KUTZTOWN, Pa. (September 14, 2011)—After earning two solid wins on the road, the nationally-ranked Kutztown University football team is ready to host Lock Haven University in its home opener, Saturday Sept. 17. Kickoff for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover game is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at University Field. (CLICK TO READ GAME NOTES)
The Golden Bears (2-0 overall) are ranked 16th in the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) top 25 poll and 15th in the d2football.com national polls. KU defeated 18th-ranked Mercyhurst 35-28 last Saturday. This was Kutztown's first win over a nationally-ranked opponent since the AFCA started its top 25 poll in 2000.
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The game will be broadcast live on KUR (Kutztown's Student Radio station) beginning at 5:50 p.m. with the pregame show. Mitch Gerhart and Steve Hahn will call the action. Fans throughout the world can listen to the game at www.kubears.com. In addition, the game will air live on KUTV, which is Service Electric Channel 24 and Hometown Utilicom Channel 28 in Kutztown and eastern Berks County.
This will be the 29th meeting between the Bald Eagles (0-1 overall) and Golden Bears. LHU leads the series 15-12. The last time that Lock Haven was victorious over Kutztown was a 21-14 win in 2002. Last season, KU defeated Lock Haven 38-13. LHU is currently on a 33-game losing streak.
The Bald Eagles (0-1) almost snapped their losing streak in first-year head coach John Allen's debut last weekend, but came up short in a 21-20 thriller against Millersville University.
While both teams are looking for a win, Kutztown is focused on showing its fans what its been up to this season.
The Golden Bears have been staying busy on offense. KU's scoring offense is second in the PSAC, averaging 45.5 points/game. Quarterback Kevin Morton (Abington, PA/Abington) leads the country in points responsible for with 33 points per game and 66 points overall. After throwing four touchdown passes against Mercyhurst, Morton extended his streak to 19 straight games with at least one touchdown pass. In just two games, Morton has 10 TD passes on the season.
Kutztown is gaining nearly 600 yards per game this season. With an array of options in both the running and passing games, the Bears will look to attack the Eagles in a variety of ways. As potent of a QB as Morton is, the Bears actually have more rushing yards so far behind the two-headed attack of Robbie Frey (Lehighton, PA/Lehighton) and Josh Mastromatto (Fort Washington, PA/Upper Dublin), both of which are averaging over 100 yards per game and at least 7.5 yards per carry. Mastromatto and Frey are ranked first and second respectively in the PSAC in rushing and all-purpose yards.
Receivers Erik Frazier (Philadelphia, PA/Germantown) and Chris McCormick (West Chester/West Chester East) continue to be a threat for KU's opponents combining for 375 yards. McCormick leads Kutztown with four TD catches. McCormick enters the game with 99 career catches and is tied for fourth on the all-time KU list with Don Mele with 18 TD receptions.
Defensively, freshman English Peay (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington)'s standout performance against Mercyhurst earned him PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week. honors He picked off two passes and had a team-high 11 tackles for Kutztown. Jason Ulmer (Feasterville, PA/Neshaminy), Geoffrey Mock (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek) and Alex DiNolfi (Norristown, PA/Norristown) all picked off passes for the Golden Bears, who have seven interceptions in two games.
Lock Haven turned in a very respectable performance in its season debut last week, greatly improving on both offensive and defensive averages from the last few years. The Bald Eagles even had their first 100-yard rusher and passer in the same game since 2004. With QB Jarryd Burkett now an experienced senior, the Eagles may look to come out throwing and attack the Golden Bears' secondary, which has been torched for nearly 700 yards combined in its first two games.
Burkett passed for 281 yards and had two touchdowns. He was 21-for-39 with one interception. Brandon Brader led the way on the ground as he rushed for 119 yards on 20 carries.
Jesse Hoover who leads the PSAC in receptions made seven catches for 139 yards with a TD in Lock Haven's season-opener.
Senior Ibrahim Smith made his first career start at linebacker and made nine tackles, including seven solo stops and two tackles for a loss. Raymond Mosby also had nine tackles (8 solo) and an interception for the Bald Eagles. LHU is second in the PSAC in total defense, averaging 245 yards per game.
Kutztown will host Cheyney University, Saturday, Sept. 24 in the PSAC East Division opener of the season. Game time is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at University Field. KU will be celebrating Family Day and wrapping up week-long “Paint The Town Gold” festivities.
