GOLDEN, Colo. – Kutztown's record-setting 2023 football season closed with a 35-7 loss to defending national runner-up and No. 1 ranked Colorado School of Mines, Saturday, at Marv Kay Stadium.
 
Mines (14-0) scored on its third play from scrimmage and opened a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter, but Kutztown's defense settled in against the top scoring offense in the nation (50.5 ppg) over the remainder of the first half, forcing three consecutive punts.
 
KU drove inside the Mines' 30 late in the first quarter, but could not cash in. A delay of game penalty pushed the Bears back to the 31 and Judd Novak's (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) pass for Kurtis Ravenel Jr. (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) on second down was intercepted by Collin Romero in the end zone.
 
Novak atoned for the interception in the waning moments of the second quarter when he shed multiple tackles on his way to a 59-yard touchdown run that pulled Kutztown (12-3) back within 14-7 with 2:28 remaining in the half.
 
Unfortunately, that was more than enough time for Mines' quarterback John Matocha, the reigning Harlon Hill Trophy winner and a 2023 finalist. Matocha completed six passes and picked up a first down with his feet as the Orediggers quickly responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that took just 1:52 and resulted in a 12-yard TD pass to Flynn Schiele.
 
Mines took a 21-7 lead to the break and while Kutztown got the ball to start the second half, its drive ended in a punt after just five plays.
 
A 7-yard TD run from Matocha extended the Orediggers' lead to 28-7 with 4:25 left in the third.
 
Kutztown had a chance to cut the lead in half with 1st-and-goal from the Mines' 2 after a pass interference call in the end zone. A miscommunication on the next play resulted in a fumble that Mines' Zach Hester picked up to turn the Maroon and Gold away with no points.
 
Landon Walker capped the scoring for Mines with a 26-yard run out of the wildcat formation late in the fourth, sending the hosts to their second consecutive national championship game. Mines will try to win their first title next week in McKinney, Texas, against Harding, a 55-14 winner over Lenoir-Rhyne in Saturday's other semifinal game.
 
Kutztown's historic season ended with a school record 12 victories, all of which occurred in succession after an 0-2 start. The Golden Bears completed another unbeaten run through the PSAC East to win the divisional title before defeating Slippery Rock, 31-7, for their third PSAC championship (2011, 2021, 2023).
 
Jim Clements' team opened the postseason with a convincing 38-14 win over Virginia Union, before pulling out thrilling road wins over Charleston (W.Va.), 32-31, in the second round and Slippery Rock, 28-16, in the quarterfinals. Kutztown won its first-ever Super Region 1 title and represented the region in the national semifinals for the first time in program history.
 
Novak finished with 14 carries for 82 yards and KU's only score. He also completed 19-of-30 passes for 128 yards. Ravenel Jr. caught six passes for a team-high 55 yards and Mekhi Gibson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) had five catches for 35.
 
Kutztown became just the third team this season to rush for more than 100 yards against Mines' vaunted defense. The Orediggers came in allowing just 60.2 yards per game on the ground.
 
Matocha had a big afternoon, going 30-of-37 for 292 yards and three TDs, while also rushing eight times for 25 yards and a score. In doing so, he became college football's career leader in passing touchdowns with 161, surpassing the former record of 159, which was held by current Chicago Bears quarterback and Shepherd product Tyson Bagent.
 
Kutztown limited Mines' leading receiver Max McLeod to four catches for 10 yards, but Schiele more than filled the void with 11 receptions for a game-high 181 yards and two TDs. Mines outgained Kutztown 457-236 overall and rushed for 165 yards. The Orediggers were 6-of-11 on third downs, while holding KU to 2-of-10 in the same situation and 0-of-2 on fourth down.
 
Jalen DeVose (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) led the Golden Bear defense with eight tackles, while Kam Wolfe (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) had seven. Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) had six tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and Tyler Whary (Hereford, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) added six with a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Antaun Lloyd (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) and C.J. Brown broke up passes.
 
In addition to setting new records for wins in a season and consecutive wins in a season, the Golden Bears achieved their fifth 10+ win season in program history.
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