PITTSBURGH – Duquesne kicks off the 33rd season at Rooney Field on Saturday at noon, hosting Lincoln in the 2025 home opener.
THE MATCHUP
September 6, 2025 • 12:00 PM • Rooney Field (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Lincoln (PA) Lions (0-1, 0-0 CIAA)
Duquesne Dukes (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
ADDITIONAL INFO / GAMEDAY LINKS
OPENING KICKOFF
2025 Home Opener: Duquesne (0-1) faces Lincoln (Pa.), an NCAA Division II member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Dukes have won 17 straight and 25 of the last 26 home openers, including a 19-1 mark under head coach
Jerry Schmitt. Duquesne is 18-3 vs. non-Division I opponents since joining the FCS in 1993 and has won 13 straight such games. This marks the eighth straight full season facing a non-DI foe. The Dukes have held their home-opening opponent to single digits in three of the last four years. Duquesne is 50-12 all-time in non-conference games at Rooney Field (opened in 1993).
Isabella Named Prime Performer: Graduate wide receiver
Joey Isabella earned NEC Prime Performer honors after Week 1. Isabella tied a career high with eight catches for 120 yards at Pitt, including a 59-yard reception that set up Duquesne's first touchdown of the season. It was his second straight 100-yard game dating back to last year's finale and the fourth of his career.
Scouting Lincoln: The Lions opened 2025 with a 45-9 loss at No. 3 (DII) Grand Valley State. Lincoln finished 2-8 last season, including a 41-0 loss to FCS member Morgan State. Zyaire Tart was the 2024 CIAA Special Teams Player of the Year. Located an hour west of Philadelphia, Lincoln was the nation's first degree-granting historically Black college and university (HBCU).
New Season, Another Takeaway: Dallas Harper's interception in the end zone during the second quarter at Pitt extended Duquesne's takeaway streak to 11 straight games. It was Harper's first career interception in his first game as a Duke.
Back-to-Back NEC Champions: Duquesne enters 2025 as back-to-back NEC champions, the second time in program history the Dukes have won consecutive league titles since joining the NEC 17 years ago. The Dukes went 8-3 overall and 5-1 in NEC play in 2024 to claim a share of the crown. They return eight all-conference honorees and 12 players who started at least six games.
Head Coach Jerry Schmitt: Now in his 21st season, Schmitt has guided Duquesne to 10 conference titles and three FCS playoff berths. His 128 FCS wins rank third among active coaches, and his 156 overall rank fifth. He is Duquesne's longest-tenured head coach and is the second-longest tenured active coach in the FCS.
THE SERIES
Lincoln is the first of four straight opponents the Dukes meet for the first time to close out non-conference play (Lehigh, Akron and New Haven).
2025 TEAM CAPTAINS
Duquesne's 2025 football captains, selected by team vote, are: #16 DL
A.J. Ackerman (third season), #97 DL
Kevin Kurzinger (third season), #57 OL
Cameron McLaurin (second season), #5 DB
Antonio Epps (second season), #1 LB
Tyson Meiguez, #56 OL
Brian Beidatsch, Jr., #92 DL
Jack Dunkley, and #21 TE
Daniel Tarabrella.
NEC PRESEASON POLL / ALL-NEC TEAMS
Preseason Poll: The Dukes were picked to finish second in the 2025 NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Duquesne received two first-place votes and has been picked in the top three in 15 consecutive preseason polls. This marks the 14th time in the last 15 seasons the Dukes received at least one first-place vote.
Preseason All-NEC Selections: Seven Duquesne players earned preseason All-NEC honors; running back
Taj Butts (R-Sr.), wide receiver
Joey Isabella (Gr.), offensive lineman
Michael Fallah (Gr.), defensive linemen
A.J. Ackerman (Gr.) and
Jack Dunkley (Jr.), and defensive backs
DJ Cerisier (R-So.) and
Antonio Epps (R-Sr.).
TRENDS TO NOTE
Over the past two seasons (2023 and '24), Duquesne is 12-0 when scoring more than 30 points and 11-0 when leading after the first quarter.
STREAK SPOTLIGHT
Defense has a takeaway in 11 straight games ... Extended by
Dallas Harper's endzone interception at Pitt.
WR
Joey Isabella multiple catches in 10 straight and 60+yards in eight consecutive outings ... Extended with 8 receptions (tied a career-high) and 120 receiving yards at Pitt.
DL
Jack Dunkley tackle for loss in seven straight ... Sack in five of last six ... Extended with 2.0 TFLs, the lone Duquesne sack, and tie of career-best 4 tackles at Pitt.
SACK DUNKLEY ON NATIONAL WATCH LIST
Duquesne junior defensive lineman
Jack Dunkley was named to the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List. The award recognizes the national defensive player of the year in FCS. Dunkley is the lone NEC honoree and one of 30 players nationally.
Dunkley tied a career-best with four tackles and led the DU defense with 2.0 tackles for loss and one sack in the season opener at Pitt. He was a 2024 First Team All-NEC selection, he tied for the conference lead with 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. The Penndel, PA native ranked 12th nationally with 0.86 sacks per game while forcing an NEC-best three fumbles.
Dunkley is Duquesne's first Buchanan Award Watch List honoree since Christian Kuntz was a finalist in 2016.
DUKES BY THE NUMBERS
19 - Number of Dukes on the roster who have already earned their undergraduate degree.
29 - Number of seasons Duquesne has posted a .500 record or better in 32 FCS seasons ... In that span, Duquesne has captured 225 wins and 18 conference titles.
36 - Number of Duquesne players competed in either the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) or Pittsburgh City League during high school.
37 - Number of new players on the 2025 Duquesne roster, including 18 freshman, 1 sophomore addition and 18 transfers.
42 - Number of Dukes entering at least their fourth season of collegiate football (out of 110 on the roster).
62 - Number of Duquesne's NEC wins since 2011, the most by any team by at least 17 wins (St. Francis has 45), which has led to seven NEC titles and three FCS playoff appearances during that span.
88 - Number of all-time wins versus 2025 opponents ... Duquesne is a combined 88-46-1 all-time against their 2025 opponents with four first-time opponents (Lincoln, Lehigh, Akron, and New Haven).
151 - Number of All-NEC selections the Dukes have garnered as conference members, including 72 first teamers (27 over the last five seasons), five player of the years and four rookie of the years.
UP NEXT
Duquesne hosts No. 11/13 Lehigh next Saturday (Sept. 13) at noon at Rooney Field.
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 PM. Graduate student wide receiver
Joey Isabella is the player guest. 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).
