For a coach like Duquesne’s Jerry Schmitt, having a work horse type of running back like Larry McCoy is a blessing late in games. That was evident in Duquesne’s 17-7 victory over Dayton Saturday afternoon when despite struggling as on offense for three quarters, Schmitt was able to lean on McCoy to take the air out of the ball once the Dukes got a lead.
“It’s nice to have a guy like Larry back there,” said Schmitt. “He’s a hard runner and he’s experienced. Larry has worked extremely hard throughout his time here and he’s earned the trust of the coaching staff. That’s probably the biggest thing and that’s we trust him in big situations.”
McCoy has come a long way to earn the coaches trust and after rushing for 125-yards, his 20th career 100-yard performance, McCoy now sits only one behind Donte Small for the most 100-yard rushing games in program history.
“Wow,” said McCoy. “I think it says a lot about how hard I have worked over the years. It really seems like yesterday that I came in and was redshirted as a freshman. I learned quickly that college was totally different than high school. I had to put in the work in the weight room and the film room and stay attached at the hip to my offensive coaches. It’s a learning process every day and I have to do that to reach my potential and be the best player I can be for this team.”
The hard work has paid off in a big way for the senior from Wytheville, Virginia.
After his redshirt season, McCoy impressed as a freshman, playing in all 11 games (starting seven), leading Duquesne with 807 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He built on that as a sophomore when McCoy started all 11 games and finished 11th nationally in rushing yards per game with 117.4. The 1,291 yards he rushed for that season was the sixth highest total in Dukes’ history.
McCoy upped those numbers to 125.5 yards per game last season as a junior and earned First team All-NEC honors with a 1,381 yard and 12 touchdown campaign.
Having a senior running back with the ability of McCoy isn’t just great for a coaching staff, but is also big for senior quarterback Sean Patterson as well. Patterson is a big part of the Duquesne offense, but having McCoy to lean on is a huge security blanket for a quarterback.
“It’s very nice to have Larry back there,” said Patterson. “It’s a sense of comfort. If we need three yards on third down, I know Larry is going to get it. If there’s a blitzer coming off the edge, I know Larry is going to pick it up. It’s basically just a sense of assurance knowing I have a guy like him back there. He does everything you can ask a guy to do on a football field.”
McCoy currently is the active FCS leader in career rushing attempts and has rushed for 3,653 yards in his Duquesne career. That leaves McCoy only 608 yards shy of passing Small to become the all-time leading rusher in Duquesne history.
If McCoy keeps turning in fourth quarters like he did against Dayton, where he rushed 68 of his 125 yards and a touchdown to put the game away, McCoy should launch an all-out assault on the Dukes’ rushing records midway through the season.
“It would be an honor,” added McCoy. “It’s always an honor when the coaching staff calls your number, especially late in a game when the defense knows you are getting the ball. After that it’s just a matter of making all your reads, keeping both hands on the ball and play your heart out. We have a game plan coming in and I just want to do my part for this team.”
Through four years, McCoy has done more than his part carrying the rock for the Dukes. If his performance against Dayton is any indication, the 2012 season will be another big one and potentially a historic one for McCoy.
Photo Credit: Duquesne
