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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University football team was bested by one of the toughest teams in the Western Division on Saturday afternoon. It dropped a 58-10 decision to Slippery Rock University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover contest at University Field.
 
Unlike last week when they led for more than half of the game, the Golden Bears (0-5) trailed for all but the opening 24 seconds of Saturday's non-conference game. The Rock (4-1) scored touchdowns on two of their first three possessions, and never looked back as they topped the 50-point mark for the fourth time this season.
 
The quarterback tandem of Alec Werner (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt) and Josh Luckenbaugh (York, Pa./Dallastown) completed passes to nine different receivers, the most since last season against Shippensburg (nine). Brett Fox (Laureldale, Pa./Muhlenburg), coming off the best game of his career, brought in five catches for 99 yards; both of which led the team.
 
Senior Matt Pirolli (Warminster, PA/William Tennent) stepped in and hauled in four catches for 32 yards, and Kodi Reed (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) caught three passes for 44 yards to round out Kutztown's top three receivers.
 
Michael Gallagher (Clarksboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) blocked his second field goal of the season. Zach Greenwald (Gibbstown, N.J./Paulsboro) was one of Kutztown's most active players defensively. He tallied eight tackles, 5.5 of which were for a loss. He had two sacks, marking the first KU player this season to notch a multi-sack game, with one forced fumble and a pass breakup.
 
Kicker Andrew Deutsch (Kutztown, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) made his first career field goal on his second career attempt. He was 1-for-1 on the afternoon with a 21-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
 
Redshirt freshman running back Darrell Scott (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) found the end zone for the first time in his career. KU forced a fumble and took over inside the Slippery Rock 5-yard line as Scott was able to drive it home for a two-yard score late in the fourth quarter.
 
Sam Dixon-Dougan led the Golden Bears in total tackles for the third time this season. He had 10 tackles, three for a loss, with one sack and one forced fumble. TaJae Bryant (Bryn Mawr, PA/Radnor) started his first career game and tallied a career-high seven tackles. Drake Brumfield (Marietta, Pa./Donegal) (six) and Rob Siclari (five) also posted career-highs in tackles with at least five.
 
Big plays marked the turning point as Slippery Rock averaged 8.6 yards per play compared to Kutztown's 3.4. Three of Slippery Rock's touchdowns went for more than 30 yards as it also added an interception return for a touchdowns.
 
Slippery Rock totaled 611 yards including 423 passing yards on just 20 completions. Starter Nigel Barksdale threw for 307 yards and four scores to lead The Rock. His top target was Jaimire Dutrieuille, who hauled in 171 yards on just five catches with three touchdowns. 
 
The Golden Bears remain home next week and look to get into the win column when they take on Cheyney University on Saturday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is slated for 1:05 p.m. at University Field.