KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- A lot has happened in 21 months since the Kutztown University football team last took to the gridiron for a countable game.
The Golden Bears --along with many other college programs around the country-- had their 2020 season wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rosters changed as student-athletes graduated or found themselves in an unprecedented situation. Some, not all, returned to play out their eligibility.
One thing that hasn't changed at KU is the standard of success.
With many players in new roles and some called upon unexpectedly Saturday afternoon, the 20th-ranked Golden Bears dominated both sides of the ball in a 19-0 shutout of Assumption University at Andre Reed Stadium.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback
Donny Blaine (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono) came on in relief of an ailing
Eric Nickel (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) to go 11-of-13 for 130 yards and a touchdown,
Jerome Kapp (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) caught four passes for 74 yards and a score and defensive coordinator
Mike Saint Germain's unit was a collective force, limiting the Greyhounds to just 139 yards for Kutztown's first season-opening shutout since 2010.
Kutztown's (1-0) defense set the tone early, forcing back-to-back 3-and-outs for the Assumption offense, but points were elusive for both teams in the first quarter.
Following a Greyhound punt late in the quarter, the Maroon and Gold started to get something going.
Jordan Davis (Franklin, N.J./Saint Joseph Metuchen) and Nickel combined to rush for 60 yards, which included a 22-yard burst from Davis, and
Dean Krcic (Saylorsburg, Pa./Pleasant Valley) capped off the 15-play, 85-yard drive with a 21-yard chip shot field goal for a 3-0 KU lead at 9:56 of the second quarter.
Following another Assumption (0-1) punt, Nickel led the Bears on another extensive drive. This one encapsulated 67 yards across 11 plays and 6:31 and resulted in Kutztown's first touchdown of the season, a seven-yard dart from Nickel to a wide open
Mason McElroy (Reading, Pa./Wilson) in the back of the end zone. The point after was no good and the Bears took a 9-0 lead to the locker room.
The Golden Bears continued to play smothering defense and limited Assumption to two yards on three plays of its initial second half possession. The offense, now under the direction of Blaine, showed its gratitude by pushing the ball 68 yards in eight plays. On 3rd-and-12 from the Greyhound 19, Blaine dropped back, scrambled left and lofted a ball to the back right corner of the end zone that only Kapp could get and he did --in spectacular fashion-- for a 16-0 KU advantage.
A clock-draining drive of 8:34 to start the fourth quarter covered 78 yards in 16 plays, with Krcic converting his second field goal of the day from 33 yards to push the host's lead to 19 points with 7:28 to play.
Nickel threw for 97 yards on 10-of-16 passing and added 49 yards with his legs before departing Saturday's game with an injury. Blaine showed the poise of a veteran in his stead.
All of KU's backs ran hard, Davis leading the way with 66 yards on 10 carries.
Keagan Harvin (Williamstown, N.J./Saint Joseph) gained 41 yards on 13 totes and junior college transfer
Zaire Jones (Salem, N.J./Salem) netted an effective 34 yards on four attempts, including a long of 19 yards. In all, the Bears finished with 191 yards on the ground to the Greyhounds' 22. It was the fewest rushing yards and total yards (139) allowed by Kutztown since Nov. 4, 2017, at Cheyney (-13 yards rushing, 60 total yards).
Kapp led the KU receiving corps with 74 yards, while
Jake Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) caught four passes for 54 yards and
Derek Anderson (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) two for 40.
Defensively, it was truly a group effort. Nineteen different players recorded a tackle, paced by five each from
Amani Justice (Salem, N.J./Salem) and
Kam Wolfe (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin). Wolfe and
Togba Jallah-Porte II (Collingdale, Pa./Academy Park) recorded sacks, while
Ryan Jennings Jr. (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) broke up a pair of passes from Assumption QB Easton Turner.
The victory was Kutztown's third straight over Assumption in the mini non-conference season-opening rivalry that has evolved since 2015. The series is now even at three wins apiece, with KU having outscored the Greyhounds 105-44 in the last three meetings.
Brevin Easton's 40-yard reception and a mistake-free 117-yard passing effort (12-of-20) from Turner were Assumption's only offensive highlights on an otherwise quiet day in front of nearly 4,000 excited KU fans. Saturday's win also kept Kutztown's perfect record in tact when holding opponents to 14 points or fewer under current head coach
Jim Clements, now 21-0.
The Golden Bears' last shutout in a season opener also came over a Northeast-10 opponent, Saint Anselm, by a 41-0 count in 2010.
Kutztown will now prepare for a big road test next week at nationally-ranked IUP. The Golden Bears hold a 12-game road winning streak that dates back to 2017, while the Crimson Hawks will be playing their first game of the season. Kick off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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