Kutztown falls short of Mercyhurst
KUTZTOWN >> The Kutztown University football team led for the first three quarters, but allowed Mercyhurst University to crawl its way back in the game and take its first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter. Needing a touchdown, KU drove into Mercyhurst territory twice in the final seven minutes, but was unable to find the end zone as it fell 23-19 on Saturday evening in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover contest at Andre Reed Stadium.
Kutztown fans not only saw their Golden Bears (0-2) lead in nearly every statistical category Saturday night, but they saw the homeopener conclude with a tremendous fireworks show, sponsored by the KU Sesquicentennial Celebration and PSECU.
KU led in first downs (2013) and nearly doubled Mercyhurst in total yards (390170), but Mercyhurst used three blocked punts, including one for a touchdown, to put Kutztown back on its heels.
Mercyhurst was just 2-for-17 on third-downs, but its three blocked punts put it in great field position on multiple occasions. Kutztown led 19-10 early in the second half, but Mercyhurst scored on back-toback touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to take a 23-19 lead, its first of the night.
With 6:21 to play, Kutztown opened its drive at the Mercyhurst 45-yardline. It nearly threaded the needle on a potential 34-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Hollander (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights), but a diving Mercyhurst defender broke up the play as KU was eventually sacked and failed on 4th-and-long.
The defense stepped up and forced a three-and-out to give KU back the ball with 2:36 to play at its own 36-yardline. KU crossed midfield with a 3rd-and-3 at the Mercyhurst 45-yardline, but an incomplete pass and a two-yard completion that fell just short of the sticks put an end to the potential late comeback.
Defensively, the Golden Bears were extremely solid up front. Led by senior defensive lineman Chris McMonagle (Philadelphia, Pa./ Archbishop Ryan)’s gamehigh 2.5 sacks, the defense piled up eight sacks on the night - the most for the program since it had nine on Sept. 6, 1997 against West Virginia Wesleyan.
McMonagle added 4.0 tackles-for-loss, as fellow defensive lineman Steve Plousis (Philadelphia, Pa./ Ridley) added 1.5 sacks as KU’s leaders up front.
While putting up the most sacks in 20 years, Kutztown unfortunately also suffered another 20year first. Mercyhurst’s 170 yards of total offense are the fewest for an opponent in a win over Kutztown in the last 20 years, through the 1997 season.
Craig Reynolds (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington) got Kutztown off to a hot start with a 68-yard run on the first drive of the game.
He capped the drive with a touchdown and finished the night with a careerhigh 144 yards and a score on 18 carries. He ran for nearly two-thirds of Kutztown’s 196 rushing yards the 10th straight 100-yard rushing game for Kutztown - while the KU defense was one play away from holding Mercyhurst to potential negative rushing yardage.
In the fourth quarter, Mercyhurst had less than 30 yards of rushing offense, until Drew Robinson broke off a 47-yard run to put it at the KU 1-yardline and nearly double Mercyhurst’s output in one run. The Lakers (1-1) finished with 62 yards, marking the first loss in head coach Jim Clements’ career at KU when holding an opponent to 100 yards or less (8-1), or when holding a team to 24 or fewer points (10-1).
Terence Scanlon (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Regional (Rutgers)) and Troy Parton (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) connected 15 times Saturday night, primarily on short passing routes to keep the Kutztown offense moving forward. Parton’s 15 receptions not only far-exceeded his previous career-high, but were two shy of tying the school-record.
Scanlon was 26-for-40 for 194 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Kellen Williams (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) caught both of Scanlon’s touchdown passes, his seventh career multitouchdown game. He was limited to three catches for 44 yards, but now sits four receiving touchdowns shy of tying KU’s all-time record, while also moving into fifth all-time with 161 catches.
Kutztown hits the road once again next week for an overnight trip to Seton Hill University to play the 2-0 Griffins. Game time on Saturday, Sept. 17 is set for 3 p.m.