Top 10 Football Games of the 2000s

Top 10 Kutztown University Football Games of 2000 Decade
By Josh Leiboff

From 2000-2009, there were 106 Kutztown University football games. As sports information director for the first nine years of the decade, and helping out my successor in various roles last season, I was able to catch most of the games in 2009. Now that the decade is over and as we head into a new decade of games this September, it’s a good time to take a look back and choose the top 10 games of the last 10 seasons.

As you will see, these games don’t represent the top 10 wins. In fact, more than half are losses for KU. Instead, these games represent the most entertaining, meaningful or enjoyable experiences watching Golden Bear football in my view from the press box.

#10
Sept. 20, 2008
Bloomsburg, 31, Kutztown 21 - Game Recap
While the game was entertaining, this game also makes the list for selfish reasons by the writer. This was Kutztown’s first game at the renovated Redman Stadium at Bloomsburg. While the new turf on the field is nice, what really stood out was the tremendous press box. Don’t get me wrong, Kutztown’s press box is among the best in the conference, but Bloomsburg really did a great job in replacing its venue for those covering a game. Site lines are great, lots of space and amenities, an elevator (nice when carrying lots of bags and boxes). On the field that day, KU’s defense held the powerful BU defense 170 yards below its rushing yard average. The Bears led twice in the first half before falling behind 24-13 before a Shane Martin-Jason Uhlig TD and two-point conversion made it 24-21 with 1:47 to play. After burning its timeouts and allowing a BU score (callback to WCU game in 2007 to get the ball back) KU couldn’t continue the comeback turning it over on downs. Even though the result on the field didn’t look good, it seemed to look better from that press box.

#9
Nov. 4, 2000
Bloomsburg 35, Kutztown 28 - Game Recap
Bloomsburg was en route to an appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship game that season, but had to get past a feisty Kutztown team first. The game had a lot on the line, as KU entered with a chance to tie Bloomsburg for a PSAC East title. QB Mike de Marteleire set a school record with 472 yards of total offense and Terry Robertson tied a program mark with 14 receptions. The performance by de Marteleire was nothing short of amazing in this game. Bloomsburg’s legendary radio play-by-play man Jim Doyle said after the season, and after the Huskies’ DII championship game appearance, said that their game against Kutztown was among their most difficult tests of the year.

#8
Oct. 23, 2004
Millersville 38, Kutztown 37 - Game Recap
This one was a real punch in the gut for the Golden Bears. Down 19-7 early, KU scored 30 straight points to take what looked like a commanding 37-19 lead before the Marauders staged its own comeback and hold off another KU rally. MU took the lead with 2:55 left. Kutztown marched down the field, running the clock down to five seconds before attempting a 30-yard field goal. The kick was blocked and Millersville held on for a thrilling victory, or as it were, an agonizing defeat for KU. Millersville quarterback Dan Csencsitz would later join the KU coaching staff.

#7
Nov. 7, 2009
Indiana (PA) 34, Kutztown 32 - Game Recap
This was a crazy, heartbreaking game with more twists and turns than a roller coaster.   IUP jumped out to a huge first-half lead, 31-3, taking advantage of an interception and two fumbles returned for touchdowns. In the final minute of the first half, though, the momentum made a 180 degree turn. Kevin Morton hit Dominick Massey with a 12-yard TD pass. A field goal, as the first-half clock expired, made it 31-13. Two TD passes by Morton in the third quarter made it 31-26 (a two-point conversion failed after the second score). Morton’s fourth TD pass, this a 76-yard catch and run by Josh Mastromatto, put the Golden Bears ahead 32-31 with 8:52 to play. However, another failed two-point try, coupled with a devastating penalty, would haunt KU. On IUPs ensuing possession, KU’s defense appeared to force a punt situation deep in IUP territory, but a five-yard sideline interference flag was thrown on 3rd and 4, giving IUP a first down. After that, KU’s defense just could not get off the field. IUP chewed the remaining time off the clock, inched down the field and hit a 41-yard field goal with just five seconds left to win the game.

#6
Sept. 9, 2006
Kutztown 27, Clarion 10 - Game Recap
Not necessarily an exciting game, although it did feature an 85-yard kickoff return TD by Maurice Adams that happened just after this photograph was taken (PICTURE) – one of the best pictures of University Field ever taken in this writer’s opinion. What makes this game memorable was the fact that it marked the first-ever night game (hence the twilight in the above picture), the first game on the renovated University Field, and also the first in current head coach Raymond Monica’s tenure. Oh, and KU Hall of Famer and former NFL All-Pro Andre Reed conducted the coin toss.

#5
October 13, 2001
Kutztown 26, West Chester 25 - Game Recap
Marcel Kottke’s 21 yard field goal with 0:08 left capped an exciting if not well-executed game. The teams combined for nine turnovers, including a then-school record three interceptions by All-America safety Pete Mendez. The turnovers also included two fumbles recovered in the end zone for touchdowns by West Chester. WCU went up 25-23 on the second fumble recovery TD, and it was the first of three straight fumbles on plays from scrimmage. KU was finally able to hold onto the ball long enough for Rob Flowers and future KU Iraq War hero David Borden to setup the game-winning field goal drive.

#4
Oct. 4, 2003
Kutztown 17, West Chester 16 - Game Recap
For the second time in three years, KU defeated West Chester on a last-minute field goal. Down 16-0 less than a quarter into the game, KU stormed back in the second half. Trevor Smith caught two touchdown passes, Matt Scartozzi’s 38-yard field goal with 0:50 left was the winner, but the victory was not sealed until Andre Davis intercepted a Hail Mary pass in the end zone as time expired. WCU went on to win eight games that year, making the victory even sweeter for KU.

#3
Sept. 3, 2005
Clarion 29, Kutztown 23 (4 OT) - Game Recap
In a game that neither team wanted to lose and didn’t seem like either would figure out how to win, Clarion eventually came out on top after a PSAC record four overtimes. After a Clarion missed field goal sent the game to “extra innings,” KU missed a field goal on its first OT possession. Justin Gibbs recovered a Clarion fumble and looked to have a path at the other end zone before being corralled after a 50-yard return. Both teams scored TDs in OT No. 2, including a 4th-and-8 conversion for KU. The third OT was also scoreless, featuring a pair of blocked field goals. All-America safety Michael Baldwin, who set a school record with a 98-yard fumble return in regulation, had the blocked kick for the Golden Bears. Clarion scored a TD and held KU scoreless in the fourth OT to break the deadlock, finally.

#2
Oct. 21, 2006
West Chester 49, Kutztown 47 - Game Recap
Anyone who was lucky enough to witness this game is likely never to forget it. With his team trailing 42-41, head coach Raymond Monica called his final timeout and instructed his defense to allow WCU to score in order to get the ball back. The Rams’ Brent Steinmetz scored from 20 yards out on the next play, and the PAT kick made it 49-41 with 1:49 to play. Kyle Spotts took over, driving the Golden Bears 80 yards on six plays, capped by Brett Harbach’s 19-yard TD catch with 39 seconds left. Trailing by two, Spotts two-point conversion was tipped away from Jason Henley to close the door on KU’s dramatic comeback effort. Spotts, named the national offensive player of the week for his effort, passed for a then-career high 345 yards and four TDs. The 96 points were the most scored in a game at University Field in the decade and the 47 points scored by KU were its most ever in a loss. Had the Golden Bears been able to pull off a victory in this game, it would easily have been No. 1 on this list.

#1
Nov. 7, 2007
Kutztown 26, Millersville 23 (3 OT) - Game Recap
QB Kyle Spotts’ final collegiate play is a memorable one, an 8-yard touchdown run to finish off a triple-overtime barnburner in the 2007 season finale. It was the third of Spotts’ three TDs in the game. The victory was the first in overtime for KU, after losing its first five OT contests. It also was the second most overtimes in program history, after the 2005 four-OT loss to Clarion. The teams each missed a field goal in the first overtime. In the second OT, KU turned the ball over on downs and MU missed a field goal to send it to the third OT. MU finally hit its FG attempt this time, but Spotts put an end to the madness on KU’s next try. Not to be forgotten is the controversial end to the first half. With just a few seconds left, Millersville’s runner was stopped short of the goal line and the clock appeared to run out. However, after both teams had gone into the locker room, the referees conferred (after being “encouraged” to do so by MU’s coaching staff) and called a delay of game penalty on KU for hitting the ball after it had been spotted. The teams were called back onto the field and Millersville initially kicked a field goal, but KU had called a timeout to ice the kicker. The Marauders changed course, went for and scored a TD. After missing the PAT kick, both teams finally got to take their halftime break. They must have liked the extra playing time, repeating the bonus playing time following the second half. It was a bitterly cold, dreary day in Lancaster County. There was nothing on the line except ending the year on a positive note and for the seniors, going out with a win. KU’s pure will to win makes this game No. 1 on this list.