PITTSBURGH – Duquesne continues nonconference play Saturday, hosting No. 10/12 Lehigh at Rooney Field in its first FCS matchup of the season.
THE MATCHUP
September 13, 2025 • 12:00 PM • Rooney Field (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
#10/12 Lehigh Mountain Hawks (2-0, 0-0 Patriot)
Duquesne Dukes (1-1, 0-0 NEC)
ADDITIONAL INFO / GAMEDAY LINKS
- FAN INFO
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- GAME NOTES
- COACH'S SHOW
OPENING KICKOFF
2025 FCS Opener: The Dukes (1-1) host No. 10/12 Lehigh (2-0) in their first FCS matchup of the season. Duquesne fell at Pitt (FBS) in the opener before rolling past Division II Lincoln (Pa.) last week. Since joining the NEC in 2008, the Dukes are 24-20 against regular-season non-conference FCS foes. Lehigh is just the second ranked opponent ever to visit Rooney Field — and the first non-conference — since No. 18 CCSU in the 2019 NEC finale. Duquesne owns two wins in 11 games against ranked FCS teams, including last year's 28-25 victory at No. 21/20 Youngstown State. Lehigh is also the first FCS non-conference visitor to Rooney not tied to NEC membership or transition (Mercyhurst in 2024, New Haven in 2025) since Valparaiso in 2018.
Riddell Recognized: Graduate transfer QB
Tyler Riddell earned NEC Prime Performer honors after throwing five touchdowns and 239 yards — all in the first half — leading Duquesne to a 55-14 win over Lincoln. Making his first start at Rooney, Riddell tied his collegiate career high with five TDs, finding four different receivers as the Dukes scored on all six first-half drives.
Last Time Out: Duquesne extended its home-opening win streak to 18 seasons with 55 points and 8 touchdowns — only the second time under 21st-year head coach
Jerry Schmitt that the Dukes have scored eight TDs, the first coming in a 56-14 win over La Salle in 2005 (Schmitt's first season). The 55 points also rank as the third-highest scoring game of his tenure, behind a 56-7 win over Virginia Lynchburg in 2021 and the '05 La Salle game. Seven Dukes scored, including first career TDs from
Daniel Tarabrella (receiving),
Ryan Petras (receiving and rushing), and
Dazhaun Hopkins (rushing).
Joey Isabella added two scores,
B.J. Alexander opened the scoring for the second straight game, and Shawn Solomon Jr. broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run. The defense held Lincoln to 23 rushing yards with four sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
Lehigh Scout: Lehigh has climbed the national rankings each week after a 21-14 Patriot League win over No. 25/22 Richmond and a 28-10 non-conference victory over Sacred Heart. The Mountain Hawks are 13-time Patriot League champions, including last season when they won a first-round playoff game (20-16 at Richmond) before falling to No. 8 Idaho (34-13) and finishing No. 20/21. Through two games in 2025, Lehigh ranks third in the FCS in total defense (179.0 ypg.) and is top 10 in rush defense (69.0 ypg.), pass defense (110.0 ypg.), and scoring defense (12.0 ppg.). Offensively, they are 13th in the FCS, averaging 224.5 rushing yards per game, with five of seven touchdowns scored on the ground.
DUKES VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
This is the third straight season Duquesne will play a ranked FCS opponent (#21/20 Youngstown State in 2024, #9/10 Delaware and #21/23 Youngstown State in 2023). Duquesne is 2-9 all-time vs. FCS ranked opponents.
This will be the second ranked opponent to visit Rooney Field and fifth time Duquesne faces a top-10 ranked team.
The last and only other home meeting was vs. No. 18/18 Central Connecticut State in the 2019 season finale. CCSU scored 24 unanswered second-half points to pull away for a 43-10 victory over Duquesne (6-5, 4-3 NEC).
Last Ranked Win — Duquesne earned its second-ever win over a ranked FCS opponent in Week 3 last season, defeating No. 21/20 Youngstown State, 28-25.
JaMario Clements rushed for 204 yards with a late 75-yard touchdown to seal the victory, while
Tedy Afful added two scores. The Dukes avenged their 2023 FCS playoff loss to the Penguins. The first ranked win was 31-10 over No. 16/19 Towson in the opening round of the 2018 FCS Playoffs.
DUKES VS. PATRIOT LEAGUE
Though these teams have never met, both have history against the other's league. Duquesne is 12-13 all-time against Patriot League members at the FCS level, while Lehigh is 14-3 against NEC opponents. The Dukes last faced a Patriot League team in 2016, a 30-19 home-opening win over Bucknell at Rooney Field.
Patriot League Opponent History:
Fordham: 2-1 (last W, 20-17, 2006)
Georgetown: 1-2 (last L, 7-10 OT, 2005)
Bucknell: 5-10 (last W, 30-19, 2016)
Holy Cross: 1-0 (last W, 31-7, 2004)
Lafayette: 3-0 (last W, 23-22, 2002)
Schmitt vs. Patriot League: 6-5
DEFENDING ROONEY
Under Schmitt, the Dukes are 34-3 in non-conference home games. The Dukes are 51-12 all-time in non-conference home games at Rooney Field, including a 27-1 mark since 2008.
RIDDELL ROLLIN'
Graduate transfer quarterback
Tyler Riddell made his Rooney Field debut last week and threw for 5 touchdowns on 15-for-20 passing and 239 yards, all in the first half ... He earned NEC Prime Performer honors for Week 2.
Riddell leads the NEC and ranks third in the FCS with 6 touchdown passes through two weeks.
He also ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency (190.3), ninth in points responsible for (36), and 18th in yards per completion (13.55) after four completions of 20+ yards last week with two going over 50 yards.
IN THE RECEIVER ROOM
Graduate WRs
Joey Isabella and
B.J. Alexander are two of three NEC wideouts to catch multiple touchdown passes through week two. Zachary Kim (Stonehill) leads with three. Isabella hauled in both last week vs. Lincoln, while Alexander opened the scoring in each of the Dukes' first two games.
Isabella is tied for the NEC lead with 14 receptions (also 14th in FCS) and is 15th nationally in receiving yards (166).
TEAM TIDBITS
Lighting It Up: The Dukes' 55 points and 8 touchdowns vs. Lincoln are an NEC early-season high. Duquesne leads the league at 32.0 points per game.
Fourth-Down Force: After leading the FCS in fourth-down conversions last year (18-20, 90%), the Dukes opened 2025 a perfect 2-for-2 last week.
Red-Zone Efficiency: Duquesne is 8-for-8 in the red zone with 7 touchdowns and 1 field goal.
Ball Security: One of just 31 FCS teams without an interception thrown through two weeks.
Run Stoppers: The Dukes allow an NEC-low 90.5 rushing yards per game (12th in FCS), holding Lincoln to just 23 yards last week.
Pressure Point: Five different Dukes have combined for 5 sacks (2nd in NEC, 18th in FCS) and 16 have accounted for 18.0 tackles for loss (4th in FCS), paced by
Jack Dunkley (2.5) and
Avery Morris (2.0).
TRENDS TO NOTE
Over the past two seasons (2023 and '24), Duquesne is 13-0 when scoring more than 30 points and 12-0 when leading after the first quarter ... Extended last week with a 55-14 win over Lincoln (PA) and a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.
STREAK SPOTLIGHT
The Dukes have forced a turnover in 12 straight games dating to last season's Week 2 matchup at Boston College ... Extended by a special teams fumble recovery by
Brock Janeda (forced by
Quan Rhodes-McKee) on a punt return in the third quarter.
WR
Joey Isabella multiple catches in 11 straight ... Extended with 6 receptions vs. Lincoln.
DL
Jack Dunkley tackle for loss in eight straight ... Extended with 0.5 TFLs against Lincoln.
WR
B.J. Alexander touchdown catch in back-to-back games ... Extended with a 6-yard slant to open scoring vs. Lincoln ... Has scored Dukes first TD in both games this season.
ACTIVE LEADERS IN THE FCS
Junior DL
Jack Dunkley ranks in the top-four among active players in the FCS in tackles for loss per game (4th), sacks per game (3rd), and forced fumbles per game (2nd).
Grad transfer QB
Tyler Riddell owns the second-most career passing yards among active FCS quarterbacks with 8,409.
LEGENDARY COACH
Head Coach
Jerry Schmitt's 129 wins at the FCS level rank third among active coaches. He is one of six active FCS coaches to win 150 or more career games. Schmitt (21st season) passed Dan McCann last season for the longest tenured coach in program history. The Pittsburgh native is the longest tenured coach in the NEC and second-longest tenured active FCS coach (21st season at Duquesne / 26th overall).
UP NEXT
Duquesne will face its second FBS opponent of the season next Saturday, Sept. 20, when it travels to Akron for a 6 p.m. matchup.
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 9:30 PM. Senior offensive lineman and team captain
Brian Beidatsch, Jr. is the player guest. Visit
sportsnetpittsburgh.com for viewing information.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
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Facebook (@DuqFB).
