Dukes’ Dudzik displays big-game ability again
Quarterback Drew Dudzik’s two second-half rushing touchdowns in James Madison’s shocking upset of Virginia Tech gave him a sudden burst of fame.
But it wasn’t his maiden voyage in the national spotlight. The first came two years ago as a human projectile.
As he attempted to vault a linebacker from Montana on a two-point conversion scramble in the 2008 national semifinals, Dudzik was flipped even higher into the air and nearly landed on his head. The most amazing part of the frightening play was revealed in slow motion. In mid-flip, Dudzik extended the ball beyond the goal line with one hand and held it as he crashed to the turf.
“I had never tried to jump over someone in a game,” Dudzik said. “I guess the last time I’d done it was in my basement when I was a kid.”
For years at their home in Northern Virginia, Dudzik’s father, Mike, would be the tackler and his son would be the runner. With a ball under his arm, Dudzik’s mission was to get past his father to a sofa.
“Sometimes I tried to jump over him,” Dudzik said. “Or I’d shuffle my feet or fake him or just try to knock him over. I probably hurt him a few times.”
For the reckless running style of their senior quarterback, Dukes fans can thank Mike Dudzik, a former quarterback himself at DeMatha and at James Madison.
“He taught me everything I know about playing quarterback,” said Dudzik, a senior who has started just seven college games but has packed a lot of highlights onto his resume.
Dudzik’s first significant action came in a big spot — the FCS semifinals when star quarterback Rodney Landers was hurt. With his team down 28-10 in the third quarter, Dudzik led a rally that fell short, completing six of 13 passes for 70 yards and rushing 12 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-27 loss.
Entering the following season as the starter, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Dudzik rushed 14 times for 112 yards and completed nine of 15 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns as the Dukes took Maryland to overtime before falling 38-35.
Dudzik was on his way to a stellar junior season until he was slowed by a Jones fracture in his left foot, which he broke for good in the fifth game. The foot was a distant memory last Saturday in Blacksburg. After James Madison’s 21-16 win, it was a whirlwind week for Dudzik and the Dukes.
“Seeing us on all those shows the night of the game — amazing,” Dudzik said. “I taped everything. But I’ve been so busy, I haven’t even watched it yet.”
