Postgame Press Conference
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Playing in its first NCAA Tournament playoff game since 2011, and only the fourth game in program history, the 20th-ranked Kutztown University football team had no jitters or nerves right out of the gate. But a second-half scoring slump proved too much to keep a halftime lead, as Super Region One fourth-seeded KU fell to fifth-seeded Hillsdale College (Mich.) 40-26 Saturday afternoon at Andre Reed Stadium.
The Golden Bears (9-2 overall) scored 20 of the game's first 23 points and led 20-6 at halftime. They were clicking on all cylinders, on both sides of the ball, as the defense held a Chargers (10-2) offense which averaged 33 points per game and 418 yards per game to just six first half points and 99 yards.
The offense showed its creative, potent self, manufacturing drives of nine plays, 79 yards on their first possession, and then a season-long 17-play, 86-yard scoring drive on its next possession to stake a 14-0 advantage early in the second quarter.
After a Chargers field goal on a 15-play drive to put them on the scoreboard, Kutztown scored its third touchdown of the half on a
Collin DiGalbo (Secane, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) 55-yard touchdown scramble through the middle of the Hillsdale defense. The redshirt-junior quarterback also threw for a touchdown, a seven-yard pass to
Jack Pilkerton (La Plata, Md./La Plata (Golden West)) on KU's first drive. Redshirt-senior captain
Craig Reynolds (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) also recorded a touchdown in the first half for the Maroon and Gold, a one-yard scurry off a direct snap.
But a Chargers 51-yard field goal as time expired gave them a little bit of momentum and encouragement, enough so that they came out to score the first 21 points of the third quarter to take their first lead of the game and turn the tides.
After not recording a point in the third quarter, Kutztown got back on the board via a 19-yard touchdown pass to
Diego Torres (York, Pa./West York Area) to cut its deficit to 27-26 with 7:37 remaining. But that would be the final points for the Maroon and Gold as Hillsdale recorded two touchdowns over the last 4:49 to advance to the second round to take on Notre Dame (Ohio) next Saturday, Nov. 24.
DiGalbo had an all-around strong game for the KU offense, racking up 34 completions on 49 attempts for 378 yards and two scores. He moved into fourth all-time with 496 career completions. DiGalbo, the programs all-time leader in rush yards and touchdowns by a quarterback, finished with 89 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Reynolds finished with 59 yards and the second quarter touchdown on the ground, and also was second on the team in receiving with seven catches for 75 yards. He ranks third all-time in KU lore with 2,650 career rushing yards and is second with 5,277 career all-purpose yards. Reynolds is the school's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with 35.
Pilkerton led the receiving corps with 87 yards on seven catches plus the score.
Conor Sullivan (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) had six catches for 57 yards and
Ryan Hubley (Oxford, Pa./Oxford Area) had three catches for 52 yards.
Defensively,
Chris Thomas (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) led the way with 12 total tackles and one tackle-for-loss.
Shawn Turber-Ortiz (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy) had 11 and
Tajier Jefferson (East Orange, N.J./Queen of Peace) tallied nine. Jefferson ranks eighth all-time in program history with 293 career tackles.
Ahkee Cox-Cowan (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) broke up two passes, tied for the school-record for a career.
Nyiem Nevarez (Effort, Pa./Pleasant Valley) had three pass break-ups.
Kutztown finishes with its most wins in seven seasons and qualified for just its third NCAA Tournament. It will bring back a large amount of experience on both sides of the ball, including special teams.
