PITTSBURGH -- The Duquesne University football team will begin its 97th season of competition on Thursday night at Toledo.
GAMEDAY INFOÂ
August 29, 2024 | 7:30 PM | Glass Bowl (Toledo, Ohio)
(RV) Duquesne Dukes (0-0, 0-0 NEC)Â
Toledo Rockets (0-0, 0-0, MAC)
LINKS
OPENING KICKOFF
- The Duquesne Dukes returned to the top of the Northeast Conference (NEC) in 2023, winning their sixth NEC title (6-1 NEC record) and making the program's third appearance in the NCAA FCS Playoffs.Â
- Reigning NEC Coach of the Year, Jerry Schmitt returns to the sideline for his 20th season at the helm of the Dukes and 31st on the DU staff ... Schmitt's 120 wins at the FCS level rank sixth among active coaches, and his 148 career wins rank seventh among active coaches ... 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)
- The Dukes were tabbed preseason favorites in the NEC and had six players named to the preseason all-conference list ... Quarterback Darius Perrantes and wide receiver Tedy Afful along with transfers Noah Canty (tight end) and Vincent Lumia (offensive line) represented DU on offense ... Defensive lineman A.J. Ackerman and linebacker Gianni Rizzo earned preseason nods on defense.
- Duquesne returns a total of 11 starters and two of its 10 all-conference players in 2023 ... Perrantes (1st team) and Rizzo (2nd team) are the returners ... Perrantes was also named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List for National Offensive Player of the Year in the FCS, an award he was a finalist for in 2023.
- DU opens with an FBS opponent for the fifth time (2014, '18, '21, '22) ... Toledo is the 10th FBS opponent in program history ... Duquesne, who takes on Boston College in Week 2, is playing two FBS teams for the fifth time since 2018 ... It is the second time that DU is opening the season against consecutive FBS teams, the only other was 2021 (at TCU and Ohio).
THE SERIES
- This is the first meeting between Duquesne and Toledo in program history ... Duquesne is 1-1 all-time against MAC schools with a loss at Buffalo (38-28) in 2014 - the first FBS game in program history - and a 28-26 win at Ohio - the first and only win over FBS program by DU - ... Darius Perrantes threw for 194 yards (23-for-34) with a touchdown and rushed in a score, while Joey Isabella snagged a career-high eight receptions and a touchdown, and Brian Bruzdewicz hit the game-winning field goal in the Ohio victory.
WINNING TRADITION
- 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 87 overall and 57 conference wins since 2011, at least 13 more overall victories and 14 more NEC wins than any other team in the league.
- In 76 seasons at the major college and NCAA levels, Duquesne is 405-309-18 (.566), ranking 28th among FCS programs.
DUKES IN THE POLLS
- Duquesne is receiving votes in both national FCS preseason polls for the first time since 2018.
SEASON OPENER NOTES
- Duquesne is 17-14 in season openers in 31 seasons as an FCS member.
- This is the first Thursday game for DU since the 2017 season opener at No. 4 South Dakota State (L, 51-13) ... Duquesne also opened the 2016 season on a Thursday night at Youngstown State (L, 45-10).
SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
- Toledo, led by ninth year head coach Jason Candle, are members of the FBS and the Mid-American Conference ... The Rockets were 11-3 last season and 8-0 in MAC play to win the MAC West Division title ... Toledo lost in the MAC Championship Game to Miami (Ohio) and fell to Wyoming in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl to close out the 2023 campaign.
- The Rockets have appeared in the last two MAC Championship Games and won in 2022.
- Toledo returns six All-MAC players and 45 letterwinners from last year's squad ... Senior safety Maxen Hook was named to a pair of preseason award watch lists for top defender and top defensive back in college football ... First team All-MAC wide receiver Jerjuan Newton headlines the offensive returners and junior quarterback Tucker Gleason is expected to step into the starting role under center and was tabbed preseason All-MAC by multiple outlets.
- Toledo is 28-2 against FCS schools schools since 1978 and has not lost to an FCS foe since 1988.
MORE ON THE DUKES
- A full preview of Duquesne is available in the game notes packet, here.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
- Follow Duquesne football online all season at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqFB).
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