The Rockets get their season started against a very promising Duquesne program.
Before we get started: it’s pronounced dew-KAYN.
With that out of the way, this game is actually more interesting than your usual FBS/FCS early season matchup. Both teams are coming into this season off very successful 2023 campaigns, and looking to build on that success with a lot of fresh faces and quite a few returning stars.
Game Info
- Date and time: Thursday, August 29th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: The historic Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio.
- Weather: Low 80s Fahrenheit, with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms at around gametime.
- Gambling considerations: No line published.
How to watch/stream/listen
- Streaming options: The game will be available exclusively via ESPN+. A valid subscription is required for viewing.
- Radio options: Brett Balbinot (play-by-play) and Bruce Gradkowski (color) will provide the Toledo call for the Rockets Radio Network.
Let’s look at Duquesne first.
The Dukes had a stellar 2023, winning their sixth conference title and making their third appearance in the FCS playoffs, where they got bodied by Youngstown State in the first round. Head man Jerry Schmitt is coaching for his incredible 20th season with the program.
Duquesne is only returning eleven starters, and only two of their 10 all-conference players from last year, but also had six players named to the preseason all-conference list, including quarterback Darius Perrantes. Perrantes was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award last year, and threw for 2,324 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Perrantes will have his work cut out for him against a secondary that reloaded after the departure of Quinyon Mitchell.
On the defensive side of the ball, Duquesne is looking to maintain the success of the top-tier unit that they had last year. The Dukes led the NEC and finished fourth in the FCS on the backs of 19 turnovers. Look for starting linebacker Gianni Rizzo to cause problems for the Rockets. He had 10 tackles-for-loss last season, as well as 3.5 sacks and 68 tackles.
The Dukes have been playing football for 97 seasons, but their forays into the world of upper-division matchups are relatively new. Toledo will be only the 10th FBS program they’ve played, and this is only the fifth time the program has opened their season against an FBS opponent. However, looking closer, you can see how important paycheck games have become for the program lately; they’ve played two FBS teams a year five times since 2018, and 2024 will be the second season where they play them consecutively.
Now, on to Toledo.
Jason Candle is still the man there, and he’ll be looking to maintain the Rockets’ position as one of the blue ribbon programs in the conference. Despite losing starting quarterback Dequan Finn to Baylor, and having zero returning starters on the offensive line, Toledo are returning six of their all-MAC prospects from 2023.
Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason (383 passing yards, four touchdowns, one interception in relief duty in 2023) will be looking to make his mark as he takes over the starting job. He’ll be assisted by a solid running backs room led by sixth-year man Jacquez Stuart and a pair of all-MAC passcatchers in receiver Jerjuan Newton (52 catches, 969 yards, nine TDs) and Anthony Torres (26 catches, 464 yards, three TDs) at tight end. The offensive line being completely new is rightfully worrying, but here’s hoping that Coach Candle has assembled the best line he could.
The defense also will see a lot of fresh starters. With Judge Culpepper, Dallas Gant and Quinyon Mitchell going to the NFL, and Terrance Taylor graduating, big playmakers will need to be replaced. Thankfully, the Rockets have several guys with experience on the team ready to fill them. Be on the lookout for Dan Bolden (94 tackles, 6.5 TFLs) at outside linebacker, Deshawn Holt (26 tackles, six TFLs, four sacks) as an outside edge rusher, and Maxen Hook (69 tackles, three interceptions) at strong safety. Hook, especially, has the makings of a potential national-level name, having already established himself as a star after winning All-MAC First Team honors in 2022 and 2023.
Toledo should win this game, but the more important thing to watch in this game are the players. Whether you’re an FBS or FCS fan, there’s names in this match that you’ll definitely be hearing again as the season progresses.