KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- History was made Saturday afternoon at Andre Reed Stadium when No. 15 Kutztown racked up 517 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers to improve to 10-0 for the first time in 104 seasons of Golden Bear football by defeating Millersville 37-17.

Having already clinched the PSAC East title with last week's win at West Chester, head coach Jim Clements was afforded an opportunity to allow a few key contributors chances to rest up ahead of next Saturday's PSAC championship game against nationally-ranked Slippery Rock.

Redshirt junior quarterback Eric Nickel (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) got the start behind center in place of Collin DiGalbo (Secane, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) and took advantage of his chance with 205 yards passing, 57 yards rushing and three total touchdowns. Running backs Darryl Davis-McNeil (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) and Keagan Harvin (Williamstown, N.J./Saint Joseph) both put up career-high rushing totals, with Davis-McNeil gaining 88 yards on 11 carries and Harvin 70 on nine as Kutztown (10-0, 7-0 PSAC East) registered 300+ yards of rushing for the third time this season.

The game got off to an auspicious start for the unbeaten Golden Bears, however, as Millersville (2-8, 1-6) went 68 yards in three plays against KU's first team defense. Collin Shank found Kevon Newerls on a short out pass and Newerls did the rest, hurdling a defender at the Golden Bear 30-yard line and taking it the rest of the way for a 40-yard touchdown reception and 7-0 Marauder lead.

Kutztown replied in short order to tie the game on a four-yard pass from Nickel to Diego Torres (York, Pa./West York) less than five minutes later. Abdul-Hassan Neblett (Newark, N.J./Paramus Catholic) flashed his big play ability again with a 34-yard rush to the MU 15 and finished with 52 yards on the drive.

TwyNique Chisholm-Wilkerson (Harrisburg, Pa./Steelton-Highspire) forced the first of two Millersville fumbles on the Marauders' first play of their second drive during a scary collision with Shank and Nick Vasger (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) dove on the loose ball at the MU 21, but Kutztown could not convert the turnover into points.

The Golden Bears would steadily build a 24-10 lead by the half. Nickel scored on a seven-yard keeper midway through the first, David Burns (Blackwood, N.J./Triton Regional) drilled his first career field goal from 25 yards out to start the second and wide receiver-turned-passer Jerry Kapp (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) found Torres for a five-yard touchdown with under two minutes left in the half.

Nickel ended a nine-play, 64-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon on KU's opening possession of the second half to put the hosts up 30-10.

Neither team found success putting points on the board over the next 17 minutes as six drives ended in punts between the teams, Nick Palmer (Montville, N.J./Bergen Catholic) intercepted MU's Evan Morrill and Togba Porte II (Collingdale, Pa./Academy Park) recovered a Morrill fumble at the Marauder 3.

Freshman running back Jordan Davis (Plainfield, N.J./Saint Joseph Metuchen) turned the short field into his first career touchdown run, scoring on KU's first play following the fumble recovery. Millersville provided the final score when Morrill was accompanied to the end zone from 14 yards out by nearly every player on the field in a run that resembled a rugby scrum.

KU's nationally renowned rushing defense, which came into Saturday ranked 17th in NCAA Division II with just 92.9 yards allowed per game, held true to form. Millersville gained just 79 yards on 30 attempts --the seventh time this season an opponent has failed to crack the century mark against the Golden Bears. Kutztown outgained the Marauders 517-184 and ran for 307 yards.

Neblett compiled 171 yards of offense with 88 yards on four catches and 83 on 15 carries. Kutztown spread the wealth and Nickel threw for 205 yards on 17-of-33 passing with one score.

Defensively, cornerback Ahkee Cox-Cowan (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) took sole possession of Kutztown's all-time pass breakups record with a pair for the 48th and 49th of his career. He came into Saturday's game tied with English Peay at 47. Chisholm-Wilkerson had a team-high six tackles, was in on a sack with Hez Trahan (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) and finished with 1.5 tackles for loss. Nigel Wilson (Bound Brook, N.J./Bound Brook) tallied two tackles for loss and a sack, and Mason Pease (King of Prussia, Pa./Timber Creek Regional) came up with his first career interception.

Burns and Stephen Mulville (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) got the chance to shine as specialists with Dean Krcic (Saylorsburg, Pa./Pleasant Valley) out of the lineup. Burns hit his only field goal and had a touchback on seven kickoffs. Mulville punted four times for 154 yards, including a 53-yarder that was downed at the MU 1.

While the Marauder offense struggled to put up numbers, Christian Martir and Isaiah Onuschak were active on defense with 17 and 10 tackles, respectively. Onushack added a sack and Martir broke up a pair of passes. Shank was 3-of-3 passing for 68 yards and a touchdown before leaving and Morill gained 72 yards on 18 carries.

Saturday's win gives Kutztown double-digit victories for just the third time in program history. The 2019 Golden Bears surpassed the 2010 team, which held the previous best start of any KU team at 9-0.

Kutztown closes out the regular season with the PSAC championship game against Slippery Rock next Saturday at Andre Reed Stadium. Kickoff time will be announced Monday.