BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Kutztown's PSAC-leading defense was in top form Saturday. The Golden Bears didn't allow a touchdown for the second time in three Eastern Division games, while the offense got a boost in the form of Jaedyn Stewart's (Newfield, N.J./Delsea Regional) first career 100-yard rushing game to defeat Bloomsburg 24-3 at Redman Stadium and move to 3-0 in league play.
 
Both teams featured stout defenses, with the Golden Bears allowing a PSAC-best 275.6 yards per game and the Huskies allowing a league-low 19.0 points per game. Unsurprisingly, that resulted in the offenses struggling to move the ball. The teams combined to punt 16 times on 24 possessions.
 
Wanting to make its mark on the game, Kutztown's special teams unit came up with a massive play early. On the Huskies' first possession, Oyame Adoga (Clementon, N.J./Highland Regional) blocked Brendan Gregory's punt near midfield and chased it down at the Bloomsburg 18 to set the Bears up in the red zone. It was Kutztown's first blocked punt since Nov. 2, 2018, at Millersville, a span of 45 games.
 
The great field position led to a 35-yard field goal from Dawson Evitts (Auburn, Pa./Schuylkill Haven) for a 3-0 KU lead nearing the midway point of the first.
 
Stewart drew the start at running back with Darryl Davis-McNeil (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) unavailable for the second consecutive game. The sophomore from Newfield, N.J., got the Maroon and Gold moving as the second quarter began, breaking off three straight runs of 10+ yards (11, 15, 12). Stewart eventually finished the drive with a 9-yard touchdown plunge, the first of his career to increase Kutztown's (4-2, 3-0 PSAC East) advantage to 10-0 with 8:51 left in the first half.
 
Another field-flipping special teams play had the Bears knocking on the door again as the half drew near a close. Antaun Lloyd's (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) 71-yard punt return set up a 9-yard TD pass from Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) to Mekhi Gibson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) that put the visitors up 17-0 with 57 seconds to go.
 
Bloomsburg (1-5, 0-3 PSAC East) got on the board with a 40-yard Kevin Carrigan field goal on their opening possession of the second half but wouldn't threaten again. The Huskies never got closer than the Kutztown 33-yard line the rest of the way and didn't run a single play from inside the 20 for the game.
 
A 39-yard pass from Novak to Kaden Hastie (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) on 3rd and 12 from the Bloomsburg 43 moved KU inside the five late in the fourth and Jordan Davis (Franklin, N.J./Saint Joseph Metuchen) finished off the 7-play, 64-yard drive with a 4-yard TD run to make it 24-3 with 5:39 remaining.
 
While the final stats were nearly even, it was Kutztown's big plays, particularly on special teams, that made a difference. The Bears outgained the Huskies 228-221, holding slight edges in both rushing (113-112) and passing (115-109) yards.
 
Stewart, who came into the game with 16 carries for 45 yards, surpassed those totals in one game with career-highs in both carries (18) and yards (100). Novak completed 10-of-21 passes for 113 yards and a TD, and Hastie led the receivers with two catches for 44 yards.
 
Sophomore linebacker Brandon Hile (Winfield, Pa./Selinsgrove) enjoyed his first career double-digit tackle performance with a game-high 11 (five solo), including one tackle for loss. Hile also broke up a pass. Reigning PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week Tyler Whary (Hereford, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had seven tackles.
 
Brayden Pohlman (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Mainland Regional) and Nigel Wilson (Bound Brook, N.J./Bound Brook) each registered a sack, and Lloyd broke up a pair of passes for KU. The Golden Bears extended their winning streak against Bloomsburg to seven games.
 
Nate Millard (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) had a strong afternoon punting, placing three of his seven inside the Bloomsburg 20-yard line and booting two over 50 yards, including a 64-yarder. The sophomore averaged 45.0 yards per punt. Evitts, meanwhile, improved to 6-of-6 on field goal attempts this year with his first quarter conversion.
 
Kaleb Monaco led the Huskies with 74 yards rushing on 18 attempts, while quarterback Ben Ries added 32 yards. Jerry Griffen-Batchler set game-highs with seven catches and 58 yards receiving.
 
With Saturday's win, Kutztown maintained its perch atop the PSAC East while keeping Bloomsburg as the league's only winless team. The Golden Bears will welcome Shippensburg (1-5, 1-2) to Andre Reed Stadium Saturday, Oct. 14, for a noon kickoff.
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