CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The third-ranked Kutztown University football team, champions of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division for the fourth time in the last five years, will to defend its PSAC title when it faces off against Western Division champion and 17th-ranked California (Pa.) at Adamson Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, at noon.
 
The Golden Bears (10-0 overall, 7-0 PSAC East) are looking for their fourth conference title and second in-a-row, after defeating Slippery Rock 31-7 last season at Andre Reed Stadium. KU is playing in its sixth PSAC championship game overall and fifth under head coach Jim Clements.
 
Kutztown and the Vulcans (8-1, 6-0 PSAC West) met in the title game back in 2016, with Cal coming out on top 49-7. In the last meeting between the two teams, KU fell 31-20 back on Sept. 9, 2023, at Adamson Stadium. Since that game, the Golden Bears have rattled off a NCAA Division II-best 19 consecutive regular season victories.

But the Maroon and Gold seem to play their best when the games matter most, especially with Clements at the helm. This is just the second time in the program's 108-season history that KU has started 10-0. The Golden Bears have won at least 10 games in four of the last five seasons.

Talent and depth across the roster have carried the Golden Bears to this point. You won't find KU players at the top of the NCAA statistical rankings but you will find the team near the top of many categories, exemplifying collective team success.

Kutztown brings one of the nation's best defenses into Saturday's title showdown. The Bears have been historically good, leading the PSAC and ranking second in the nation with just 8.3 points per game allowed. KU also tops the PSAC and ranks second in DII in rush defense (65.7 ypg), second in turnovers forced (25), third in interceptions (18), fourth in total defense (216.3 ypg) and fifth in turnover margin (1.5).

The linebacker trio of Eden Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Governor Mifflin), Jalen DeVose (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) and Brandon Strausser (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) stand as KU's three leading tacklers and have combined for 135 overall. Johnson leads the way with 51 tackles (24 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. DeVose has 45 tackles, including 5.0 for loss, while Strausser is up to 39 tackles, 3.5 TFL and two sacks on the year. All three have returned an interception for a touchdown this season.

Two-time PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) anchors a defensive line that has made a living in the backfield. The Quakertown native's 11.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries lead the team while his 38 tackles rank fourth. Kutztown's secondary has accounted for 11 of the team's 18 interceptions, led by safety Drew Hensor's (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) three.

Kutztown has three shutouts this season --the first time the program has accomplished that feat since 1964. The Golden Bears are outscoring their opponents 315-83 and have allowed 20 points just once, in a 27-21 victory at East Stroudsburg back on Sept. 28.

Ball control is the name of the game for the Maroon and Gold offensively. Saturday's game pits the PSAC's top two teams in time of possession against each other. California is holding the ball for a league-best 33:29 per game while the Golden Bears are second at 32:38.

Kutztown only ranks 10th in the PSAC in total offense with 338.5 yards per game, but scoring is a different story, where the team's 31.5 points per game rank second. With a veteran offensive line paving the way, KU boasts the PSAC's third-leading rushing offense at 155.1 yards per game.

Running backs Jaedyn Stewart (Newfield, N.J./Delsea Regional) (47.7 ypg) and Steven Burkhardt (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City) (40.6 ypg), along with dual-threat quarterback Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) (36.2 ypg) combine to average more than 124 yards per game on the ground. Burkhardt has a team-best seven TD runs, while Stewart has scored four times and Novak three.

Through the air, Novak is 136-of-209 for 1,776 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. Mekhi Gibson (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) paces the receivers with 20 catches for 463 yards and seven TDs. His 23.15 yards per catch rank eighth in NCAA Division II. Redshirt freshman Noah Kracyla (Townsend, Del./Middletown) has emerged as a reliable threat with 32 catches for 457 yards and a score, while graduate student Kurtis Ravenel Jr. (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) has a team-high 34 catches for 418 yards and five TDs.

Kracyla also bolstered Kutztown's punt return numbers with a 76-yard return for a touchdown in last week's 31-13 win over West Chester. It was the team's first unblocked punt return for a score since 2017. The Bears lead the PSAC with 13.67 yards per punt return and are third in kick return average at 23.47.

California, under eighth-year head coach Gary Dunn, will provide the Golden Bears with their toughest test of the season to date. The Vulcans are a balanced bunch, ranking third in the PSAC in scoring offense (29.3 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense (17.8 ppg). They've been excellent against the run,  limiting teams to 92.8 yards per game, which is second to only KU in the PSAC.

Quarterback Davis Black commands a passing attack that ranks third in the conference and 26th in DII with more than 244 yards per game. The senior ranks top 15 nationally with 271.2 yards of total offense per game and is responsible for a PSAC-best 16.2 points per game with 24 total touchdowns (seven rushing).

Defensive back Rashan Murray leads the PSAC and ranks third in the country with 1.7 passes defended (three interceptions), while linebacker Armani Caraballo sits atop the PSAC and ranks sixth nationally in sacks with 0.89 per game.

Both teams have been efficient in the kicking game. The Vulcans feature Anthony Beitko, the most accurate kicker in program history. Beitko has converted on 81.8% of his field goal tries this year (9-of-11), to rank third in NCAA DII. Kutztown, meanwhile, has used a trio of legs in Dakota Campbell (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro), Nate Millard (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) and Will Smith (Oxford, Pa./Oxford). Campbell has been used exclusively on PATs but Millard and Smith have combined to go 7-for-8 on field goals. Smith is 6-for-7, including 3-of-3 between 40-49 yards. Millard, one of the league's top punters at 40.34 yards per punt, hit his only field goal attempt of the season --a school-record 50-yarder in a win over Lock Haven on Oct. 12.

Fans traveling out to Calfiornia (Pa.) for Saturday's game can only get tickets at the Adamson Stadium ticket booth on game day. Tickets are general admission and cost $10 for adults and $5 for students. Kids 12 and under are free. Parking is $5.
 
For those that can't make it to the game, the Kutztown University Foundation is hosting a watch party at the McFarland Student Union Building beginning at 11:30 a.m. Complimentary snacks and refreshments will be served. Register here. Fans can watch the game live on the PSAC Sports Digital Network (broadcast produced by Cal) or listen live on Kutztown University Radio (KUR).