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Duquesne University Athletics

football runs out pregame vs. new haven 2025
Brandon Reed

GAME 6: Dukes Host Stonehill in NEC Opener

10/1/2025 2:30:00 PM

PITTSBURGH – Duquesne continues its homestand Saturday, hosting Stonehill in its Northeast Conference (NEC) opener.

THE MATCHUP
October 4, 2025 • 12:00 PM • Rooney Field (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Duquesne Dukes (2-3, 0-0 NEC) Stonehill Skyhawks (2-3, 1-0 NEC) ADDITIONAL INFO / GAMEDAY LINKS OPENING KICKOFF
Conference Opener: Duquesne (2-3) hosts Stonehill (2-3, 1-0) in its Northeast Conference opener. The Dukes are 14-3 in NEC openers since joining in 2008, including 9-1 at home, and have won five of their last six, with the only loss coming at Stonehill in 2022 (24-20). Last season, Duquesne began league play with a 47-21 win over LIU at Rooney Field.

NEC Honors: Tyler Riddell earned NEC Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing), throwing for 201 yards, and rushing for a career-high 63 yards vs. New Haven — the first Duke to earn the honor this season. Joey Isabella was named a Prime Performer for the third time after a career-high three touchdowns, six catches for 92 yards, and a 61-yard score. Avery Morris also earned Prime Performer honors with a 34-yard pick-six in the third quarter, his first career pick-six and second career interception.

Last Time Out: Duquesne fell behind 6-0 on New Haven's opening play but responded shortly after with a fourth-down stop in the end zone and a 95-yard touchdown drive, sparking a 35-point run. New Haven cut it to 35-18 early in the fourth, but DJ Cerisier's 100-yard defensive two-point conversion halted momentum. Riddell added his second rushing touchdown to cap the scoring. The Dukes totaled 499 yards, including 298 rushing led by Ness Davis (85 yards on eight carries), while Riddell and Isabella paced the passing attack. Isabella caught three second-quarter touchdowns, Riddell rushed for two scores, and Morris' pick-six built the largest lead in the third quarter.

Stonehill Scout: Stonehill opened NEC play with a 10-3 home win over LIU. Four of their five games have been decided by one possession, including a 13-10 win at Maine, narrow losses to Sacred Heart (12-7) and Penn (24-21), and a 42-26 loss vs. Lafayette. The offense averages 15.4 points per game (6th in NEC), while the defense leads the league, allowing 18.2 points per game. The Skyhawks lead the NEC with five interceptions, rank 13th in FCS in passing yards allowed per game (147.8), and 13th in overall scoring defense. QB Jack O'Connell ranks top-10 in FCS completion percentage (70.3%), and WR Zachary Kim has four receiving touchdowns, second in the NEC to Duquesne's Isabella.

SERIES HISTORY (Stonehill leads 2-1)
Duquesne picked up its first win against Stonehill last season on the road in the highest-scoring game of the short series, a 48-34 victory powered by 555 yards of offense. The Dukes jumped out to a 21-0 lead and carried a 31-6 advantage into halftime. Joey Isabella, Jermaine Johnson, and Shawn Solomon, Jr. all return as touchdown scorers from that game.

Duquesne will now seek its first win over the Skyhawks at Rooney Field. Stonehill's only prior trip came in 2023, when it spoiled DU's home finale and first chance at an outright NEC title in a game with three second-half lead changes, including two in the final three minutes. The Dukes clinched the championship the following week at Merrimack.

The programs first met in 2022, when Stonehill won its NEC debut, 24-20, at home. Duquesne led 20-17 after three quarters before the Skyhawks struck on a 50-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth and held on.

DEFENDING ROONEY
Duquesne is 39-18 all-time in NEC home games and went 3-0 last season with wins over LIU, Robert Morris, and Wagner.

THE MATCHUP
In the Endzone: Duquesne leads the NEC with 19 touchdowns and 27.2 points per game, while Stonehill's defense tops the league, allowing just 11 touchdowns and 18.2 points per game.

Yardage Battle: Duquesne ranks second in the NEC with 347.8 yards of total offense per game, while Stonehill allows a league-low 327.8 yards to opponents.

Offensive Efficiency: Duquesne (143.5) and Stonehill (139.2) are the two most efficient offenses in the conference.

Trenches Test: Duquesne's veteran offensive line allowed a season-low two tackles for loss and no sacks last week vs. New Haven, the second time this season they've held opponents sackless. The Dukes rank second in the NEC in sacks allowed (9), while Stonehill is second in sacks for (9).

Fourth-Down Faceoff: Duquesne, which led the FCS in fourth-down conversions last year (18-for-20, 90%), is off to a 7-for-9 start this season (77.8% - 15th in the FCS) and went 3-for-3 last week. Stonehill is second in the NEC at 71.4%. Defensively, both teams rank in the league's top three for stopping opponent fourth-down attempts. Duquesne and Stonehill are also the top two NEC teams in fewest first downs allowed.

BLUFF BITES
Milestone Watch: WR Joey Isabella is just three yards shy of 2,000 career receiving yards and is one of only two active NEC players with over 1,500. This season, he leads the NEC in both receiving yards (425) and touchdowns (6), ranking 9th and 3rd in the FCS, respectively. He also ranks 16th nationally and 2nd in the NEC with 6.0 receptions per game.

Historic Pick-Two: DJ Cerisier returned a two-point conversion interception 100 yards vs. New Haven, just the third recorded 100-yard return for a defensive extra point in FCS history, the first since 1992, and the first at any NCAA level since 2002.

Run Game Rulers: Duquesne leads the NEC with 159.4 rushing yards per game and used four backs last week to total 298 rushing yards while QB Tyler Riddell added a career-high 63. Ness Davis has paced the team in back-to-back games (102 yards at Akron, 84 vs. New Haven). Four Dukes have at least 27 carries—Davis (34-238), Shawn Solomon, Jr. (34-183), Taj Butts (31-182), and Dazhaun Hopkins (27-118)—and all posted runs of 20+ yards last week.  Davis (6th), Solomon (8th), and Butts (9th) all rank top-10 in NEC rushing yards, the only team with three in the top 10. Defensively, DU is second in the NEC allowing 152.2 rushing yards per game, including just 23 vs. Lincoln.

Pressure Point: Five Dukes have recorded sacks and 18 different players have combined for 27 tackles for loss. Jack Dunkley (4.0), Jabari Odoemenem (3.5), and Kevin Kurzinger (2.5) lead the way.

Riddell Rocket: QB Tyler Riddell is the NEC's most efficient passer (148.9) and ranks 6th in the FCS with 11 touchdown passes. He has accounted for 13 of Duquesne's 19 touchdowns, including two rushing scores last week, and is 7th nationally with 78 points responsible for. Riddell has two five-touchdown games this season (five passing TDs vs. Lincoln, three passing and two rushing vs. New Haven).

Defensive Scores: Avery Morris' pick-six vs. New Haven marked the fifth straight season with a defensive touchdown for Duquesne. It was the NEC's first pick-six of the year and the longest interception return of the season.

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS IN THE FCS
Junior DL Jack Dunkley ranks third among FCS active players in career forced fumbles per game (0.19) and fifth in career sacks per game (0.60).

Grad transfer QB Tyler Riddell owns the second-most career passing yards (8,878) among active FCS quarterbacks and is one of three to have over 8,000.

STREAK SPOTLIGHT
WR Joey Isabella – Multiple receptions in 14 straight games; extended streak with six catches last week.

WR B.J. Alexander – Multiple receptions in four consecutive games; added two catches last week.

RB Ness Davis – Team's rushing leader in back-to-back games with 102 yards at Akron and 84 vs. New Haven.

LB Jabari Odoemenem – Interception in back-to-back games.

CB DJ Cerisier – Pass breakup in three straight games.

DL Adrian Ramirez – Tackle for loss in back-to-back games.

LB Ethon Cole – Only Duke with 3+ tackles in every game this season, including six for the third time last week.

TRENDS TO NOTE
Duquesne is 14-0 since 2023 when scoring more than 30 points (2-0 in 2025: 55-14 vs. Lincoln, 44-18 vs. New Haven).

The Dukes are 12-0 when leading after the first quarter (1-0 in 2025 after a 14-0 first-quarter lead vs. Lincoln).

UP NEXT
Duquesne concludes its three-game homestand with Homecoming and Family Weekend next Saturday vs. Saint Francis. Kickoff at Rooney Field is set for 1 p.m. Purchase tickets here.

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 latest episode of the Jerry Schmitt Coach's Show premiers on SportsNet Pittsburgh on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Defensive back DJ Cerisier is the player guest after his historic 100-yard defensive extra point. Visit sportsnetpittsburgh.com for viewing information.

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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