KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Josh Mastromatto (Fort Washington, PA/Upper Dublin) ran for a career-high 104 yards, including three touchdown carries and the defense took care of everything else as the Kutztown University football team scored 35 points in the second half to pull away and defeat Saint Anselm College, 41-0, in a non-conference contest Saturday afternoon at University Field.

The Golden Bears (1-0) won their season opener for the third straight year. It was the first time Kutztown has won three consecutive opening games since it did it from 2001-03. Also, it was the second time in three years; the Golden Bears began the season with a shutout. Kutztown blanked Saint Anselm, 35-0, in the 2008 opener.

In two games against Saint Anselm at University Field, Kutztown has outscored the Hawks, 76-0. Finally, the 41-point eruption was the most by the Golden Bears since they scored 42 in a victory over Shippensburg on October 11, 2008.

Kutztown's defense forced four turnovers, held the Hawks to 112 yards in the second half, had six quarterback hurries and recorded three quarterback sacks. Leading the defensive charge for Kutztown was senior defensive end Kevin Bolinsky (Ashland, PA/North Schuykill), who had two sacks, one fumble recovery and one batted pass. Khalief Evans (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) led the Golden Bears with nine tackles. Joel Irwin (Coatesville, PA/Bishop Shanahan) forced a fumble, which was recovered by Corey Harris (Baltimore, PA/Western York). Kutztown's Chance Gaines (State College, PA/State College) and Chris Davidson (Lancaster, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) also had interceptions late in the fourth quarter.

With Kutztown clinging to a 6-0 halftime lead, Mastromatto provided the Golden Bear offense with a jolt by returning the opening kickoff of the second half 37 yards. Seven plays later, sophomore quarterback Kevin Morton (Abington, PA/Abington) scored on a 7-yard touchdown run that gave the Golden Bears a 13-0 lead. Morton also finished the game with 255 passing yards.

The 43-minute third quarter was one to behold for Kutztown as it scored 28 points, gained 194 yards, held the ball for over 10 minutes, 8 seconds and didn't allow Saint Anselm to cross midfield.

The Golden Bears scored touchdowns on their final three possessions of the third quarter. Colby Tuell (Columbia, PA/Columbia) started the scoring binge as he hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass that expanded KU's advatage to 20-0 with 5:36 remaining. Tuell had a solid game as he caught five passes for a team-high 86 yards. University of Pittsburgh transfer Josh Smith (West Lawn, PA/Wilson) also added five catches.

Then Mastromatto took center stage as three of his next five carries finished in the end zone. Mastromatto's touchdowns were progressively longer with each carry. He ended the third quarter with scoring runs of 4 and 22 yards. Mastromatto's first touch of the final quarter provided the exclamation point as he raced untouched 66 yards for Kutztown's final touchdown of the afternoon.

He was the first KU player to run for three touchdowns in a game since Kyle Spotts accomplished the feat in a 26-23 triple overtime victory over Millersville at the end of the 2007 season.

The second half outburst was in stark contrast to a first half in which both teams combined for 13 punts. Senior punter Matt Dineen (Wilmington, De/Concord) placed two punts inside the 20.

Kutztown's defense set the tone from the opening kickoff, forcing Saint Anselm to punt on its first five possessions. Irwin and Harris combined on the first big play of the game. Irwin separated a Saint Anselm player from the ball and Harris recovered along the KU sideline.

Three plays later, Kutztown scored its first points of the 2010 season when Morton hit a wide-open Erik Frazier (Philadelphia, PA/Germantown) Jr. in the end zone on a pass that covered 33 yards with 9:57 remaining in the second quarter. Frazier was so open that it looked like he was on the only one of the field. After snoozing for much of the first half, Kutztown's offense featured nine plays that covered 10 or more yards in the final two quarters.

Kutztown returns to action on Saturday, September 11 when it hosts Mercyhurst College in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover contest beginning at 6:05 p.m.

NOTES: Going back to last season, Kutztown has scored 70 points since it trailed Indiana, Pa. 31-3 in the second quarter of its 2009 finale. Josh Smith (West Lawn, PA/Wilson) had a nice reception as he caught a pass that bounced off of the back of a Saint Anselm defender and turned it into a 33-yard gain. Kutztown is 3-0 all-time against Saint Anselm. Kevin Bolinsky (Ashland, PA/North Schuykill) has 5.5 sacks in his last two games against Saint Anselm. Last year, Kutztown had three total interceptions for no return yards. In the fourth quarter alone, the Golden Bears intercepted two passes and gained 35 yards on the returns. The 35 second half points were the most scored in any half by Kutztown since it scored 41 in the first half against American International during a 55-20 victory.