When the 2017 football season begins on The Bluff, it will be strange to look onto Rooney Field and not see Dillon Buechel taking snaps in warm-ups. It will be strange to not see Christian Kuntz stalking about the turf like a madman, firing up his teammates on defense and yelling to no one in particular.
And that’s before the game starts. Once that happens, it will be even stranger to not see Buechel tossing touchdown passes and Kuntz racking up vicious tackles. The Duquesne football team’s season is over, and with it the college careers of Buechel, Kuntz and a host of other graduating seniors who helped take the program to new heights over the past few years.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Kuntz, a Chartiers Valley High School graduate. “I guess this Saturday when I realize I’m not playing and I’m watching games, that’s when it’s going to sink in.”
Yes, this won’t just be an ordinary off week — it’s something of the end an era for a Duquesne program that a year ago reached the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the first time, but fell a game short of getting back this season. A 14-10 loss Oct. 21 at Saint Francis, Pa., loomed over the rest of the season, and, while the Dukes (8-3, 5-1) technically won a share of the Northeast Conference title after winning out, it’s the Red Flash (7-4, 5-1) who will head to the postseason thanks to its head-to-head tiebreaker.
“Obviously, it was important and great to see us respond from that loss and rattle off four in a row,” said Buechel, a former Montour standout. “But it is what it is. We didn’t do enough to get in.”
Now, coach Jerry Schmitt and the Dukes must replace two of the most productive players in not just program history, but in NEC history. Kuntz ended his career as the NEC’s all-time leader in sacks with 30½, Buechel as the league’s all-time leading passer with 10,320 yards. Wednesday, Kuntz was named conference defensive player of the year for the second season in a row.
Together, they were the fifth-year captains and faces of an offense and defense that helped Duquesne win or tie for the NEC title three times in four years. Also graduating are Chartiers Valley product Wayne Capers, who transferred from Arizona before his sophomore year; fellow standout receiver Blair Roberts, a graduate transfer from Old Dominion who stepped right in this year; offensive lineman Larson Graham and defensive lineman Jake Radziukinas (Upper St. Clair), both redshirt seniors; and kicker Austin Crimmins.
“I mean, we’re happy but we’re not happy with how the season ended,” Kuntz said. “It’s good to get a share of the conference title, but we wanted it outright.”
Looking ahead to next year, Duquesne likely will have former South Fayette star Brett Bumbaugh step in for Buechel after serving as his backup for two seasons. The Dukes also are slated to bring in Keystone Oaks standout Alex Smith as a freshman. Defensively, eight starters return, though none as decorated as Kuntz.
One position where there shouldn’t be any concern is running back. A.J. Hines was named NEC offensive rookie of the year Wednesday after rushing for 1,296 yards as a freshman.
“We wanted to leave the program in a better place than we found it … but it’s a great group of coaches,” Buechel said. “I’m sure they’ll find guys to replace us and, hopefully, keep the ball rolling.”
Coal Bowl, Round 2
This time, IUP and California are playing for keeps.
Oh, all that’s at stake is a berth in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals when the PSAC’s top two programs meet at 1 p.m. Saturday at California’s Adamson Stadium. That’s the same place where the Vulcans got the best of the Crimson Hawks in October, 31-28. The 11th-ranked Crimson Hawks (10-1), seeded fifth in the region, are coming off a 62-13 rout at Fairmont State. The Vulcans (10-0) are the top seed and ranked fifth in Division II, but had a first-round bye.
IUP hasn’t lost since that first meeting, but has a new starter at quarterback in Mike Pietropola, who has taken over for injured star Lenny Williams.
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: November 25, 2016, 5:00 a.m.