01

NEC SUCCESS

The Dukes are 67-31 in NEC play since 2011, the most wins in the league by at least 19 victories (CCSU, 48), with seven conference titles and three FCS Playoff appearances.

02

ON THE GROUND

Ness Davis ranks third in the NEC at 52.8 rushing yards per game, while Cam Oliver (8.1 yards per carry) and Dazhaun Hopkins (5.7) rank first and third, respectively, in the conference. Davis ranks sixth at 4.7 yards per carry, giving Duquesne three running backs among the NEC's top six. Oliver's 125-yard rushing performance against Rio Grande is the third-highest single-game total by an NEC rusher in 2026 and the only 100-yard rushing game by a Duke this season. Hopkins' 54-yard run at Washington State is the third-longest by an NEC player this season. Hopkins and Davis (receiving vs. Rio, rush vs. LIU) have each scored a touchdown in back-to-back games.

03

LAST TIME OUT

Duquesne fell to LIU, 17-14, at Rooney Field in its NEC opener during Homecoming and Family Weekend. The Dukes built a 14-3 lead with 4:33 remaining in the first half before LIU scored to make it 14-10 at halftime. The Sharks scored the only points of the second half on an 88-yard touchdown drive to take a 17-14 lead with 11:29 remaining, then held off two Duquesne drives into Sharks territory. Ness Davis rushed for a touchdown and a game-high 69 yards, while Dazhaun Hopkins opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run. Khiryn Boyd led Duquesne with 82 receiving yards on two catches, including a 42-yard reception that moved the Dukes to the LIU 34 with fewer than 50 seconds remaining. The Sharks intercepted a pass on the next play to seal the win. Defensively, Duquesne recorded five sacks, including 2.0 by Adrian Ramirez. Luke Miller led all players with 10 tackles and added a tackle for loss. Ramirez and Miller both earned NEC Prime Performer recognition for Week 6.

04

DEFENSIVE DUKES

Duquesne leads the NEC and ranks ninth nationally in passing defense, allowing 161.2 yards per game. DJ Cerisier, Caleb Jones and Nico Pate pace the Dukes with three pass breakups apiece, while Luke Miller and Dallas Harper each have an interception.

Zion Patillo (vs. Rio Grande) and Adrian Ramirez (vs. LIU) each recorded 2.0 sacks in a game this season, with both recording their sacks on consecutive plays. Their single-game totals are tied for the most by an NEC defender this season. Ramirez ranks second in the NEC with 3.0 sacks through five games, averaging 0.6 per game. Duquesne recorded a season-high five sacks and had seven tackles for loss against LIU.

The Dukes stopped all three of LIU's fourth-down attempts last week and leads the NEC in fourth-down defense, holding opponents to 3-for-8 (37.5%). That stoppage rate ranks among the top 20 nationally in the FCS.

LB • #55

Posted his second double-digit tackle performance of the season with a game-high 10 tackles, including seven solo stops and one tackle for loss, on Saturday. Miller leads the Dukes with 33 tackles and ranks among the NEC's top 10, averaging 6.6 tackles per game.

DL • #3

Recorded a career-best 2.0 sacks and tied his career high with five tackles. The senior from Pasadena, Calif., has recorded a tackle for loss in three consecutive games and leads Duquesne with 3.0 sacks this season.

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