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INDIANA, Pa. – The Kutztown University football team trailed 27-6 early in the third quarter on Saturday against Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but used a 28-point second half to come back and ultimately prevail over the Crimson Hawks, 34-33, for the program's first-ever win at IUP and George P. Miller Stadium. The 21-point deficit marks a school-record for the largest comeback victory in program history.

Included in the exciting come-from-behind victory is an excess of gaudy offensive numbers for the Golden Bears. Most notably, senior wide receiver Kodi Reed (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) moved into the top spot with the most career receiving yards in KU history (2,123).The 24-year old record of 2,118 yards was previously held by KU Hall of Famer Mark Steinmeyer (1988-91).
 
Reed finished the afternoon with six catches for a career-high 153 yards and a touchdown. He is third in school history in career touchdown catches (21) and sixth in career receptions (146). Reed's numbers on Saturday were all recorded in the second half, as he was held without a catch through the first two quarters.
 
Kellen Williams (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) also had himself an historic afternoon with 10 receptions for a career-high 219 yards and two touchdowns. For KU, it was the first 200-receiving yard performance since Elfren Quiles set a school-record with 308 yards in 2007. Williams ranks 13th all-time at KU with 1,506 receiving yards, 10th in receiving touchdowns (16) and 11th with 112 catches.
 
Senior quarterback Chad Barton (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) rebounded from three early interceptions (including a pick-six) and totaled 23 completions on 42 attempts (52.8 percent) with a career-high 406 yards and three touchdowns. He moves up to fifth all-time at KU with 3,700 passing yards and sits fourth in career touchdown passes (35). His 314 yards in the second half are the most in any half for KU since Kevin Morton threw for 374 yards in 2012. Barton's 406 yards on Saturday were the most since Morton tossed a school-record 490 yards in 2012.
 
In the second half, Kutztown out-gained IUP, 367-260, and scored 28 points to IUP's 12.

The win for KU marks its first ever victory at IUP, following its first overall victory against the Crimson Hawks by a score of 44-7 a season ago. Additionally, the comeback victory was the largest of its kind for KU football dating back to at least the 1997 season. It was KU's first win after trailing at halftime since 2012.
 
The Golden Bears finished with 486 total offensive yards and allowed 497 yards. The KU defense limited IUP to 224 yards through the air. IUP held a 3-2 advantage in turnovers.
 
On the ground, KU totaled 29 carries for 80 yards with touchdowns from senior Terry Williams (West Orange, N.J./Cosby (Phoenix College)) and James Wah Jr. (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall)
 
Along with junior captain Zack Delp (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall), who recorded 10 tackles and a sack, the Golden Bears were led defensively by several players. Freshman Jake Perry (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) finished with a game-high 12 tackles in his first career start, while Jalen Nieves (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) tallied nine, and Kurt Kenny (Duncannon, Pa./Susquenita) and Zameer McDowell (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford (California (PA))) each recorded a career-high eight. Sophomore defensive lineman Steve Plousis (Philadelphia, Pa./Ridley) made two big tackles for losses totaling 27 negative yards.
 
After falling behind 33-20 in the fourth quarter, Kutztown (1-1) recorded a five-play, 66-yard drive in 1:31 to draw within a touchdown of the lead (33-27).
 
On the following possession, IUP (0-1) was forced to go three-and-out and the Golden Bears took over at their own 15-yard line with 6:28 to play.
 
On the first play of the drive for KU, Barton completed a 26-yard pass to Reed that broke KU's all-time receiving record. After a sack and an incompletion on the next set of downs, the Golden Bears were faced with a 3rd-and-14 at their own 37-yard line. That's when Barton found his All-PSAC receiver Kellen Williams (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg), who snagged a pass and took it 63 yards for the score that allowed KU to take the 34-33 advantage.
 
Notably, the extra point did not come easy. After the long pass play, the KU sideline was given a 15-yard penalty for sideline interference, pushing the extra point back significantly. However, sophomore kicker Alec Rosenfeld (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) connected on what ended up being a 35-yard extra point to give the Golden Bears the one-point lead.
 
With 5:18 remaining Kutztown would need its defense to make some big stops.
 
The Crimson Hawks began the following possession on their own 23-yard line. They went nine plays and 24 yards in 2:43 before turning it over on downs.
 
The key play for the Golden Bear defense was made by Delp who sacked IUP quarterback Lenny Williams on 3rd-and-19 on the IUP 43-yard line. Prior to the sack, IUP had completed what had appeared to be a first-down catch on 3rd-and-9 to the KU 20-yard line, but it was called back on a holding call.
 
After an incompletion on fourth down, Kutztown took over possession and was able to run out the clock and earn the victory.
 
Up next, the Golden Bears return home on Saturday, Sept. 19 for a 1:05 p.m. kickoff against PSAC West preseason favorite Gannon University at Andre Reed Stadium. KU led at Gannon last year 21-20 at halftime, but fell on the road 37-28.