Covering All College Sports Since 2012
Lehigh football’s first trip to Pittsburgh in over 70 years was a business-like 35-21 win over Duquesne, a game where the Mountain Hawks never trailed but had to battle hard for four quarters to secure Lehigh’s first 3-0 start since 2013.
This weekend Lehigh (2-0, 1-0 Patriot) will go on the team’s first road trip of the season. They are heading across the state to Pittsburgh, PA to face off against Duquesne (1-1, 0-0 NEC) in an out-of-conference clash.
On February 1st, Northeast Conference Commissioner Noreen Morris announced revised regular season competition and NEC Championship formats for fall-to-spring, winter and spring sports, which included football.
I have five burning questions on the issue that might help to give clarity on what a spring season for the Patriot League might look like.
A brand-new rivalry is spawned in the NEC and a league tilt between St. Francis (PA) and Bryant feature this week.
Another interesting week awaits us in the NEC, featuring a battle between a NEC title contender and a Pioneer Football League contender.
Things pretty much played out as expected when the teams of the NEC stepped up in class, losing some games against tough competition. It was the losses to D-II squads that were an issue, with Wagner and Robert Morris losing some bad games against sub-D-I competition. This week, the NEC has another mixed back of play-up and play-down competition.
Wagner, who came within a blown defensive penalty from having a chance to beat FBS UConn, isn’t the only NEC team chomping at the bit to start Week 2 of the football season. Duquesne, Central Connecticut State, Robert Morris and Sacred Heart also have their home openers this week.
The Northeast Conference welcomes two new members in 2019 in LIU and Merrimack, two teams that should bring some juice to the league in future years. That newness extends to many of the existing teams of the NEC, many of whom are headed by first or second year head coaches. In such an environment, Duquesne’s returning talent and longtime head football coach really stand out.
Things looked grim after an early-season defeat to Bryant left the Dukes at 3-3. But Jerry Schmitt’s team would win their next five games to win the NEC title, earning a road game against Towson in the FCS playoffs and pulling off a stunning upset, 31-10, in a rainstorm.
BROOKINGS, S.D.–On a day with snowy and windy conditions, fifth playoff seeded South Dakota State raced out to a 24-0 halftime lead and easily beat Duquesne 51-6 in the Division I FCS second round contest in front of 3,042 in attendance at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. “We knew it was going to snow,” said SDSU coach John.
Duquesne at (5) South Dakota State When: Saturday, December 1, 3:00 PM Where: Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD TV/Streaming: ESPN College Extra, ESPN3 Duquesne Dukes Pittsburgh, PA Northeast Conference Enrollment: 5943 FCS Sagarin Rating: 79 How They Got Here: FCS Playoffs: In Maryland Downpour, Duquesne Grounds Towson, 31-10 TOWSON, Md. – Duquesne scored 31 unanswered points after falling.
Duquesne 31, Towson 10 Video Highlights Courtesy NCAA.com TOWSON, Md. – Two weeks ago against Sacred Heart, Duquesne was in a must-win game to have a chance to capture the NEC title and the autobid to the FCS playoffs. After their 28-24 win over the Pioneers, the Dukes once again faced a must-win game against.
Duquesne at Towson When: Saturday, November 24, 2:00 PM Where: Johnny Unitas Stadium, Towson, MD TV/Streaming: ESPN3 Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA Northeast Conference Enrollment: 5943 FCS Sagarin Rating: 79 Season Recap: Duquesne tested itself in its non-conference schedule, playing two FBS teams along the way. The Dukes went 8-1 against the FCS this year with.
Sacred Heart at Duquesne When: Saturday, November 10th, Noon Where: Rooney Field, Pittsburgh, PA TV/Streaming: NEC Front Row Sacred Heart Pioneers The Sacred Heart football team will look to clinch its third Northeast Conference title in six years on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers (6-3, 4-0 NEC) will travel to take on Duquesne (6-3, 3-1 NEC),.
