEC opponents to 11.6% conversions on third down (5-for-43).
- In NEC play, Duquesne is averaging a league-best 22 first downs and allowing the fewest in the NEC at 11.6.
RULING THE RED ZONE
- The Dukes are leading the NEC with an 85% scoring rate in the red zone with 23 touchdowns and six field goals (29 scores) in 34 trips.
- Duquesne has turned the ball over just one time when in the red zone.
- DU defense also ranks atop the NEC in holding opponents to 73% in the red zone, while forcing five turnovers (three INTS - two by Howard in the past two weeks and one by Epps at Youngstown State - as well as two turnovers on downs).
IN THE RECORD BOOK
- Senior quarterback
Darius Perrantes
- Passed Sean Patterson (2009-12) to be fourth all-time at Duquesne in career touchdown passes (65) after throwing four last week.
- Now fifth in Duquesne history with 429 completions ... Tony Zimmerman (1998-00) is fourth with 443.
- 6,132 career passing yards at Duquesne rank sixth all-time at DU - 48 behind Dave Loya's 6,180.
- Perrantes' six touchdowns responsible for vs. LIU tied a single-game program and NEC record and five touchdown passes tied a Rooney Field record ... 412 passing yards at Stonehill ranks fifth-most in a game in program history ... One of three Dukes ever to throw 5+ touchdown passes in multiple games (Dillon Buechel and Niel Loebig both did so three times).
- Graduate student kicker
Brian Bruzdewicz
- Second in career PATs (126) ... The program PAT record is 134 by Austin Crimmins (2013-'16).
- Moved into second all-time at Duquesne in career points by a kicker (237) after last week passing Mark Troyan (2005-08) - Austin Crimmins is first with 305 ... Third all-time at Duquesne in career field goals (37) - Mark Troyan is second with 39.
- Redshirt junior running back
JaMario Clements
- 86-yard touchdown run vs. Mercyhurst tied Josh Rue (2001 vs. Canisius) for the longest in recorded program history.
- Graduate student punter
Kyle Romenick
- 73-yard punt last week tied Joe Maker (2000 at Saint Peters) for the longest in program history.
MORE ON THE DUKES
- View full game notes, interviews, local features and more from the entire season in the
Media Center.
THIS WEEK ON THE JERRY SCHMITT COACH'S SHOW
- The newest episode of the
Jerry Schmitt Coach's Show airs on SportsNet Pittsburgh on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. ... Sophomore defensive lineman
Jack Dunkley is the player guest ... Visit
sportsnetpittsburgh.com for viewing information or visit the media center above.
UP NEXT
- Duquesne travels to Central Connecticut State next week for the final regular season game of the season. Kickoff from New Britain, Conn. is slated for noon.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
- Follow Duquesne football online all season at
GoDuquesne.com, as well as on
X (Twitter),
Instagram, and
Facebook (@DuqFB).
