Photo Gallery | Audio Replay (KUR)
WORCESTER, Mass. – Last year, the Kutztown University football team led by 16 at halftime in a disappointing loss to Assumption College. On Saturday, KU trailed 24-21 midway through the third quarter, but saw the nationally-ranked Greyhounds rattle off 21 straight points to defeat Kutztown 45-21 at Assumption's Multi-Sport Stadium.
Terence Scanlon (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Regional (Rutgers)), a graduate transfer student who took his first collegiate snap Saturday, started the opener for Kutztown (0-1) and connected on touchdown passes to
Ryan Hubley (Oxford, Pa./Oxford Area) and
Kellen Williams (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) in the first half.
The touchdown catch moved Williams into a tie for second all-time in school history with 23 receiving touchdowns with Josh Smith (2010-11) and Mark Steinmeyer (1988-91).
21st-ranked Assumption led 24-13 at halftime, but a
Craig Reynolds (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) 18-yard touchdown run on Kutztown's second drive of the third quarter, combined with successful two-point conversion, brought KU back within three at 24-21 at the 8:56 mark of the third quarter.
From there, Assumption answered with three straight touchdowns while forcing three KU punts to put the game out of reach at 45-21 in fourth quarter.
Assumption was able to keep its offense on the field down the stretch thanks to 207 rushing yards and 27 first downs. Kutztown was -1 in turnovers and Assumption reached the red-zone four more times than Kutztown in both team's season-opener.
Scanlon threw for 177 yards on 15-of-28 passing with the two first-half touchdowns and one interception. He connected with five different receivers through the day. Hubley led the team with 54 yards, while redshirt-sophomore
Troy Parton (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) stepped up with a team-high four catches.
Three Golden Bears posted 10 or more carries, including Scanlon.
Darrell Scott (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) led the way with 13 carries for 50 yards. Reynolds held the best per-carry average at 4.9 while racking up 49 yards.
Notably,
James Wah Jr. (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for his career on Saturday.
Defensively, returning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Freshman of the Year
Tajier Jefferson (East Orange, N.J./Queen of Peace) led the team with a career-high 12 tackles. Senior safety
Kenny Williams (Conshohocken, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh (West Chester)) also had double-digit takedowns with a career-high-tying 11 tackles.
Marquise Poston (Philadelphia, Pa./Frankford) registered a sack, while
Jhaloni Johnson (Flourtown, Pa./Springfield Township) hauled in an interception.
For Assumption, quarterback Marc Monks threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Alex Shain took 23 carries for 113 yards and two scores. Ashton Grant was by-far the top receiver of the day, hauling in 13 catches for 164 yards and all three Greyhound receiving touchdowns.
Kutztown looks to get in the win column next weekend for its home-opener. KU hosts Mercyhurst University on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 5:05 p.m. It marks the PSECU Founders' Week Game & Fireworks Spectacular.
