EDINBORO, Pa. – In one of the most memorable games in program history, the Kutztown University football team battled through heavy winds and snow Saturday and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime to defeat Edinboro University, 33-32, in the regular-season finale at Sox Harrison Stadium.
 
The Golden Bears (9-1) entered Saturday in a must-win situation to keep its NCAA Tournament life alive. KU's playoff fate will be determined during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m. on www.NCAA.com.
 
Temperatures were sub-freezing with 20mph winds and lake effect snow across the Lake Erie landscape, setting up an intense battle two winning programs.
 
Kutztown chose to play defense first in overtime, but saw Edinboro march in for a touchdown on four plays. The ensuing extra point hit the post to give the Fighting Scots a 32-26 lead – Kutztown needed a touchdown to tie and an extra point to win and keeps its playoff dreams alive.
 
Quarterback Collin DiGalbo (Secane, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) connected with receiver Diego Torres (York, Pa./West York Area) for 17 yards to set KU up inside the 10-yardline. Two plays later, DiGalbo ran the final eight yards himself (video) – his third touchdown of the day – to tie the game at 32-32 and put the winning kick on the foot of senior Alec Rosenfeld (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem).
 
KU called timeout to collect its special teams unit, and the ensuing Rosenfeld kick went up and through as the Golden Bears stormed the field in victory (video).
 
With the win, KU head coach Jim Clements becomes the first coach in program history to win against every team in the PSAC. He holds a 37-17 record in five years at Kutztown. KU's nine wins mark the third-most in school history.
 
Craig Reynolds (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) broke the school-record with his 34th career rushing touchdown Saturday, breaking the previous record of 33 by KU All-Time Team member Don Shaver in 1980. Reynolds ran the ball a career-high 32 times Saturday, the most carries by a KU back since 2004 and the eighth-most in a game in school history, for 71 yards and the record-breaking score. He moved into fourth in school history with 2,591 career rushing yards.
 
DiGalbo finished with 223 passing yards, 104 rushing yards and three total touchdowns (two rushing).
 
Linebacker Tajier Jefferson (East Orange, N.J./Queen of Peace) led the way defensively with nine tackles, moving him into 10th in school history with 284 career tackles, one shy of KU alum Sam Dougan for ninth.
 
Both teams capitalized on turnovers early. KU's Ahkee Cox-Cowan (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) took an interception for a touchdown in the first half. Edinboro answered on the first drive of the second half, getting to DiGalbo outside of the pocket and forcing an 85-yard pick-six of its own.
 
DiGalbo capped a 69-yard touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter with an 18-yard pass to Conor Sullivan (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall). A two-point conversion pass to Tyler Borg (Lititz, Pa./Lititz Christian) gave KU a 26-19 lead with 8:06 to play. Sullivan finished the day with a team-high 71 yards and the score.
 
Kutztown's defense made a crucial fourth-down stop in the redzone on the ensuing drive. Edinboro converted on 3rd-and-6 with a 55-yard completion to put it at the KU 9-yardline. The Fighting Scots were stuffed on two running plays, threw an incomplete pass on third down and had a pass broken up by KU's Nyiem Neveraz to send the Edinboro offense off the field with 4:31 to play (video).
 
Edinboro's defense made a stop of its own to force a KU punt and took over once again at midfield with 2:51 to play. A 41-yard pass put Edinboro inside the 10-yardline, but KU's defense once again forced a fourth-down attempt. This time, however, Edinboro connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass to pull within one at 26-25 with 1:41 to play (video). Edinboro initially kept its offense on the field to go for two and the win, but after a five-yard penalty, elected to kick the extra point and tie the game at 26-26, ultimately sending the game to overtime.
 
Kutztown held the ball for 39:12, its most in a game in more than 20 years. KU was able to extend drives all game with a 10-for-18 third-down conversion rate.
 
If KU were to be selected for the NCAA Tournament Sunday night, it would be KU's third-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth NCAA Tournament game in 103 seasons of KU football. KU is 1-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, 1-1 at home.
 
 
NCAA Super Region 1 Rankings
- rankings as of Monday, Nov. 5, records include Saturday's action

SUPER REGION ONE		D2 RECORD	SATURDAY
1	Notre Dame (OH)	11-0	WIN, 41-7 vs. Seton Hill
2	LIU Post	10-0	WIN, 17-13 vs. New Haven
3	West Chester	10-0	WIN, 33-10 vs. Slippery Rock
4	New Haven	8-1	LOSS, 17-13 vs. LIU Post
5	Hillsdale	9-2	LOSS, 34-24 vs. Indianapolis
6	Kutztown	9-1	WIN, 33-32 vs. Edinboro
7	Slippery Rock	8-2	LOSS, 33-10 vs. West Chester
8	Tiffin	9-2	LOSS, 38-16 vs. Findlay
9	Ohio Dominican	9-2	WIN, 62-6 vs. Lake Erie
10	Fairmont State	9-2	WIN, 61-28 vs. West Liberty (Thurs)