KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Kutztown University commanded both sides of the ball and erupted for 35 first-half points to defeat Assumption, 54-16, in its season opener at Andre Reed Stadium on Saturday.

The 54 points marked an opening-game high in the Jim Clements era and are the Golden Bears' fourth-highest week one total all-time. Kutztown last exceeded 50 points in an opener back in 2012 when it went hung 58 on Saint Anselm in a runaway victory.

Kutztown and Assumption came into Saturday having played three games decided by a combined 11 points in the last four sesaons. There would be no such drama this time.

The Golden Bears received the ball first and drove 70 yards in six plays spanning little more than two minutes. Collin DiGalbo (Secane, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) found Jack Pilkerton (La Plata, Md./La Plata) for a 20-yard touchdown toss and the Bears (1-0) quickly went in front.

Assumption went three-and-out on its first offensive possession and DiGalbo made them pay again. He hit Mason McElroy (Reading, Pa./Wilson) for 50 yards to the Greyhound (0-1) 29-yard line on 3rd and 9 and a few plays later rolled right to locate a wide open Pilkerton for their second scoring connection of the afternoon.

New defensive coordinator Mike Saint Germain saw his unit bottle up Assumption running back Doug Santos for five yards on three straight carries on the visitors' very next possession. Kutztown responded like lighting, DiGalbo busting through a hole on the right side for a 76-yard touchdown run and a 21-0 lead.

Assumption got on the board with a three-yard touchdown run from Khaleed Exum-Strong in the closing minutes of the first and the Greyhounds were poised to strike once more working inside the KU 10 early in the second.

Jacob Tondel would hook a 24-yard field goal attempt wide left, however, and DiGalbo, Kutztown's fifth-year senior quarterback, drove his team right down the field in four plays for another score. DiGalbo found Abdul-Hassan Neblett (Newark, N.J./Paramus Catholic) for 21 yards, Diego Torres (York, Pa./West York) for 40 and Jake Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) for a 20-yard score --the first of his career-- on the drive.

"That was big for us," said Clements."We gave up a big play just before that, but our kids fought and forced the field goal attempt. I thought we were ready to play from start to finish."

Ahkee Cox-Cowan (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) intercepted an Easton Turner pass on Assumption's next possession and DiGalbo hit Novak for a 21-yard catch and run on the very next play to increase KU's advantage to 35-7 midway through the second quarter.

Saint Germain wasn't the only coordinator making his debut. Marcel Quarterman, who took over as the offensive coordinator this offseason, kept finding the right connections. Darryl Davis-McNeil (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) capped an 8-play, 80-yard drive on the Maroon and Gold's first possession of the second half with a one-yard touchdown run, which marked the first of his career.

DiGalbo rushed for his second touchdown of the afternoon, this one from 5-yards out, to make it 47-9 with 9:29 to play in the third before turning the keys to the offense over to Eric Nickel (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) the rest of the way.

Keagan Harvin (Williamstown, N.J./Saint Joseph) provided the final margin of victory with a one-yard run early in the fourth.

The Golden Bears were locked in on both sides of the ball, producing 629 yards of total offense and 30 first downs while keeping Assumption's offense in check most of the day.

DiGalbo accounted for six touchdowns in all. He threw for four scores and 263 yards on 16-of-23 passing, and added five carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns with his feet. Neblett topped 100 yards rushing (104) on 10 carries and four receivers had 50 or more yards through the air.

"The offensive line controlled the game and Collin [DiGalbo] was smart with the football," explained Clements. "We were able to get a lot of guys in the game, which we always want to accomplish."

Defensively, Shawn Turber-Ortiz (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy) led the way with 11 tackles (six solo). Nyiem Nevarez (Effort, Pa./Pleasant Valley) added five, as did Kyle Sapp (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional), who also was in on a tackle for loss and made his first career interception.

Turner, the Assumption quarterback, was 12-of-23 for 169 yards passing and two picks. Exum-Strong had 67 yards rushing and Santos accounted for a second-half touchdown.

"We're really happy to get this result," said Clements. "The last two times we've played Assumption here, we suffered close losses. This time we took care of business. We've got a really good team right now."

Kutztown will be put to the test next Saturday when it hits the road for the first time in 2019. The Golden Bears take on Cal U at 1 p.m.