It's not every football player who can say he has thrown and caught touchdown passes in the same season; Duquesne University's Connor Dixon can.

A junior and South Park High School graduate, Dixon is a quarterback turned wide receiver because of injuries, including one of his own.

Dixon is listed as Duquesne's starting flanker for the Northeast Conference contest at noon today at Sacred Heart's Campus Field in Fairfield, Conn. The Dukes are 2-7 overall, 1-5 in the NEC, while Sacred Heart is 2-7, 2-5.

He started eight of nine games at quarterback for the Dukes last season, throwing for 1,899 yards and 20 touchdowns after transferring from Michigan State. But he had offseason surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder and missed spring drills.

Dixon came off the bench to help Duquesne to a 24-19 win against Bucknell in the opener. completing 15 of 21 passes for 212 yards. He started at quarterback at Dayton in the fourth game of the season and was outstanding in a 34-20 win against Robert Morris, completing 19 of 31 throws for 201 yards and two scores.

That's when the injuries hit.

He went out with a concussion in a loss at Albany and did not play against Central Connecticut State. Plus, his shoulder was bothering him when he threw.

Meanwhile, Duquesne receivers were falling. Tight end Sean Bunevich went down for the season with a knee injury in August. Akeem Moore went out with internal injuries sustained in the Nicholls State game and Dave Williams, a Gateway graduate and another transfer from Michigan State, went down with a season-ending knee injury in the Robert Morris game.

"Coach [Jerry] Schmitt asked me if I'd fill in at receiver," said Dixon, who is 6 feet 5, 213 pounds and a good athlete. "I'd never really played receiver before. I ran some pass routes on the scout team at Michigan State, but that was about it. I guess they thought I'd be a big target, somebody to throw to. I figured: anything to help the team."

So far, Dixon has caught 11 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He had seven receptions for 68 yards and caught a 20-yarder for a score against Saint Francis. Against Wagner, he had four catches for 90 yards with a long of 43.

"It's been OK," he said of the position shift. "I'll do what I have to do to help the team. I was having some pain in my shoulder throwing the ball. It's a ligament problem, and I've already had two shoulder surgeries. It's like a stabbing pain when I go to throw hard."

Dixon would like to remain at quarterback, but that likely will depend on whether his shoulder comes around. For now, playing receiver has not been bad.

"At least I'm on the field," he said.

Wagner at Robert Morris, noon, Joe Walton Stadium: Both teams enter the NEC game on winning streaks. The Colonials (3-6, 3-3) have won three in a row, while Wagner (6-3, 5-1) is on a four-game winning streak and tied with Central Connecticut State for the conference lead. ... Quarterback Nick Doscher was responsible for five Wagner touchdowns in the 32-27 win last week against Central Connecticut State. ... Kicker Garrett Clawson has been the Colonials' star with-winning field goals the past two contests.

Fayetteville State at California, noon, Adamson Stadium: The winner of this first-round NCAA Division II playoff game will travel to meet Shippensburgnext Saturday. ... Fayetteville State (8-3) and California (8-3) both lost their first two games this season. ... . ... California quarterback Josh Portis has thrown for 2,368 yards and 26 touchdowns and run for another 360 yards.. ... California is seeded No. 3 in Super Region 1; Fayetteville is seeded No. 6.

Waynesburg at Washington & Jefferson, 1:30 p.m., Cameron Stadium: This is the Division III version of the Backyard Brawl. ... Waynesburg (5-4, 2-3 Presidents' Athletic Conference) has lost the past five meetings with W&J (8-1, 4-1). ... W&J receiver Craig Besong has 166 career receptions and needs six more to move into fifth on the school's all-time list. ... The Presidents are hoping to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Division III playoff bracket will be announced tomorrow afternoon.

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