1939 Duquesne Dukes football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1939 Duquesne Dukes football Independent 10 8–0–1 Aldo Donelli 1st Forbes Field The 1939 Duquesne Dukes football team was an American football team that represented Duquesne University as an independent the 1939 college football season. In their first year under head coach Aldo Donelli, the Dukes compiled an 8–0–1 record, shut out five of nine opponents, outscored all opponents by a total of 152 to 43, and were ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll and No. 32 in the final Litkenhous Ratings.Vols Second In Final Litkenhous Grid Rankings; Southern California Tenth E. E. Litkenhous Johnson City Sunday Press December 31, 1939 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123000367/vols-second-in-final-litkenhous-grid/ Newspapers.com For the second time in four years, the Dukes upset cross-town rivals Pittsburgh, this time as the Panthers were the number one team in the AP poll.Duquesne's Last-Half Surge Topples Pitt, 21-13 The Washington Post October 22, 1939 X1 Tackle Carl Nery won third-team honors on the 1939 All-America team and second-team honors on the All-Eastern team.Walter Johns South Dominates Captains' All-American Wisconsin State Journal 1939-12-10Cornell Places Three Stars On All-Eastern Grid Eleven Asbury Park Press December 5, 1939 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106008680/cornell-places-three-stars-on/ Newspapers.com Other key players included halfback/fullback George Gonda.Nery to Captain Dukes: Donelli Shifts George Gonda To Fullback Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph October 19, 1939 22 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-nery-to-captain/166354959/ Newspapers.com The team played its home games at Forbes Field (five games) and Pitt Stadium (two games) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Schedule 1939 AP September 29 Friday w 1939 Illinois Wesleyan Titans Illinois Wesleyan Forbes Field Pittsburgh, PA 31–0 October 6 Friday w 1939 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets Waynesburg Forbes Field Pittsburgh, PA 20–0 October 14 w y Manhattan Polo Grounds New York, NY 7–0 Duquesne Conquers Manhattan, 7 to 0 New York Daily News October 15, 1939 C39 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35625962/duquesne_conquers_manhattan_7_to_0/ Newspapers.com October 21 w y Pittsburgh 1 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 21–13 23,000–25,000 Tom Hopkins Bluffites Rally to Hand Panthers First Defeat Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph October 22, 1939 Part 3-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112857709/duquesne-beats-pitt/ November 10, 2022 Newspapers.comChester L. Smith Hilltoppers Fight Back to Wipe Away 13–0 Lead The Pittsburgh Press October 22, 1039 Section 2–5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112858029/pitt-loses-to-duquesne/ November 10, 2022 Newspapers.com October 27 Friday w 11 Texas Tech Forbes Field Pittsburgh, PA 13–0 11,061 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-patriot-news-duquesne-downs-texas-te/169456393/ The Patriot-News Duquesne downs Texas Tech team October 28, 1939 April 2, 2025 Newspapers.com November 4 w 13 Marquette Forbes Field Pittsburgh, PA 21–13 12,000 Dukes Trip Marquette, 21 to 13: Hilltoppers Spot Foemen Two Scores The Pittsburgh Press Chester L. Smith November 5, 1939 Sports 1, 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116717341/dukes-trip-marquette-21-to-13/ Newspapers.com November 11 w y 12 NC State Riddick Stadium Raleigh, NC 7–0 13,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-dukes-beat-nc/137147901/ Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph Dukes beat N.C. State, 7–0 November 12, 1939 December 20, 2023 Newspapers.com November 25 w 12 y Carnegie Tech Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 22–7 37,500 December 2 t 6 Detroit Forbes Field Pittsburgh, PA 10–10 23,691 Detroit Ties Duquesne, 10-10 The Pittsburgh Press Lester Biederman December 3, 1939 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23932294/detroit_ties_duquesne_1010/ Newspapers.com https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/duquesne/1939-schedule.html 1939 Duquesne Dukes Schedule and Results Sports-Reference.com May 14, 2017 Game summaries Pittsburgh Week 4: Duquesne at Pitt Duquesne No. 1 Pitt 0 7 0 14 13 0 0 0 October 21, 1939 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 2:00 p.m. 23,000 cloudy and cool T. A. Timlin (Niagara) 1939 Pittsburgh Panthers football team thumb|left|Program for the October 21 game vs. Pitt thumb|Ticket stub for October 21 game vs. Pitt On October 21, 1939, the Pitt Panthers and Duquesne Dukes played their final football game. The athletic department felt that the Panthers needed to schedule teams from the Western Conference (Big Ten), so the intra-city series against the Dukes was scratched.Harry Keck Upsets Imperil Fordham and Notre Dame Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph October 23, 1939 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112760618/pitt-and-duquesne-end-series/ November 8, 2022 Newspapers.com Pitt led the series 5–1. Duquesne's only victory was a 7–0 upset in 1936. Jack Sell of the Post-Gazette felt that the situation was ripe for another Duquesne upset since Pitt had played three hard games, and was looking ahead to a game at Fordham the following week.Jack Sell Identical Setup Looms As Before Great '36 Game Pittsburgh Post-Gazette October 18, 1939 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112803057/upset-in-the-making/ November 9, 2022 Newspapers.com Donelli's Dukes were undefeated and unscored upon with victories over Illinois Wesleyan (31–0), Waynesburg (20–0) and Manhattan (7–0).1939 Duquesne Dukes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 9, 2022 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/duquesne/1939-schedule.html In front of a disappointing crowd of 23,000 fans, Pitt scored two touchdowns in the opening quarter to take a 13–0 lead. The Duquesne Dukes then scored the final 21 points of the contest to upset the No. 1 Panthers, 21–13. After 13 minutes of exchanging punts to gain field position, Pitt scored twice in 1 minute and 20 seconds. Pitt end Joe Rettinger blocked a Carl Nery punt that fell out of bounds on the Duquesne eight-yard line. On third down Ernest Bonelli went over center for the touchdown. Ben Kish's placement kick went wide left. Duquesne returned the kickoff to their nine-yard line, so they punted on first down. Pitt gained possession on their own 47-yard line. On first down Bonelli picked up 34 yards. Then Emil Narick passed 19-yards to Joe Rettinger for the touchdown, Rettinger added the point after. Late in the second quarter Pitt's James Thurbon shanked a punt and the Dukes gained possession on the Panthers' 26-yard line. A 20-yard pass completion followed by a 5-yard penalty placed the ball on the 1-yard line. 15 seconds before halftime, George Gonda scored the touchdown and Carl Nery added the point. The third quarter was scoreless, but Duquesne had possession in Pitt territory as the fourth period started. The Dukes punted and Pitt was backed up on their 18-yard line. An errant center snap bounced off of Cassiano's shoulder and into the arms of Duquesne end John Yacina. He ran unmolested for the score and John Rokiskey's placement put the Dukes ahead 14 to 13. The last gasp Panther offensive drive ended when they failed to convert a fourth down and 2 to go on the Duquesne 37-yard line. The Duquesne offense responded with an 8-play 63-yard drive. Philip Ahwesh completed a 19-yard pass to Rokiskey for the touchdown and Rokiskey added the placement to complete the upset.Tom Hopkins Pitt – Dukes Detail Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph October 22, 1939 Part 3-3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112854251/pitt-dukes-details/ November 10, 2022 Newspapers.comDukes Say G'Bye The Pittsburgh Press October 22, 1939 Part 2–5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112381894/dukes-say-gbye/ November 1, 2022 Newspapers.com Donelli told The Press: "I can't say too much about how this team came from behind, after trailing by 13 points. Most of our boys had never been behind in a varsity game, and the way they continued to fight for all they were worth represents more than all the victories in the world. That was victory in itself."Eddie Beachler Miracle Man Donelli The Pittsburgh Press October 22, 1939 Section 2–5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112855186/coach-aldo-donelli-postgame/ November 10, 2022 Newspapers.com Coach Bowser stated: "Sometimes you're up, and then again – well, we weren't up today. Duquesne just outplayed us, I guess." Dick Cassiano added: "I guess we can't expect to win every time. But gosh, of all the games to lose – this is the toughest one to take."Donelli Has High Praise For Dukes The Pittsburgh Press October 22, 1939 Section 2–8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112856018/coach-bowser-s-comments/ November 10, 2022 Newspapers.com Duquesne Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Pittsburgh 3 8 RushTD Ernest Bonelli 1 no good Ben Kish 0 6 1 Pittsburgh 2 53 RecTD Joe Rettinger Emil Narick 19 good Joe Rettinger 0 13 2 Duquesne 4 26 RushTD George Gonda 1 good John Rokisky 7 13 4 Duquesne 1 18 FumbleTD John Yacina 18 good John Rokisky 14 13 4 Duquesne 8 63 RecTD John Rokisky Philip Ahwesh 19 good John Rokisky 21 13 21 13 References Duquesne Category:Duquesne Dukes football seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Duquesne Dukes football