Duquesne Football Finding Togetherness, Connectivity, Stride

In the days leading up to the Duquesne Football’s road contest at Mercyhurst, graduate student defensive lineman Kevin Kurzinger reflected on the last time he was in Erie at the 6A high school state championships for State College. 

He naturally remembered the snow that fell then, but even more, what Saturday’s contest meant and what he and his Dukes intended to do. 

“It was a big test for me because I know going into that game I have to play similarly to how I did in high school, so taking that mentality and bringing it to the team and also having them compete the way we always do, the Dukes way of playing football, I thought was the biggest part of the game,” Kurzinger explained. 

The end result was a 37-0 triumph, Duquesne’s first shutout this season, and a very happy locker room which busted out in song and dance to Bankroll Fresh’s song Take Over Your Trap. 

This celebration was contagious and showcased satisfaction over a true team effort. 

“I learned that our guys have great preparation and play with great passion,” Duquesne coach Jerry Schmitt offered. “Those two things helped us with that outcome. We had a lot of fun Sunday night playing that football game and I was so proud of our guys to take those two things and put it on the field.” 

Duquesne is currently riding a four-game winning streak, with each of the last three coming in NEC play, having done so by preparing each week as if it is the championship game, treating each game the same. 

Despite some hardships with three setback during non-conference play, the Dukes have put the pieces together and as offensive coordinator Anthony Doria explained it, this started with everyone in the locker room genuinely caring about each other. 

“They joke around, they all have thick skin and can bust each other’s chops, get after each other a bit but share those successes to,” beamed Doria. “The one thing that made me super proud this week was we completed six balls, we dominated that performance and we really did it on the ground even though we have nationally ranked quarterbacks and receivers. This game it was all on the ground and to watch our receivers block the way they blocked and to see how happy they were after the game even though we didn’t have that many throws our way kind of tells the tale of what our team is and how they care about each other.” 

It is clear that when Duquesne hits the field there is a confidence that is present on every play, that the work has been put in and that the trust across the board in the preparation has transferred on game days. 

Kurzinger is in his sixth and final season with Duquesne and perhaps has saved his best for last. In Saturday’s win he set a career high with three tackles for losses and also contributed two sacks to his final stat line.  

It is clear Kurzinger understands not just the significance this season has personally but just how much fun he is having. 

“Even if I don’t contribute on a stat sheet, I’m contributing to other guys getting stats and also the wins in the column are the biggest thing to me,” he responded. “Having the older guys, veteran group and transfers coming in this year like Tyson (Meiguez) and Jabari (Odoemenem) having my back and (A.J.) Ackerman with so much experience, it allows me to play how I do, and I just hope it is the same way for them.” 

CONNECT THREE 

Any season is a process with not just peaks and valleys, but also many turning points. Schmitt has impressed upon his team that it truly is a play-by-play mentality, but perhaps one play did turn the tides in this direction. 

Schmitt himself worked with the kick return team to find a result and improve upon trying to find a quick start, a shot of energy the entire team could use. 

That came during Oct. 11’s opening kickoff against Saint Francis, when Joel Kpassou ran 94 yards for a touchdown. This jolt had the desired effect, a three-pronged attack with offense, defense and special teams all on the same page. 

The Mercyhurst game was much of the same, with the offense starting off with a 75-yard drive culminating in a touchdown. This engaged the defense, handed the offense short fields and everything worked harmoniously.  

As Doria called it, complimentary football was on display throughout the 60 minutes at Saxon Stadium. 

“When you start with a 75-yard drive, I know our guys were fired up to get out there and contribute and do their part,” defensive coordinator Mickey Jacobs recalled. “I think in the first half we played 20 total plays, so the offense did a great job of possessing the football, keeping us off the field, so that when we were out there, we were playing fast and physical which we preach all week.” 

Duquesne has now stacked complete performances and did so as Doria mentioned with six completed passes, displaying that the Dukes have enough confidence, dimensions and ability to adjust to find solutions to the demands an opponent may present. 

Starters across the offensive and defensive ends respectively have plenty of experience whether that be at Duquesne or prior to transferring in making practices, meetings and every detail highly competitive, another factor that is showing on the field. 

“The one thing we have to do is make sure we don’t do too much,” Doria said of his offense. “When you have so much you could constantly draw up more plays, but we want to make sure we stay in our system and what we are good at.” 

THE STANDARD IS THE STANDARD 

Saturday’s game against Wagner is the second of three consecutive road games, this after three straight tilts at Rooney Field. All told, Duquesne has been able to answer the call thus far. 

The Saint Francis victory was a physical reminder for Duquesne as past players were in town for homecoming weekend, and anything less than a win would not have satisfied them.  

There to each side was the clear standard, one this program aspires to. To be champions. To be winners, but to do it in the proper manner. 

A demonstrative win that day sent those Dukes home happy and was a clear beginning to achieving success as a collective for the current squad. 

“The Duquesne tradition since I’ve been here hasn’t changed much,” Kurzinger concluded. “We’ve changed logos, we’ve changed mascots, but at the end of the day, we play for the same thing, the love of football. It’s the way we came in and were recruited for. It’s the Dukes way of playing football, physical, fast and smart.”