2018 Duquesne Dukes football team

American college football season

2018 Duquesne Dukes football

NEC co-champion

FCS Playoffs Second Round, L 6–51 vs. South Dakota State

Conference| Northeast Conference
Ranking
STATS| No. 21
FCS Coaches| No. 24
Record| 9–4 (5–1 NEC)
Head coach|

* Jerry Schmitt (14th season)

Offensive coordinator| Anthony Doria
Defensive coordinator| Dave Opfar
Home stadium| Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field

Seasons

<- 2017

2019 ->

2018 Northeast Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
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Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 21 Duquesne +^  |  | 5  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  |
Sacred Heart \+  |  | 5  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 4  |
Central Connecticut |  | 4  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
Wagner |  | 3  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Saint Francis (PA) |  | 2  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Bryant |  | 2  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
Robert Morris |  | 0  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  |

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - FCS playoff participant

Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2018 Duquesne Dukes football team represented Duquesne University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 14th-year head coach Jerry Schmitt and played their home games at Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field. They played as a member of the Northeast Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 5–1 in NEC play to be NEC co-champions with Sacred Heart. Due to their head-to-head win over Sacred Heart, they received the NEC's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where they defeated Towson in the first round before losing in the second round to South Dakota State.

## Preseason

[edit]

### Award watch lists

[edit]

Award  | Player  | Position  | Year

|
|
|

Walter Payton Award[1] | A.J. Hines  | RB  | JR

### NEC coaches poll

[edit]

The NEC released their preseason coaches poll on July 24, 2018, with the Dukes predicted to finish in second place.[2]

Predicted finish  | Team

|

1 | Central Connecticut
2 | Duquesne
3 | Bryant
4 | Saint Francis
5 | Wagner
6 | Sacred Heart
7 | Robert Morris

### Preseason All-NEC team

[edit]

The Dukes placed five players on the preseason all-NEC team.[3]

Offense

AJ Hines – RB

Nehari Crawford – WR

Alex Conley – OL

Matt Fitzpatrick – OL

Defense

Jonathant Istache – DB

|

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

|
|
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|
|
|

August 25| 5:30 p.m.| at UMass*|

* Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium
* Hadley, MA

| ELVN| L 15–63| 8,684
September 1| 2:00 p.m.| Lock Haven*|

* Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field
* Pittsburgh, PA

| NECFR| W 45–0| 1,830
September 8| 12:00 p.m.| Valparaiso*|

* Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field
* Pittsburgh, PA

| NECFR| W 23–21| 943
September 15| 12:00 p.m.| Dayton*|

* Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field
* Pittsburgh, PA

| NECFR| W 31–26| 1,534
September 23| 12:00 a.m.| at Hawaii*|

* Aloha Stadium
* Honolulu, HI

| SPEC HI| L 21–42| 26,175
October 6| 1:00 p.m.| Bryant|

* Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field
* Pittsburgh, PA

| NECFR| L 20–21| 2,145
October 13| 7:00 p.m.| Robert Morris|

* Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field
* Pittsburgh, PA

| ESPN3| W 48–24| 2,046
October 20| 12:00 p.m.| at Saint Francis (PA)|

* DeGol Field
* Loretto, PA

| NECFR| W 27–20| 1,532
November 3| 12:00 p.m.| at Wagner|

* Wagner College Stadium
* Staten Island, NY

| ESPN3| W 47–30| 1,942
November 10| 12:00 p.m.| Sacred Heart|

* Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field
* Pittsburgh, PA

| NECFR| W 28–24| 1,304
November 17| 12:00 p.m.| at Central Connecticut|

* Arute Field
* New Britain, CT

| NECFR| W 38–31| 3,617
November 24| 2:00 p.m.| at No. 16 Towson*|

* Johnny Unitas Stadium
* Towson, MD (FCS Playoffs First Round)

| ESPN3| W 31–10| 2,158
December 1| 3:00 p.m.| at No. 5 South Dakota State*|

* Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium
* Brookings, SD (FCS Playoffs Second Round)

| ESPN3| L 6–51| 3,042

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Eastern time

* Source: Schedule

## Game summaries

[edit]

### At UMass

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

Dukes  | 3  | 6  | 0  | 6 | 15
Minutemen | 21  | 14  | 21  | 7 | 63

See also: 2018 UMass Minutemen football team

Scoring summary

| Quarter  | Time  | Drive | Team  | Scoring information  | Score

|
|
|
|
|

Plays | Yards  | TOP | DUQ  | UMass
1  | 13:57  | 1  | 32  | 0:08  | UMass  | Brennon Dingle 32-yard touchdown reception from Andrew Ford, Mike Caggiano kick good  | 0  | 7
1  | 11:35  | 2  | 77  | 0:45  | UMass  | Andy Isabella 60-yard touchdown reception from Ross Comis, Cooper Garcia kick good  | 0  | 14
1  | 6:20  | 8  | 87  | 3:01  | UMass  | Bilal Ally 1-yard touchdown run, Mike Caggiano kick good  | 0  | 21
1  | 0:50  | 6  | 28  | 2:58  | DUQ  | 32-yard field goal by Mitch MacZura  | 3  | 21
2  | 14:30  | 5  | 75  | 1:20  | UMass  | Andy Isabella 14-yard touchdown run, Cooper Garcia kick good  | 3  | 28
2  | 3:12  | 12  | 62  | 4:19  | UMass  | Marquis Young 2-yard touchdown run, Mike Caggiano kick good  | 3  | 35
2  | 0:05  | 9  | 66  | 3:07  | DUQ  | Nehari Crawford 5-yard touchdown reception from Daniel Parr, 2-point pass failed  | 9  | 35
3  | 12:22  | 6  | 54  | 2:38  | UMass  | Andy Isabella 44-yard touchdown reception from Andrew Ford, Cooper Garcia kick good  | 9  | 42
3  | 10:09  |  |  |  | UMass  | Interception returned 60 yards for touchdown by Brice McAlister, Mike Caggiano kick good  | 9  | 49
3  | 3:33  | 8  | 81  | 3:40  | UMass  | Ross Comis 1-yard touchdown run, Cooper Garcia kick good  | 9  | 56
4  | 10:27  | 17  | 71  | 2:55  | DUQ  | Daniel Parr 2-yard touchdown run, Mitch MacZura kick failed  | 15  | 56
4  | 7:42  | 7  | 87  | 2:43  | UMass  | Zak Simon 14-yard touchdown reception from Ross Comis, Mike Caggiano kick good  | 15  | 63
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 15  | 63

### Lock Haven

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Bald Eagles  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0 | 0
Dukes | 14  | 21  | 7  | 3 | 45

### Valparaiso

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Crusaders  | 0  | 14  | 0  | 7 | 21
Dukes | 7  | 0  | 10  | 6 | 23

See also: 2018 Valparaiso Crusaders football team

### Dayton

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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|
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Flyers  | 6  | 7  | 6  | 7 | 26
Dukes | 14  | 10  | 7  | 0 | 31

See also: 2018 Dayton Flyers football team

### At Hawaii

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

|
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Dukes  | 14  | 0  | 0  | 7 | 21
Rainbow Warriors | 7  | 14  | 7  | 14 | 42

See also: 2018 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team

### Bryant

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Bulldogs | 7  | 7  | 7  | 0 | 21
Dukes  | 7  | 6  | 7  | 0 | 20

See also: 2018 Bryant Bulldogs football team

### Robert Morris

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

|
|
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Colonials  | 7  | 7  | 3  | 7 | 24
Dukes | 7  | 24  | 10  | 7 | 48

See also: 2018 Robert Morris Colonials football team

### At Saint Francis (PA)

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Dukes | 0  | 6  | 7  | 14 | 27
Red Flash  | 10  | 3  | 7  | 0 | 20

See also: 2018 Saint Francis Red Flash football team

### At Wagner

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Dukes | 7  | 14  | 6  | 20 | 47
Seahawks  | 6  | 17  | 0  | 7 | 30

See also: 2018 Wagner Seahawks football team

### Sacred Heart

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Pioneers  | 0  | 7  | 14  | 3 | 24
Dukes | 14  | 7  | 7  | 0 | 28

See also: 2018 Sacred Heart Pioneers football team

### At Central Connecticut

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Dukes | 7  | 14  | 7  | 10 | 38
Blue Devils  | 14  | 3  | 7  | 7 | 31

See also: 2018 Central Connecticut Blue Devils football team

## FCS Playoffs

[edit]

### At Towson–First Round

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

|
|
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Dukes | 0  | 3  | 14  | 14 | 31
No. 16 Tigers  | 7  | 3  | 0  | 0 | 10

See also: 2018 Towson Tigers football team

### At South Dakota State–Second Round

[edit]

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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|
|
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Dukes  | 0  | 0  | 6  | 0 | 6
No. 5 Jackrabbits | 7  | 17  | 20  | 7 | 51

See also: 2018 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

## Ranking movements

[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes| Week

|

Poll| Pre| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| Final
STATS FCS| RV| RV| —| —| —| —| —| —| —| —| —| RV| RV| 21
Coaches| —| —| —| —| —| —| —| —| —| —| —| RV| RV| 24

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "FCS football: 2018 Walter Payton Award watch list". August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
2. ^ "Defending Champ CCSU Tops Preseason Coaches' Poll, Places League-high Seven on All-NEC Team".
3. ^ 2018 All-Northeast Conference Football Preseason Team

* v
* t
* e

Duquesne Dukes football

Venues|

* Forbes Field
* Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field (1993–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* 1937 Orange Bowl
* City Game (Pittsburgh)

Culture & lore|

* Duke
* "The Victory Song (Red and Blue)"

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
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* 1903
* 1904–1912
* 1913
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* 1915–1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943–1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951–1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
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* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
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* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

National championship seasons in bold

* v
* t
* e

Northeast Conference football champions

* Monmouth & Robert Morris (1996)
* Robert Morris (1997)
* Monmouth & Robert Morris (1998)
* Robert Morris (1999)
* Robert Morris (2000)
* Sacred Heart (2001)
* Albany (2002)
* Albany & Monmouth (2003)
* Central Connecticut State & Monmouth (2004)
* Central Connecticut State & Stony Brook (2005)
* Monmouth (2006)
* Albany (2007)
* Albany (2008)
* Central Connecticut State (2009)
* Central Connecticut State & Robert Morris (2010)
* Albany & Duquesne (2011)
* Albany & Wagner (2012)
* Duquesne & Sacred Heart (2013)
* Sacred Heart & Wagner (2014)
* Duquesne (2015)
* Saint Francis (2016)
* Central Connecticut (2017)
* Duquesne & Sacred Heart (2018)
* Central Connecticut (2019)
* Sacred Heart (2020)
* Sacred Heart (2021)
* Saint Francis (2022)
* Duquesne (2023)
* Central Connecticut & Duquesne (2024)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[No.]: Number