Lightning strikes twice for Kutztown
Kutztown wins back-to-back games after turning away lengthy losing streak
KUTZTOWN 34, PEQUEA VALLEY 13 >> The Kutztown football team liked the longsought feeling of victory so much last Friday they couldn’t bare to wait longer. The Cougars only needed a week.
The Cougars won back-to-back games for the first time since 2008 after winning their first game since 2010 the week prior. In the process, Kutztown snapped Pequea Valley’s six-game winning streak and dropped it to 3-1.
The Kutztown defense shined by holding PV to a season-low 164 yards total offense, well under its 333-yard average.
Kutztown QB Brayden Eck completed 8-of-17 passes for 135 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while workhorse Logan Bachman went for 87 rushing yards on 23 carries and a pair of scores to go along with three receptions and 72 receiving yards and a TD.
Kutztown (2-1) took its first lead of the night when defensive end Caleb Riegel stripped Pequea QB Jordan Lapp of the ball and returned the fumble for 15
yards, putting the Cougars up 12-7. However, the Braves bounced right back two possessions later with a 6-play, 55-yard scoring drive, finished off by a 24yard option keeper by Lapp, putting Pequea Valley back in front, 13-12.
The difference maker of the night came on Kutztown’s last drive of the half when it needed just 4 plays to go 44 yards for the score – an 11-yard TD run from Bachman – and a two-point conversion giving the Cougars a 20-13 advantage heading into the break.
It was all the Cougars’ defense would need while pitching a second-half shutout as Kutztown improved to 2-1.
ELCO 29, FLEETWOOD 26 >>
Fleetwood running back Mike Wilkinson’s big game wasn’t enough as Elco quarterback Kyle Knight threw three touchdown passes to lead his team to a nonleague win on Sept. 16.
Wilkinson led the way for the Tigers with 18 carries for 176 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground and two catches for 51 yards and a TD through the air.
Fleetwood running back Brendan Jocsak finished with 95 yards and one TD on 15 carries.
CONRAD WEISER 23, TWIN
VALLEY 20 >> Alec Morales caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Austin Costenbader for the go-ahead touchdown with 48 seconds left to give Conrad Weiser a non-league win over the Raiders.
The Scouts (1-2) converted twice on fourth down to set up Morales’ TD. He ran 19 times for a gamehigh 108 yards.
Twin Valley (1-2) was troubled again by turnovers.
Raiders quarterback Zach Gardner threw for 160 yards, most of which came in the first half. quickly established his rhythm on the next series and used it propel the Raiders to 120 firsthalf passing yards and a halftime tie.
Twin Valley running back David Sabulsky had one TD on the ground and one through the air. He rushed for 92 yards and had 66 yards receiving.
DANIEL BOONE 28, NORTHERN LEBANON 24 >> The Daniel Boone football got into the win column Friday night with a 28-24 victory over Northern Lebanon.
The Blazers defense made key defensive stands in a scoreless fourth quarter to preserve the lead after Chase Lacey’s two-yard touchdown run to cap a 16play drive gave Boone the lead for good in the third quarter.
Boone trailed 24-21 at halftime despite three passing touchdowns from quarterback Josh Ehst. Ehst found Ryan Okuniewski for TD catches of 31 and 55 yards before Lacey caught an 8-yard TD pass.
Okuniewski had a pivotal interception in the fourth quarter as the Blazers’ defense held Northern Lebanon scoreless in a pair of red zone trips in the final frame.
The Blazers rushed for 269 yards as a team.
Christian Trader had a pair of receiving TDs from QB Michigan Daub for Northern Lebanon.
Daniel Boone (1-2) shook off a pair of blowout losses in its first two games. They’ll open their Berks campaign with a visit to Muhlenberg next Friday.
GOV. MIFFLIN 28, MANHEIM
TOWNSHIP 20 >> Aaron Grill’s interception of Blue Streaks’ quarterback Luke Emge and 52-yard return for a touchdown preserved the Mustangs’ non-league win.
Gov. Mifflin (2-1) led 13-7 entering the fourth quarter after a pair of field goals from Myers and a 20-yard touchdown run from Ajay Sczepkowski in the second quarter.
Sczepkowski scored on a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter ahead of Grill’s interception and was part of a balanced rushing attack for the Mustangs as four players got seven or more carries. Sczepkowski rushed 7 times for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Isaac Ruoss had 16 for 43 yards, Austin Baker 11 carries for 23 yards and Grill 7 for 20 yards.
Sczepkowski was quarterback Kamron Wolfe’s (8-for-14, 89 yards) top target with 4 catches for 57 yards.