WEST CHESTER, Pa. -- For the fourth time in Kutztown University football history, the Golden Bears are Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division champions.

Quarterback Collin DiGalbo (Secane, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, Abdul-Hassan Neblett (Newark, N.J./Paramus Catholic) rushed for 103 yards and a pair of scores, and the defense held on a huge 4th and 4 with West Chester inside the 10 at the start of the fourth quarter as 17th-ranked Kutztown emerged from John A. Farrell Stadium with a 30-17 victory over the 22nd-ranked Golden Rams Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Bears exploited West Chester's defense, which was allowing just 293.4 yards and 15.3 points per game, for 428 yards and used multiple threats to keep the Golden Rams off balance all afternoon.

A week after rushing for a career-high 203 yards and four scores in a blowout win over Shippensburg, Neblett used great blocking from his offensive line to bust a hole on the left side and break the ice with a 37-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter.

DiGalbo and his trustworthy receiving corps attacked the edges of the field with success throughout the first half. The veteran signal caller from Secane answered a WCU (7-2, 4-2 PSAC East) field goal by hitting classmate Diego Torres (York, Pa./West York) for a 63-yard touchdown pass with 8:18 left before halftime.

On Kutztown's (9-0, 6-0) next drive, DiGalbo spotted tight end Tyler Borg (Lititz, Pa./Lititz Christian) for 25-yards and wideout Mason McElroy (Reading, Pa./Wilson) for 44 yards, which eventually led to a 35-yard field goal from Dean Krcic (Saylorsburg, Pa./Pleasant Valley) that increased the Golden Bears' lead to 16-3.

West Chester's Paul Dooley made a costly mistake late in the half when KU linebacker Chase Stephensen (Lacey Township, N.J./Lacey Township) made a perfect read and intercepted the Golden Ram quarterback at the WCU 40. DiGalbo worked quickly, connecting with Torres for 29 yards and Jack Pilkerton (La Plata, Md./La Plata) for eight to set the Maroon and Gold up inside the five yard line.

A few plays later, Neblett dove in from a yard out to make it 23-3, which is how the half finished.

To the Golden Rams' credit, head coach Bill Zwaan's halftime adjustments injected some life into his team. Dooley scored on a 6-yard keeper just past the halfway point of the third for WCU's first touchdown of the afternoon. It was the first touchdown allowed by Kutztown's defense in more than six quarters and 112 minutes going back to the fourth quarter of its win at Lock Haven Oct. 19.

West Chester was driving again at the start of the fourth, putting a once healthy Golden Bears' lead in jeopardy. Dooley's pass on 4th and 4 from the Kutztown 7 on the first play of the quarter was low, however, and Dan Neuhaus couldn't reel it in.

Kutztown relied on its unbreakable offensive line and battle-tested seniors to put the game away. Neblett ran for 23 yards on the drive and DiGalbo hooked up with Jerry Kapp (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) twice for 75 yards, including a 50-yarder and 25-yard touchdown that restored the Golden Bears' 20-point lead with 5:39 to go.

The touchdown pass to Kapp was the 100th touchdown DiGalbo has contributed to in his collegiate career (68 passing, 32 rushing).

The Golden Bears extended their road winning streak to 14 games, the third longest active streak in NCAA Division II, and gave head coach Jim Clements his first victory at West Chester.

Ahkee Cox-Cowan (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) tied English Peay's school record with his 47th career pass breakup and led the defense on the day with 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Cody Scherer (Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton) had eight tackles and Amani Justice (Salem, N.J./Salem) five, along with a sack.

DiGalbo completed 13-of-22 passes for 300 yards, and also ran for 41 yards on 11 carries. Torres went over 100 yards receiving with three catches for 105 and a score. McElroy added two catches for 56 yards.

Dooley amassed 227 yards on 24-of-39 passing with one interception for WCU. Running back Ja'Den McKenzie, who came into the game third in the PSAC in rushing at 82.0 yards per game, was held to just 38 on 15 totes and did not reach the end zone. Kutztown outgained the Golden Rams 428-343.

Kutztown's PSAC East title is its second in four seasons (2016) and fourth all-time (1980, 2011, 2016, 2019). The Golden Bears 9-0 start is tied for its best ever. The 2010 team also started 9-0 and reached the NCAA Division II Championship tournament.

The Golden Bears will host Millersville next Saturday at 12:05 p.m., before hosting the PSAC championship game on Nov. 16.