Flint Hill kicker shines in Mexico

Story courtesy of InsideNova.com

Aside from being a bit short on a lengthy 63-yard field attempt, Justin Duenkel had an otherwise perfect place-kicking performance at the first Pro Football Hall of Fame World Bowl all-star high-school game Dec. 22 in Mexico City in Azul Stadium.

The Flint Hill School senior nailed a 48-yard field goal to end the first half, resulting in being carried off the field to the locker room by his teammates. Duenkel was 3 of 3 on extra points, booted all five of his kickoffs out of the end zone and covered one kick on special teams.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Duenkel, a University of Virginia commit as a preferred walkon, was one of 67 participants in the game. He was chosen to compete weeks ago and played for the winning East squad in a 24-10 victory.

“It was so cool to meet and play with guys with that much talent and ability,” Duenkel said.

Duenkel, the only player from a Northern Virginia team in the game, said he hit the 48-yard field goal well, then clipped the turf a bit first on the 63-yard attempt in the third period. It was his longest attempt in competition.

The game capped what had been a standout high-school career for Duenkel. He kicked, punted and played in the secondary on Flint Hill’s back-to-back 11-0 state championship teams in 2017 and 18.

“It’s kind of sad it’s over. I was truly blessed to have been part of all that,” Duenkel said.

The Great Falls resident graduates from Flint Hill on June 7, then reports to Virginia on June 10 to begin preparing for his college career.

NOTE: The World Bowl all-star game will be televised Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. on the CBS sports Network.