Kutztown University Athletics

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns and No. 3 Kutztown returned a blocked punt for a score in a 45-14 victory over Clarion as the Golden Bear football family reunited for the 2026 home opener at Andre Reed Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
Hosting former KU head coach Raymond Monica for the first time since he departed for Arkansas Tech in 2013 and the Golden Eagles for the first time in more than a decade, Kutztown (2-0) scored the first 31 points en route to their 33rd consecutive regular season win.
 
The Golden Bears scored touchdowns on each of their first three offensive possessions and reached the 40-point mark for the 12th time in 17 games since the start of last season.
 
Three different receivers caught passes and the most recent PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week, Jaedyn Stewart (Newfield, N.J./Delsea Regional), ran three times for 20 yards as the Maroon and Gold went 54 yards in nine plays on their opening drive. Novak broke through on a keeper for a 7-yard TD to put KU on top, 7-0, with 7:16 left in the first.
 
Linebacker LJ Smith (Newark, Del./Salesianum) wrapped up Tyreeck Hall in the backfield for a 3-yard loss to force a turnover on downs on Clarion's ensuing possession and the Golden Bears nearly replicated their first drive by marching 56 yards on nine plays. Luke Maxwell (Estell Manor, N.J./Delsea Regional) finished it off with a 1-yard TD run on the opening play of the second quarter.
 
Kutztown's lead continued to grow when Trey Hamlin III (Townsend, Del./Caravel Academy) broke through and blocked Ty Woods' punt a few plays later. Michael LeMay (Medford, N.J./Lenape) caught the ball in stride and returned it 17 yards to the house.
 
Later in the half, tight end Kaden Weaver (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) fought through a holding call to come up with a sensational 38-yard catch to put KU in the red zone. Five plays later, Novak found another tight end, Asa Kochvar (Middletown, Pa./Steelton-Highspire), for a 7-yard TD. It was Kochvar's first career TD reception and second career catch.
 
Kutztown led 28-0 at the half and put more points on the board to start the second when freshman Peter Fiorello (Strasburg, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) converted his first career field goal attempt from 23 yards away.
 
Clarion (1-1) got on the board with a 10-yard TD pass from Jase Ferguson to Austin VanHuss late in the third, but the Bears responded with a 9-play, 45-yard drive and a 10-yard Novak to Noah Kracyla (Townsend, Del./Middletown) strike to go up 38-7.
 
The teams would trade 62-yard scoring plays in the fourth. Ferguson linked up with Collin Willard for his second TD pass of the afternoon at 11:48, but running back Craig Miller (Bear, Del./Caravel Academy) broke free four plays into KU's next possession for a career-long run and his second TD in as many games this season.
 
Miller led all rushers with 78 yards on five attempts. Stewart added 53 yards on 14 carries, Brady Collins (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) ran twice for 28, Rocco DeBiaso (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) three times for 27 and Novak six times for 28 to power the Bears to 239 yards on the ground.
 
Novak completed passes to eight different receivers for the second game in a row, ultimately finishing 22-of-32 for 257 yards and two TDs through the air to go along with his rushing score.
 
Lenniek Preston (Wilmington, Del./Conrad) caught a game-high six passes for 74 yards and Ty'renne Hynson (Middletown, Del./Middletown) added three receptions for 43 yards. Kutztown put up 484 yards of total offense.
 
The Golden Bear defense played to its usual strength by making the Golden Eagles one dimensional. They limited Clarion to 46 rushing yards on 26 attempts (1.8 per carry) after holding Assumption to just 15 yards in the season opener, Sept. 3.
 
Smith had five tackles, including 2.0 for loss, and safety Mike Fayemi (Philadelphia, Pa./South Philadelphia) shared the team lead with five tackles while intercepting a pass and breaking up another. Jhaisir Harden (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro) added four tackles and a breakup, Ty Kephart (Grantville, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) had four tackles (1.5 TFL) and Jason Fermaintt (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) three tackles, a sack and a breakup. Kahlil Williams (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) and Mikey Jones (New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff) also recorded sacks in the victory.
 
Preston, who had a 43-yard kick return at Assumption, took a third-quarter kick back 42 yards to midfield.
 
Ferguson completed 16-of-28 passes for 242 yards and two TDs to lead Clarion. Ja'Tawn Williams led all receivers with 95 yards and Najhir Kibidor posted a game-high 10 tackles (eight solo) out of the secondary.

Monica, the 2010 and 2011 PSAC East and AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year, guided the Golden Bears to 45 wins, the 2011 PSAC championship and a pair of NCAA DII playoff appearances over seven seasons from 2006-12. Saturday marked his first game coaching at Kutztown since 2012. He coached Arkansas Tech for six seasons (2013-18) and returned to the PSAC with Clarion in 2022.
 
Kutztown is back on the road next Saturday, Sept. 19, to face former PSAC East foe Lock Haven in its only night game of the season. Kick off is at 6 p.m. The Bald Eagles moved to the PSAC West with Lackawanna being added to the PSAC East schedule rotation while going through the NCAA Division II application process.

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