KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kevin Morton (Abington, PA/Abington) threw for a career high 364 yards, Josh Smith (West Lawn, PA/Wilson) caught three touchdown passes and Kendell Coleman (Philadelphia, PA/Martin Luther King) scored twice to lead the Kutztown University football team to a 35-14 victory over Mercyhurst College Saturday evening in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover contest at University Field.

The Golden Bears defense also contributed to the win by making several key plays and stopping Mercyhurst on four fourth-down attempts to raise their overall record to 2-0 for the second straight season. For the second consecutive week, Kutztown's ability to strike quickly on long plays proved to be the difference. Three of the Golden Bears' touchdowns were 30 yards or more, bringing their season total to six from that distance and beyond.

"The players played extremely well on both sides of the football tonight," Kutztown head football coach Raymond Monica said. "We had some mistakes and we had to overcome them. The kids played hard and beat a good football team. I am real proud of the players."

Behind Morton, who overcame five first-half interceptions, the Golden Bears generated 422 yards of total offense. Morton's previous best career performance was in the 2009 finale against Indiana, Pa. when he threw for 356 yards. Morton sizzled after halftime by completing 12 of 13 passes for 142 yards. In Kutztown's last three games dating back to last season, the Golden Bears have scored 108 points.

In addition to Morton leading the offense, Coleman proved to be a spark plug for Kutztown by returning a punt 74 yards with seven minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter for the opening points. It was Coleman's first punt return for a score since the 2008 season when he returned a punt 78 yards against Shippensburg. Coleman added a 7-yard scoring run with 4:46 remaining in the third quarter that gave the Golden Bears' a 28-7 bulge.

"I saw the ball bounce in front of me and I picked it up," Coleman said. "Then I looked up and saw what the defenders were doing in front of me. Then I saw them slowing down because I guess they thought I was going to let the ball bounce. I picked it up. My return team did a good job of holding their blocks and I just hit the holes, stayed in the middle and kept it moving."

In between Coleman's scores, Smith along with Kutztown's defense took center stage. Smith hauled in touchdown passes of 37, 4 and 32 yards. He is the second KU player in as many weeks to score three touchdowns in a game. Josh Mastromatto (Fort Washington, PA/Upper Dublin) scored three times in last week's victory over Saint Anselm.

Erik Frazier (Philadelphia, PA/Germantown) Jr. led Kutztown with seven catches for 94 yards. Smith finished with six catches for a season-high 109 yards. Each of Kutztown's wide receivers who caught a pass had a catch for at least 20 or more yards. Zach Snyder (Lititz, PA/Warwick) had a 43-yard reception in the second quarter. On the Golden Bears' next play, Smith caught his first touchdown pass from 37 yards out to give KU a 14-0 lead with 11:30 remaining in the second quarter. Smith finished his big evening by catching a 32-yard touchdown pass with 4:57 remaining.

Defensively, Jason Ulmer (Feasterville, PA/Neshaminy) and Joel Irwin (Coatesville, PA/Bishop Shanahan) led the Golden Bears with 10 tackles each. Khalief Evans (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) and Kevin Bolinsky (Ashland, PA/North Schuykill) added eight tackles each for Kutztown. Bolinsky had three quarterback hurries along with 1.5 sacks to raise his season total to 3.5. Greg Rotkowski (Macungie, PA/Emmaus) completed a solid effort for the Golden Bear defense by intercepting a pass late in the fourth quarter. Kutztown had four sacks, five quarterback hurries and eight tackles for losses.

Kutztown's defense limited Mercyhurst to 5 for 15 on third down conversions and 1 for 5 on fourth down attempts. The Golden Bears also stopped Mercyhurst on a pair of 4th-and-1 attempts.

"We had some big fourth down stops that changed the momentum for us," Irwin said. "I just feel defensively that we're all on the same page this year. The communication is great out on the field. The defensive line is playing great and our secondary is flying around and making plays. We stayed focused."

Mercyhurst scored in the second and fourth quarters. The Lakers' sliced KU's lead to 14-7 when Gerald Anderson scored a 70-yard touchdown with 4:12 remaining in the second quarter. He finished with a game-high 119 yards on 16 carries. For the Lakers, Tim Herbener led the way with 13 tackles. Brandon Harper finished with three interceptions for Mercyhurst.

Kutztown returns to action next Saturday night when it visits Lock Haven University starting at 7:00 p.m. This is Kutztown's first away contest of the 2010 season.