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Isabella celebrates TD at Wagner 2025
Brandon Reed

GAME 10: Dukes Travel to LIU

11/6/2025 12:00:00 PM

PITTSBURGH – The Duquesne University football team returns from its bye week and heads to Long Island Saturday to face LIU.

THE MATCHUP
November 8, 2025 • 12:00 PM • Shark Stadium (Brookville, N.Y.)
Duquesne Dukes (5-4, 3-1 NEC) LIU Sharks (3-6, 1-3 NEC) ADDITIONAL INFO / GAMEDAY LINKS OPENING KICKOFF
On the Road Again: Duquesne (5-4, 3-1 NEC) wraps up a three-game road swing at LIU (3-6, 1-3 NEC). The Dukes are in their longest season-ending road stretch since 1990, with four of the final five games away from home. DU returns from a bye after playing nine straight weeks to open the season — one of only 16 FCS programs (out of 129) to do so — the longest such stretch since 2015, when the Dukes' first FCS playoff team played 10 straight before its bye. Under 21st-year head coach Jerry Schmitt, Duquesne is 18-8 following a bye week, including 13-5 when a conference game follows and 4-0 when the bye comes after nine or more straight games to start a season. A win would lift DU to 6-4 and secure a .500 or better record for the 30th time in 33 FCS seasons.

Honors From Wagner: Linebacker Tyson Meiguez earned his third NEC weekly honor with a Prime Performer nod after recording a team-high eight tackles, a career-best 2.0 TFL, and a sack at Wagner. He previously earned Defensive Player of the Week in Week 6 and Prime Performer in Week 7.  

Last Time Out: Duquesne dropped its first NEC game of the season, falling 24-13 at Wagner on Oct. 25 to snap a four-game win streak. The Dukes trailed 17-13 entering the fourth and recovered a muffed punt inside the Wagner 20 with 6:33 remaining, but the drive stalled after consecutive penalties pushed a 49-yard field goal wide. Wagner sealed the win with a late touchdown run. QB Tyler Riddell went 21-of-31 for 163 yards and accounted for both DU touchdowns — a 24-yard strike to Joey Isabella and a 2-yard run. Duquesne tied the game 7-7 early in the second quarter on Isabella's TD but never led.

Scouting the Sharks: LIU saw a two-game win streak snapped last week with a 10-7 loss at Central Connecticut State in a defensive battle — the Sharks took a 7-3 lead with 1:40 left in the third quarter before CCSU connected on a 51-yard touchdown pass on the next drive and held on for the win blocking a field goal in the final seconds. Four of LIU's six losses have been decided by 10 points or less, including three by one possession. Defensively, the Sharks rank among the NEC's best, allowing just 12.3 points per game in conference play and ranking seventh nationally in tackles for loss per game (7.4). LIU also leads the NEC with nine interceptions (top-15 FCS), ranks 21st in the FCS in passing yards allowed (188.4), and owns the league's top rushing defense at 124.2 yards per game. Offensively, LIU is second behind Duquesne in rushing at 158.0 yards per game with 12 touchdowns on the ground, but sits second-to-last in passing offense (123.1 ypg) and has a league-low four passing touchdowns. The Sharks' lone NEC win came against Robert Morris (17-7), with losses of 10-3 at Stonehill, 22-13 at Mercyhurst, and 10-7 at CCSU. They also picked up non-league wins over New Haven (38-16) and Eastern Michigan (28-23) — the latter marking the program's first-ever FBS victory and just the third in NEC history.

SERIES HISTORY
  • The Dukes lead 5-1 all-time
  • Duquesne has won the past two meetings — both NEC openers — and now faces LIU in the latest calendar matchup in series history. Four of six games have been decided by one score, including a double-overtime thriller in 2022.
  • Last Season: Duquesne raced out to a 26-0 lead midway through the second quarter and cruised to a 47-21 win in last year's NEC opener and Homecoming game at Rooney Field. Former QB Darius Perrantes accounted for six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing). Leading the returners, Joey Isabella had five receptions for 85 yards and two TDs, while Daniel Tarabrella recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score. Kevin Kurzinger added a TFL and three tackles.
  • Last Time at LIU: Then-kicker and now special teams quality control coach Brian Bruzdewicz hit the game-winning 34-yard field goal with three seconds left to seal a 31-28 comeback victory. The Dukes erased a 14-point deficit and tied the game at halftime before trading scores in the second half.
FINDING THE END ZONE
  • Duquesne leads the NEC in scoring offense (30.2 ppg) with 37 total touchdowns (6 more than any other team).
  • In conference play, DU is averaging 34.0 points scored and 11.3 points allowed per game.
  • The Dukes average 358.5 yards per game and allow a league-low 212 in conference action.
DEFENSIVE DUKES
  • The defense ranks 14th nationally in total defense (308.3 ypg allowed).
  • The Dukes lead the NEC in pass defense in conference play (112.8 ypg) and rank 17th overall in the FCS in passing yards allowed per game (179.7).
  • Duquesne also allows the fewest first downs (17.1 per game / 14.3 in NEC play) in the conference, which is top-20 in the FCS.
  • Kevin Kurzinger and Jack Dunkley share the team lead with 8.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks each (T-7th NEC).
  • 23 different players have recorded a TFL this season and nine Dukes have accounted for 17 sacks.
OWNING THE LINE
  • Duquesne leads the NEC with 12 sacks in conference play and has had at least one in four straight games with a season-high five vs Saint Francis. 
  • The Dukes average 6.8 tackles for loss per game with at least one in every game, 7+ in each of the last four and a season-high 11 last time out vs. Wagner.
  • Offensively, DU ranks top-25 nationally allowing just 1.44 sacks per game (T-1st NEC).
50 GAMES AS A DUKE
  • A.J. Ackerman played his 50th career game as a Duke last week, Joey Isabella will join him in the 50-game club in the Duquesne uniform this week.
  • Seven Dukes have played in 40+ career games at Duquesne, with Gary Satterwhite III set to join the 40-game club this week.
CATCHING HISTORY
  • Joey Isabella is tied for the FCS national lead with 10 receiving touchdowns, his second straight season with double-digit receiving scores (11 in 2024).
  • He leads the NEC in receiving yards (660), touchdowns (10, tied for first in FCS — league-best four in conference play), and yards per game (73.3).
  • Has a receiving TD in 5 straight games and 7 of the last 8; his 10 TDs are at least five more than any other NEC receiver
  • Surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards vs. Stonehill (2,232 total).
  • Ranks among Duquesne all-time leaders:
    • Receptions: 150 (7th all-time, closing in on 5th – 154 by Randy Vulakovich (2000-03))
    • Yards: 2,232 (chasing 2,423 for 7th)
    • TDs: 27 (6th all-time; 5th is Michel Warfield (29, 2002-04))
RIDDELL ROCKET
  • Graduate QB Tyler Riddell ranks 9th in the FCS and 1st in the NEC with 20 passing touchdowns.
  • One of only three active FCS QBs with 9,000+ career passing yards, currently third among active QBs with 75 TD passes.
  • Leads the NEC in efficiency (144.8) and ranks 15th nationally in points responsible for (138).
  • Needs 148.6 passing ypg over the final three games to reach 10,000 career yards (currently 9,554).
  • Despite not being in the career records for Duquesne as a graduate transfer ... For reference, only two Dukes have ever reached 10,000+ yards and 75+ TDs: Dillon Buechel (10,320 yd / 75 TD, 2013–16) and Niel Loebig (10,254 yd / 103 TD, 2001–04).
RUN GAME RULERS
  • Duquesne leads the NEC in rushing offense (168.0 ypg) and nearly 180 in conference play.
  • The Dukes have eclipsed 170 rushing yards five times and posted a season-high 356 at Mercyhurst- the most since 2018. 
  • Defensively, the Dukes allow 99.3 rushing yards per game in NEC play and have held opponents under 100 four times.
FOUR-HEADED BACKFIELD
  • A balanced rushing offense has resulted in four DU running backs accumulating 200+ rushing yards this season:
    • Ness Davis: leads the NEC in conference play averaging 90.0 yards per game and is fourth overall with 598 yards this season and has two rushing TDs.
    • Davis (6.8) and Solomon (5.7) rank third and fourth in yards per carry in the NEC.
    • Taj Butts: 56 att, 292 yds - 10th in NEC, (5.2 ypc), 41.7 ypg, 1 TD
    • Shawn Solomon, Jr.: 48 att, 272 yds (5.7 ypc), 38.9 ypg, 1 TD
    • Dazhaun Hopkins: 52 att, 213 yds (4.1 ypc), 30.4 ypg, 2 TD
SPREADING THE WEALTH STREAK SPOTLIGHT WE'LL TAKE THAT DEFENSIVE SCORES
  • The Dukes have three defensive touchdowns this season — tied for second-most in the FCS.
  • Avery Morris has two: a 34-yard pick-six (New Haven) and a 35-yard fumble return (Mercyhurst).
  • Tyson Meiguez added a 40-yard scoop-and-score (Saint Francis).
  • Duquesne has now recorded a defensive touchdown in five straight seasons.
THIRD-DOWN LEADERS
  • Duquesne leads the NEC in conference play with a 52% conversion rate on third downs (27-for-52) and is second holding opponents to 32.7% (18-55).
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK
  • Duquesne leads the NEC in time of possession (32:21) - 14th in the FCS.
SHUTOUT STATS
  • Duquesne posted a shutout at Mercyhurst (37-0), marking the sixth straight season with a shutout victory. 
  • DU's 10 pass breakups in the shutout were the second-most in program NEC history (behind 11 vs. SFU in 2018).
  • The Dukes have held opponents to less than 20 points in four of the last five games with two in single digits (Saint Francis 7, Mercyhurst 0).
TRENDS TO NOTE
  • Duquesne is 17-0 since 2023 when scoring more than 30 points (5-0 in 2025: 55-14 vs. Lincoln, 44-18 vs. New Haven, 34-14 vs. Stonehill, 52-7 vs. Saint Francis, 37-0 at Mercyhurst).
  • The Dukes are 14-0 when leading after the first quarter since 2023 (3-0 in 2025 after a 14-0 first-quarter lead vs. Lincoln, 28-0 first-quarter lead vs. Saint Francis, 14-0 first-quarter lead at Mercyhurst).
UP NEXT
Duquesne returns home for the first time in over a month next week hosting Central Connecticut State. Kickoff from Rooney Field is set for 12 p.m. Click here for tickets.

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 premieres on SportsNet Pittsburgh on Friday at 1:00 a.m. Three-year captain A.J. Ackerman, fresh off his 50th career game as a Duke, is the player guest. Visit sportsnetpittsburgh.com for viewing information, or view the replay on the GoDuquesne YouTube page.

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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