2021 CTA Week 6 Football Player of the Week: Julian Dugger (Penn Hills)

Penn Hills quarterback Julian Dugger scrambles out of the pocket during a game against Pine-Richland in 2020.

SOURCE: (Twitter, @JulesDugger02)

STUD ALERT: Quarterback Julian Dugger threw a 16-yard TD pass to Brenden Hill with 0:02 left in the fourth quarter to help Penn Hills beat North Hills 35-29 in a Class 5A Northeast Conference matchup. In the game, Dugger rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns (5,71,5) while also throwing two touchdowns and completing 9 of 13 passes for 104 yards. Dugger, a sophomore, has been the team's starting quarterback since his freshman year. Penn Hills currently has an overall record of 3-3 and a conference record of 1-1.

Questions & Answers:

What was going through your head when you realized you threw the game-winning TD to Brenden Hill?

Julian Dugger: I was just really excited and surprised at the moment. It honestly seemed unreal.

How did you celebrate after the win?

JD: To be honest, I didn't do anything. I went home, ate, and then went to sleep.

Your team travels to Fox Chapel next week. Without giving away secrets, what do you feel your team has to do to win that game and extend your team's winning streak to 2?

JD: I feel we just have to keep executing as a team, play together, and keep building on last week.

As we are going down the stretch, what do you feel that you have gotten better at when it comes to the way you play quarterback?

JD: I feel like I'm starting to get more comfortable by seeing things better like what teams are trying to do on defense and things like that.

What do you think you could still improve on as a quarterback?

JD: I would say quick game and just getting completions in the games.

So, your older brother Jaden is also on the football team as he is a senior and currently has offers from Toledo, Fordham, Sacred Heart and Duquesne. What's it like playing on the same team as him?

JD: It's just awesome to have someone like that on your team that you can always rely on in him as a brother.

You recently were on Prospect Media's The Recruiting Table in which you talked to DeWayne Brown (Trainer for 210ths) and former NFL player Justin King. What was it like talking to Justin, and what advice did he give you involving football and the recruiting process?

JD: Its amazing talking to someone like that and getting advice from him. We mainly talked about what coaches are looking for and what I can do to get recruited.

Tell me the impact that DeWayne Brown has had on your speed, agility and overall performance as a football player.

JD: He has been helping me since I was young, probably since 4th grade, and he is one of the reasons my footwork and things are the way that they are. He also helps me a lot getting exposure to coaches and with the recruiting process.

Which team do you wish you could play against that isn't on your regular season schedule?

JD: I don't really know what other teams I would want to play. I feel like we had a really competitive schedule with a lot of good teams.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

JD: I'm the fastest on the team.

Brentaro Yamane: bkyamane@gmail.com and Twitter/Instagram @BYHilton13