EDINBORO, Pa. – The sixth-ranked Kutztown University football team did all its scoring in the second and third quarters, while shutting out Edinboro for the second consecutive season in a commanding 34-0 victory at Sox Harrison Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Edinboro, which sat idle last week after an eye-opening two touchdown victory at East Stroudsburg in Week 0, looked to make another statement by taking its first possession deep into Kutztown territory after forcing the Golden Bears to go three-and-out. The visitors came up huge, however, when Eden Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and Zach Perta (Swoyersville, Pa./Holy Redeemer) stopped quarterback Nico Marchitelli at the 2-yard line just shy of a first down to force a turnover on downs.
 
The game remained scoreless into the early second quarter before Noah Kracyla (Townsend, Del./Middletown) fielded a line drive punt near midfield and raced up the middle for a 52-yard touchdown on the return for a 6-0 lead. It was the second career punt return TD for the redshirt sophomore from Townsend, Del., after he took one back 74 yards against West Chester last Nov.
 
Kracyla's TD opened the flood gates for Kutztown (2-0), which went on to find the end zone on its next four possessions.
 
After forcing a Fighting Scots (1-1) punt, the Maroon and Gold needed just three plays to extend their lead. Rich Paczewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) took a swing pass 17 yards to the KU 39, before reigning PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week Jaedyn Stewart (Newfield, N.J./Delsea Regional) found a gap and blew past everyone up the middle for a 61-yard TD run to make it 13-0. Stewart now has 60+ yard TD runs in both games to start 2025 after taking one 62 yards to the house against Assumption in the opener.
 
Kutztown's defense tightened to force a three-and-out, setting the offense up for its best drive of the day. The Bears held the ball for nearly seven minutes while marching 66 yards on 11 plays.
 
Kracyla had a 19-yard reception from Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), Ty'renne Hynson (Middletown, Del./Middletown) added a 14-yard catch and Steven Burkhart ran for 31 yards on a drive that ended with Luke Maxwell's (Estell Manor, N.J./Delsea Regional) 1-yard TD run for a 20-0 lead with 1:40 remaining in the first half.
 
Edinboro drove down the field into the red zone but a last-second throw to the end zone fell incomplete to keep the shutout intact.
 
The Golden Bear defense got a massive interception from linebacker Brandon Hile (Winfield, Pa./Selinsgrove) at the Edinboro 34-yard line on the second play of the second half. Two plays later, KU was back in the end zone. Novak hit Lenniek Preston (Wilmington, Del./Conrad) from 24-yards out to push the advantage to 27-0.
 
Following another quick possession by the home side, Kutztown used a few chunk plays to gash the Fighting Scots' defense. Luke Szabo (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) brought in a 21-yard reception, Novak ran for 22 yards and Trevor Amorim (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) took a reverse 30 yards to paydirt for a 34-0 lead.
 
Kutztown racked up 414 yards of offense to Edinboro's 212, while holding the Fighting Scots to just 12 yards rushing on 24 attempts. The 12 yards are the fewest allowed by KU on the ground since limiting Shepherd to 11 back in 2022. The Golden Bears held three teams under 20 yards rushing a season ago.
 
On the flip side, the Golden Bears punished Edinboro for 289 yards rushing. Stewart only carried the rock five times but finished with a game-high 76 yards. Burkhardt added 61 on 12 carries, Novak had 37 on three attempts and fellow quarterback Jacob Zamot (Millville, N.J./The Lawrenceville School) finished with 33 on two carries, including a 35-yarder in the fourth quarter.
 
Novak only threw 13 passes, completing eight for 118 yards and a score.
 
Johnson recorded a team-high seven tackles (two solo), including one for loss. Brandon Strausser (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) added six tackles, while Brayden Pohlman (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Mainland Regional) had a sack and Jason Fermaintt (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) and Joey Quinter (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) combined on another.

All-conference punter Nate Millard (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) averaged 45.2 yards over four punts, including a career-long 72-yarder. He put two inside the Edinboro 20-yard line.
 
Kutztown has outscored Edinboro 60-0 over the last two seasons after blanking them 26-0 at Andre Reed Stadium last fall.
 
The Golden Bears return home for Family Day and a noon start against Gannon next Saturday.

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