Kane, KU clobber Cheyney
CHEYNEY » Redshirt-senior quarterback Chris Kane (Maple Glen, Pa./La Salle College) made the most of his first career start, throwing for 311 yards and five touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Kutztown University’s defense posted its first shutout of the season and held Cheyney University to negative rushing yards in a 65-0 victory Saturday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game from Cheyney’s O’Shields Stevenson Stadium.
Kane connected on 21-of25 passes (84.0 percent) in his first 300-yard performance. He threw touchdown passes to three different receivers, including two apiece by Conor Sullivan (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) and Diego Torres (York, Pa./ West York Area), to lead the KU offense.
The Golden Bears (7-3, 5-2 PSAC East) outgained the Wolves (1-9, 0-7) in total yards by a 602-60 margin. It marked KU’s most yards of the season, while the 60 yards allowed were the fewest for KU since 2014. While Cheyney threw for 73 yards across three quarterbacks, Kutztown held the Wolves to -13 rushing yards, the fewest for KU since 2014.
Kutztown scored touchdowns on 6-of-7 first-half possessions (one turnover on downs). Kane completed 14-of-17 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
Evan Culver (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley) scored two touchdowns in the first half — one rushing and one receiving. It marked Culver’s fifth-straight game with a touchdown. Abdul-Hassan Neblett (Newark, N.J./ Paramus Catholic) ran in a score from seven yards out — his second of the year.
Kutztown capped off the first half with its most memorable score of the day. On first-down from the Cheyney 4-yardline, the Golden Bears sent senior captain Ronny Tomasetti (Dickson City, Pa./MidValley), a defensive end, into the game at running back. He gained three yards on his first carry down to the 1-yard line, and ran in for a 1-yard touchdown for his first career score.
The Tomasetti touchdown gave KU a 42-0 halftime lead.
Defensively, Kutztown forced Cheyney to go threeand-out eight times, with Cheyney’s other drives ending in two punts, a fumble, the end of the first half, a safety and an interception.
Nick Palmer (Montville, N.J./Bergen Catholic) tackled the Cheyney running back in the endzone in the third quarter, Kutztown’s first safety since 2014. Palmer also hauled in an interception in the fourth quarter.
On special teams, Shane Snisky (Jim Thorpe, Pa./ Jim Thorpe Area) blocked a punt.
Jalen Nieves (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) had a team-high six tackles, as nearly every Golden Bear that travelled saw action. Palmer and TwyNique Chisholm-Wilkerson (Harrisburg, Pa./Steelton-Highspire) each had five tackles. Nieves and Eric Miller (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) each registered sacks on the day.
Kutztown wraps up its season next weekend, Saturday, Nov. 11, at home against Slippery Rock University. Kickoff for Senior Day, Hall of Fame and Military Appreciation Day is set for 12:05 p.m.