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WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Kutztown University football team shut down one of the top rushing attacks in the country and led for more than 47 of the 60 minutes, but 19th-ranked West Chester University showed its senior poise and scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:05 to play to topple Kutztown 22-21 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division showdown under the lights at John A. Farrell Stadium Saturday night.
 
The Golden Bears (0-4, 0-2 PSAC East) scored back-to-back touchdowns to take a 21-10 lead with 11:50 to play, putting the undefeated Golden Rams (4-0, 2-0) on the ropes. For the game, Kutztown's defense held West Chester to 51 rushing yards, more than 250 yards less than its season average.
 
"Our kids came out and competed hard for four quarters," head coach Drew Folmar said. "They have played hard all season and with the effort they are giving every week, the results will eventually come."
 
"I cannot say enough about our defense this season," Folmar continued. "In another big game for us, they kept us in the game against a very good West Chester offense and gave us a chance to win."
 
Starting at the 50-yardline two possessions later, West Chester needed five plays to draw within one score with a 30-yard touchdown strike with 8:14 to play as KU's lead was cut to 21-16.
 
Kutztown took 3:46 off the clock, pinned West Chester inside its own 5-yard line, and had an interception by Drake Brumfield (Marietta, Pa./Donegal) to take over with 3:27 to play with the lead. One of the game-changing plays was a third-and-one with two minutes to play that would have ultimately iced the game with West Chester not having any timeouts left. KU was stopped in its tracks on third-and-short, tried to draw West Chester offside on fourth down, but ended up punting it away with 1:57 to play. The punt was downed inside the 20-yard line, but a kick catch interference penalty call brought the ball out to the 34-yard line for the Golden Rams.
 
West Chester tossed four passing plays with less than a minute to play, capped with a 10-yard pass to tailback Rondell White for the game-winning score. Kutztown drove down to West Chester's 38-yard line, but ended up turning the ball over to put an end to the potential upset.
 
Junior wide receiver Brett Fox (Laureldale, Pa./Muhlenburg) hauled in a career-high 13 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown. It was by far the best game of his career, and marks the most receiving yards by a Kutztown receiver since Elfren Quiles brought in a school-record 308 yards in 2007 against Bloomsburg. Midway through the second quarter with Kutztown trailing 10-7 on third-and-10 at the West Chester 25-yard line, Fox hauled in a leaping catch around the 10-yard line and dragged multiple defenders on his back while stretching for the touchdown. The touchdown drive comprised 12 plays, 73 yards on the drive that lasted 5:30 to give Kutztown a 14-10 lead in which it would hold until the final minutes of play.
 
"Brett came up big and made some huge plays for us," Folmar said. "We know he is capable of turning in these kinds of games, and it was a great sign to see him come out and play as good as he did."
 
Freshman quarterback Alec Werner (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt) threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns on 26-for-49 passing. Minimizing mistakes will help the Golden Bears down the stretch as it committed four turnovers and five fumbles.
 
Sam Dixon-Dougan led the defense with 12 tackles while playing injured for most of the game. English Peay (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington) tallied nine tackles as Zachary Delp hauled in an interception in his first career start.
 
As a core, Kutztown made it a point to put numerous defenders on the ball carrier at all times. It limited the seventh-rated rushing attack in Division II to 51 yards on 23 attempts; however, West Chester went to the air for the majority of its attack with 383 yards. It is the first time this season Kutztown has allowed a 300-yard passer.

Defensive lineman Eric Condron (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) brought down quarterback Sean McCartney early in the second quarter, the first sack allowed by West Chester all season.
 
Anthony Kelly (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) and Alex Tonnies (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) each hauled in touchdown catches for Kutztown. Tonnies, who entered the game as the Division II leader in receptions at more than 14 per game, was limited to four catches for 27 yards including his 8-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
 
A significant play in the game came late in the second quarter with Kutztown driving with a 14-10 lead. Unable to get into the end zone on a set of downs inside the 10-yardline, it had its 19-yard field goal blocked. It was the first time since 2008 that Kutztown had its field goal attempt blocked.
 
Darrell Scott (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) and Curtis Wortham (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) turned in their top rushing games of the season behind an adjusted offensive line compared to previous games. Scott and Wortham each took 12 carries for 45 and 41 yards, respectively, including rushes for double-digit yardage.
 
Kutztown returns home for back-to-back home games beginning on Saturday, Oct. 5 against Slippery Rock for Family Day beginning at 1:05 p.m. Kutztown defeated The Rock last year on the road, 56-49.