News Coverage:KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University's first offensive play from scrimmage went for a 98-yard touchdown run, the longest run in school history, that jumpstarted one of the team's best performances of the season in a 63-17 homecoming victory over East Stroudsburg University on Saturday in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game from Andre Reed Stadium.
The Golden Bears (4-4, 3-2 PSAC East) scored 21 points in three quarters and put up the most total offense since Kevin Morton was at quarterback in 2012. KU displayed its most balanced attack of the last three years, producing 301 rushing and 321 passing yards for 622 total yards of offense. It is Kutztown's first 300-300 game since Oct. 27, 2012, a 366-yard rushing and 344-passing yard performance at home against Millersville.
Kutztown's defense played just as well as its offense. The Warriors entered the game ranked in the top-10 in scoring, passing and total offense, but were limited to below their season average in all three categories.
KU has now won five of the last six meetings against ESU.
Following an ESU punt on its first possession, and a KU false start penalty that put the ball at Kutztown's own 2-yardline,
Terry Williams (West Orange, N.J./Cosby (Phoenix College)) took the first handoff to the right, cut left and ran around the outside and down the far sideline for a school-record 98-yard touchdown.
It is the longest run in KU history, breaking Emneko Sweeney's 17-year record of 91 yards against Clarion in 1998. It is the second-longest touchdown run in PSAC history and the longest run in the conference since a record 99-yard run by Edinboro's Lester Frye in 1991.
Despite having a touchdown run called back to due a penalty, Williams finished the day with 143 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns, a 20.4 average.
Rushing touchdowns from
James Wah Jr. (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) and Williams gave Kutztown a 21-0 advantage late in the first quarter, as redshirt senior quarterback
Chad Barton (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) led the offense from there. Both runners found the endzone twice Saturday.
Barton accounted for KU's next five scores, four through the air and one on his feet. He posted the second five-touchdown game of his career and finished with 321 passing yards on 26-of-36 passing. Barton tossed his 50th career TD pass and now trails Kyle Spotts by one for third all-time in program history. Barton moved into fifth at KU in career pass attempts (692) and remains fifth in yardage (5,147) and completions (408).
Barton also ran for a 32-yard touchdown.
Barton connected on two of his four TD passes to junior
Kellen Williams (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg). After ESU scored 10 in a row to trail 21-10 at the break, Barton hit Williams on the first drive of the second half with a nine-yard touchdown pass to begin a streak of 21 unanswered points for the KU offense.
Williams' second TD catch came midway through the fourth quarter from 21 yards, surpassing 2,000 career receiving yards in his career. He stands at 2,009 career yards, sixth all-time at KU, moved into sixth with 144 career receptions and is now fourth with 21 career touchdown catches.
Redshirt freshman
Craig Reynolds (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) led the team with nine catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Kodi Reed (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic),
Anthony Kelly (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) and
Darrell Scott (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) each had three catches as Kelly tacked on his 18th career touchdown catch for ninth all-time at KU.
Reed made KU history with his 41st consecutive game with a catch, breaking Colby Tuell's school-record of 40. Reed owns KU's career receiving yards (2,537) and touchdowns (26) records, and stands in second in career receptions (175), 25 off the school record. Reed sits 32nd all-time in PSAC history in career yards and 27th in touchdowns.
Kutztown sacked ESU quarterback Matt Soltes four times, one each from
Zameer McDowell (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford (California (PA))),
Zack Delp (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall),
Dean Gregory (Shavertown, Pa./Crestwood) and
Steve Plousis (Philadelphia, Pa./Ridley). McDowell had two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Tyrone Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) was active in the backfield with three quarterback hurries,
Darryl Mintz (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) and
Tajier Jefferson (East Orange, N.J./Queen of Peace) each had a team-high seven tackles.
Kutztown and ESU are tied for fourth in the PSAC East through Week 8. KU hits the road next week for the final time of the year. It takes on Lock Haven University on Saturday, Oct. 31 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
