SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Tyler Borg (Lititz, Pa./Lititz Christian) caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Collin DiGalbo (Secane, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) with 14 seconds remaining to give Kutztown a 34-27 road victory over Shepherd, Saturday, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opener for both teams.

Both teams came in receiving votes in the latest AFCA Division II Top 25. Picked second and third in the PSAC East Preseason Poll, Shepherd and Kutztown both staked their claim as conference contenders.

Shepherd (2-2, 0-1 PSAC East) bolted out to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter on touchdown passes from one of DII's top quarterbacks, Tyson Bagent, to Devin Phelps and Dylan Brewer.

Abdul-Hassan Neblett (Newark, N.J./Paramus Catholic) got the Golden Bears (4-0, 1-0) on the board with an 8-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. With time running short in the half, Jack Pilkerton (La Plata, Md./La Plata) scored on a 19-yard toss from DiGalbo to bring KU within 14-12. Shepherd tacked on a field goal before the quarter was through to lead 17-12 at halftime.

Kutztown, which was playing a game in West Virginia for just the second time in program history, went in front for the first time at 9:14 of the third quarter when Keagan Harvin (Williamstown, N.J./Saint Joseph) busted into the end zone from three yards out. Three ill-timed 15-yard penalties on Shepherd's next possession allowed the hosts to go back in front, 24-20, when Bagent found Jordan Washington for a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Earl Volz (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) forced a fumble late in the third, which was recovered by Amani Justice (Salem, N.J./Salem). It set the Bears up with great field position, but Shepherd bottled up Darryl Davis-McNeil (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) on 4th and 2 from the 5-yard line to maintain the lead.

The Rams made a costly mistake soon thereafter, when Bagent's pass was picked off by Shawn Turber-Ortiz (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy) for the second time to set KU up with the ball at its own 35.

Two plays later, DiGalbo found Pilkerton for 50 yards down to the Shepherd nine. The fifth-year senior quarterback capped off a 4-play, 65-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mason McElroy (Reading, Pa./Wilson) for a 27-24 KU lead.

Hayden August-Scriven's 31-yard field goal knotted the game with 3:10 remaining, but Kutztown's experienced signal caller, offensive line and playmakers came up big with a 10-play, 80-yard march down the field that sucked up all by 14 seconds left on the clock. A late pass interference call on the Rams set Kutztown up at the 2-yard line and DiGalbo spotted Tyler Borg (Lititz, Pa./Lititz Christian) open near the front left pylon for the winning touchdown. It was Borg's second career score.

DiGalbo finished with 278 yards passing and three touchdowns. He completed 22-of-37 attempts on the day. Neblett ran for 101 yards on 16 totes and found the end zone once. Pilkerton posted a team-high 80 yards receiving on three catches, while McElroy pulled down six receptions for 59 yards and Jerry Kapp (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) three catches for 59.

Turber-Ortiz had a monster day to lead the Golden Bear defense. He was credited with a career-high 16 tackles, all solo, to go along with his two interceptions. Chris Thomas (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) added seven tackles and receovered a fumble, Ahkee-Cox Cowan had seven tackles and Nyiem Nevarez (Effort, Pa./Pleasant Valley) five to go along with a pair of pass breakups.

Bagent was busy for Shepherd, which was playing in front of its Homecoming crowd of 5,803. Division II's leader in passing yards and completions put it up 52 times, completing 41 passes for 385 yards, three scores and two picks. Brewer was the main recipient with 16 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. Phelps was six yards shy of 100, totaling six catches for 94 yards and a score.

The victory extended Kutztown's road winning streak to 11 games --fifth longest in all of Division II. The Golden Bears hadn't played a game in the Mountain State prior to Saturday since dropping a 16-14 decision to West Virginia Wesleyan back in 1995.

Kutztown will look to keep its road record rolling next Saturday at Bloomsburg.