KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) threw for a season-high 287 yards and two touchdowns as the No. 4 Kutztown University football team scored the first 43 points in a 43-14 Homecoming victory over Millersville Saturday afternoon at Andre Reed Stadium.
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The Golden Bears (7-0, 4-0 PSAC East) registered more than 500 yards of offense for the second time in three weeks behind a balanced attack.
Steven Burkhardt (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City) ran for 94 yards and two TDs,
Luke Maxwell (Estell Manor, N.J./Delsea Regional) had rushing and receiving TDs, while
Rich Paczewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) and
Lenniek Preston (Wilmington, Del./Conrad) each went over 100 yards receiving –a first for KU since 2019.
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Burkhardt opened the scoring with a 2-yard TD run to cap a 9-play, 72-yard drive on Kutztown's first possession.
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The Maroon and Gold carried a 7-0 lead into the second quarter and were knocking on the door of another score before Millersville (0-7, 0-4 PSAC East) stopped KU's fourth-down run from the 2-yard line in the backfield.
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Kutztown's vaunted defense made an impact on the very next play.
Jason Fermaintt (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) deflected Ryan Zeltt's pass in the end zone. Zeltt caught the deflection, becoming a receiver, but was quickly leveled by
Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) for a safety.
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On its ensuing drive, KU got a pair of 10-yard runs by Burkhardt and a 20-yard reception from Paczewski to set up Burkhardt's second TD of the day on a 9-yard run for a 16-0 lead.
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The Bears took over at their own 40 after a three-and-out by the Marauders and drove down the field with little resistance. Novak found Preston for gains of 29 and 16 yards before hitting Maxwell out in the flat for a 2-yard TD and a 23-0 advantage with five minutes left in the half.
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Novak and company took over again with 59 seconds on the clock and the redshirt junior signal caller picked apart the Marauders before Maxwell plowed his way in from a yard out to send the Golden Bears to the locker room with a 29-0 halftime lead. Kutztown has now outscored Millersville 78-3 in the first half of their last two meetings.
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Kutztown got the ball to start the second half and turned it into more points. An 11-play, 75-yard march ate up more than six minutes of clock and ended with redshirt senior left tackle
Ryan Schernecke (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) racing into the end zone from two yards out on his first career carry.
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Millersville crossed into KU territory on its next drive but turned it over on downs at the 41. Novak went up top to find Paczewski for a 59-yard TD on KU's first play to make it 43-0.
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The Golden Bears gained 508 yards of offense against the Millersville defense, which came in yielding a NCAA Division II worst 555 yards per game. KU also picked up a season-high 29 first downs.
Novak completed 21-of-28 passes in his 287-yard performance, which was the second-highest passing yardage total of his career.
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Paczewski brought in five catches for 117 yards and Preston had seven receptions for 109 yards –career-high receiving totals for both. Prior to Saturday, Kutztown's last game with two 100+ yard receivers came against Tiffin on Nov. 23, 2019, with Diego Torres (120) and Jack Pilkerton (105) doing the honors.
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Burkhardt collected more than half of Kutztown's 183 rushing yards with 18 carries for 94 yards.
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Lee Coleman (Salem, N.J./Salem) and
Brandon Strausser (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) led the defense with five tackles apiece. The Golden Bears totaled five tackles for loss, including sacks by
Kyree Butler (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) and
Kahlil Williams (Souderton, Pa./Souderton). Butler and
Mike Fayemi (Philadelphia, Pa./South Philadelphia) forced fumbles and Retter recovered a fumble.
Trey Hamlin III (Townsend, Del./Caravel Academy) came up with his first career interception.
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Kutztown travels to West Chester next Saturday for a noon kick.
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