Kutztown University Athletics

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) threw four touchdown passes, including two to Jaimen Bryant (Somerville, N.J./Somerville), as No. 3 Kutztown picked up a 35-20 road victory at Lock Haven Saturday evening.
 
The Golden Bears raced out to a 14-0 lead with touchdowns on each of their first two possessions, but a pair of second-quarter turnovers allowed Lock Haven to hang around until late in the half.
 
Kutztown (3-0) executed a strong two-minute drive following a long kick return from Lenniek Preston (Wilmington, Del./Conrad) to restore its two-score lead, 21-7, going into halftime and pulled away with TDs on its first two drives in the second half.
 
Novak connected with tight end Luke Maxwell (Estell Manor, N.J./Delsea Regional) for a 9-yard scoring strike to open the scoring just over four minutes into the first quarter.
 
Jhaisir Harden (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro) halted a Bald Eagles (1-2) drive in KU territory with his first of two interceptions on the night and the Bears took advantage five plays later with an 8-yard TD pass from Novak to Bryant. A 57-yard catch by Noah Kracyla (Townsend, Del./Middletown) down to the Haven 12 helped set up the score.
 
A fumble and an interception kept Kutztown from adding to its advantage as the half wore on.
 
Lock Haven would take advantage of solid field position to get on the board with 2:06 left in the first half as former Millersville quarterback Robert Footman Jr. scored on a 1-yard TD run to pull the hosts within 14-7.
 
Preston returned the ensuing kick 49 yards to midfield and the Bears quickly responded with a TD of their own. Novak completed three straight first down passes before sending a laser to the back of the end zone for Rich Paczewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) to restore KU's 14-point lead.
 
Trey Hamlin III (Townsend, Del./Caravel Academy) made another massive special teams play early in the second half, blocking a punt for the second week in a row that gave the Golden Bears the ball at the Lock Haven 5-yard line. Maxwell pushed across the goal line from two yards out three plays later.
 
Following a three-and-out by the Bald Eagles, the Bears needed just three more plays to push their lead to 35-7. Novak took the top off the Lock Haven defense with a 43-yard pass to Ty'renne Hynson (Middletown, Del./Middletown) and located Bryant for a 22-yard TD, his second of the game, on the very next play.
 
Footman Jr. found Connor Fultz for a pair of fourth-quarter TDs for Lock Haven.
 
Novak completed 14-of-19 passes for 248 yards and four TDs and two interceptions in his 40th victory as Kutztown's starting quarterback (40-4). He went over 8,000 career passing yards (8,085) and 80 career TD passes (82). The 2025 PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Year and Harlon Hill Trophy finalist was only intercepted once on 328 attempts last season.
 
Bryant led the team with five catches for 72 yards, all 57 of Kracyla's receiving yards came on one reception and Paczewski added four catches for 44 yards.
 
The Golden Bears were held to 94 yards rushing on 26 attempts, snapping a streak of 30 consecutive 100+ yard rushing games that started in the NCAA DII national semifinals at Colorado School of Mines, Dec. 9, 2023.
 
Eden Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Governor Mifflin) paced the defense with nine tackles (five solo). Twelve players had at least three tackles for KU. Kyree Butler (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin), Tee Peete (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge), Joey Quinter (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) and Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) each had a sack. The Bears limited Lock Haven to 39 yards rushing and 1.9 yards per carry.
 
Footman Jr. completed 33-of-38 passes for 288 yards, two TDs and two interceptions, and Mekhi Watson had game-highs of 10 catches and 96 yards for the Bald Eagles.
 
Kutztown is back at Andre Reed Stadium to take on Shepherd in its PSAC East opener on Family Day next Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is at noon.

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