SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Kutztown made a statement in its PSAC East opener at 13th-ranked Shepherd, Saturday. The Golden Bears forced five turnovers and controlled possession for more than 40 minutes in a 20-3 victory at Ram Stadium.
 
The defenses took center stage on a rainy and windy afternoon. Kutztown and Shepherd combined for just 221 yards of offense in a mistake-filled first half that featured six turnovers.
 
A pair of early opportunities for points went by the wayside for Kutztown (2-2, 1-0 PSAC East). On the Rams' first possession, safety Drew Hensor (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) stepped in front of Seth Morgan's pass for his second interception of the season and returned it to the Shepherd 35. KU was unable to capitalize, however, turning it over on downs after Darryl Davis-McNeil (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) was dropped for a one-yard loss on 4th and 3 from the Ram 28.
 
Kutztown's offense had barely gotten to the sideline before they were headed back on the field. Brandon Hile (Winfield, Pa./Selinsgrove) popped the ball loose from Malakai Brown and Kam Wolfe (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) recovered to give the visitors possession in Shepherd territory once again. Kutztown worked its way into the red zone, but left without points when Judd Novak's (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) third down pass for Luke Szabo (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) was batted up in the air by Donte Harrison and intercepted by Omari Terry inside the 5-yard line.
 
Shepherd (3-1, 0-1 PSAC East) had little success moving the ball against the Golden Bear defense throughout the game. Having already turned the ball over twice, the Rams went three and out on two of their next three possessions before committing two additional turnovers on back-to-back drives in the second quarter.
 
JT Kouame-Yao picked off Novak at the Kutztown 28 in the early stages of the second, but on the very next play, Morgan, a VMI transfer inheriting the reins from Harlon Hill Trophy recipient and current Chicago Bears backup Tyson Bagent, was intercepted by Gabe Gipli (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) in the red zone.
 
Novak found Tyreek Husser (Woodstown, N.J./Woodstown) for 32 yards and Kaden Hastie (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) for 16 before KU's next possession stalled at the Shepherd 40. Nate Millard (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) executed a beautiful punt, which was downed at the Shepherd 1-yard line. Stunningly, the Rams had the ball for just one play before coughing it up for the fourth time. Hensor, who has been outstanding since stepping into the starting lineup, stripped Brown and Justin Harris (Deptford, N.J./Salem) recovered at the Shepherd 12.
 
Hensor, a redshirt junior from Fairless Hills, Pa., has produced 17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in four games this season.
 
This time, Kutztown converted the turnover into points –the first points of the day—when Dawson Evitts (Auburn, Pa./Schuylkill Haven) nailed a 26-yard field goal with 2:32 to go in the first half.
 
The Golden Bear defense forced another three and out, setting the offense up near midfield in the final two minutes of the quarter. Novak rushed four times for 32 yards and Evitts connected on a 30-yard field goal for a 6-0 KU lead at the half.
 
Shepherd used a 40-yard Miles Greer punt return to set up a 33-yard field goal from James Bozek with 8:48 remaining in the third, cutting Kutztown's lead to 6-3.
 
Kutztown responded with authority by going 66 yards in 10 plays for its first touchdown of the day. On 3rd and 4, Novak rolled right and fired a dart to tight end Nick Lovenguth (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East), capping a drive that lasted more than seven minutes and increased the Bears' advantage to 13-3.
 
The Rams got a gift to start the fourth, recovering a muffed punt by Antaun Lloyd (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) at the KU 26, but two plays later Brown fumbled for the third time and the Maroon and Gold took over again. Gipli forced and recovered the fumble.
 
Another long clock-eating drive sealed the deal for Kutztown. Big plays from Darryl Davis-McNeil (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) (20-yard run) and Hastie (20-yard catch on 4th and 7) helped keep the ball moving in the right direction and Davis-McNeil finished off the 14-play, 93-yard trip that took 9:50 with a 7-yard TD run. The Abington product moved into a tie for fifth all-time at KU with his 25th career rushing score and took over 10th on the program's all-time rushing list with 2,131 career yards.
 
Shepherd turned the ball over on downs and the Bears ran out the clock for their third win in Shepherdstown in as many trips since 2019 –all PSAC East regular season meetings. In their six-game history going back to the 2010 NCAA Division II playoffs, neither KU nor Shepherd has won on its home field.
 
The entire defensive unit stepped up large for Kutztown. Hile had a team-high six tackles, while Oyame Adoga (Clementon, N.J./Highland Regional) and Tyler Whary (Hereford, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) each finished with five. Gipli and Hensor each had a forced fumble and interception, with Gipli also recovering one. Nigel Wilson (Bound Brook, N.J./Bound Brook) added a sack.
 
Shepherd's three points scored were its fewest in a game going back to its 1994 season opener. It was also the fewest allowed by the Golden Bears against a top 25 opponent in the digital stats era (1997-present). Previously, KU held No. 20 Indiana (Pa.) to seven in a 44-7 victory in 2014 and No. 18 New Haven to seven in a 10-7 win during the second round of the 2021 NCAA DII playoffs.
 
Davis-McNeil totaled 79 yards on 19 carries. Novak went 16-of-27 for 146, a TD and two interceptions, but also gained 34 yards on the ground. His counterpart, Morgan, was just 10-of-24 for 95 yards and two picks.
 
Kutztown outgained the Rams 295-189, a combination of the defense allowing little and the offense keeping Shepherd off the field. KU held the ball for 41:12 to Shepherd's 18:41.
 
The Golden Bears are back at Andre Reed Stadium for Family Day next Saturday, Sept. 30, where they'll take on unbeaten (4-0) East Stroudsburg at noon.
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