Quakertown’s Retter rising for Kutztown’s defense
With four experienced interior defensive linemen last season, Kutztown decided to redshirt Freddie Retter.
Three games into 2023, he has seized a spot in the middle of a Golden Bears defense seeking consistency.
Retter, a Quakertown High School graduate, was chosen as Kutztown’s defensive player of the game Saturday after registering the first 1.5 sacks of his college career. He finished with six tackles as the Golden Bears thumped Mercyhurst 47-14 for their first win this season.
A Kutztown defense with diminished depth inside is counting on continued production from Retter. The Golden Bears (1-2 overall) face their toughest foe to date Saturday when they visit Shepherd to open PSAC East Division play. The Rams are 3-0 and ranked No. 13 nationally in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II poll.
“Freddie had a heck of a game Saturday,” Kutztown coach Jim Clements said by phone Monday night. “He’s picking it up, and he’s taking advantage of these opportunities. We had our one starting D-tackle[ Bethlehem Catholic graduateDom Italia ni] tear his A CL, and Freddie’s been getting a lot of reps and making good on them. He’s playing really good for us.
“Some of the young guys are getting opportunities. Some of them are rising to the occasion, and some of them still have a way to go. But we’re fighting and getting better every week. Fundamentally we’re getting better. That’s what we have to lean on.”
While Italiani’s injury opened up more playing time for Retter, the Golden Bears already planned to have him in their defensive-line rotation. Clements said Retter could have contributed last season, but they didn’t want to waste a year of his eligibility with four experienced defensive tackles in place.
Retter carried over his strong work from spring ball into the start of this season. He has 11 total tackles (three solo) and two tackles for loss.
Retter doesn’t expect to compile eye-popping stats playing inside. He accepts the role of battling double-teams and pushing the pocket vertically, a change from his time at Quakertown. He played defensive end in high school.
“It’s been a pretty big adjustment,” Retter said. “Everything happens a lot quicker on the inside. The outside, it’s a lot more emphasis on pass rush, winning around the edge, keeping outside contain.
“It’s been good, though. It’s been a fun challenge. I’ve enjoyed the process.”
Another challenge awaits Retter and Kutztown this week. Shepherd is averaging 35.3 points through three games and a PSACbest 324 passing yards per game. Rams quarterback Seth Morgan has thrown eight touchdown passes and just one interception while completing 69 percent of his passes.
Clements would like to see better red-zone play and fewer explosive plays allowed from his defense. Retter is excited to see how he and his teammates stack up in the PSAC East.
“We can be a really, really good defense,” Retter said. “The first two games, we started off a little bit slow. But we have so much potential. If we just start putting together some technique, some good plays, I think we’ll be a solid defense.
“One thing coach talks a lot about is a faceless opponent,” he added. “If we go out there playing our game and we all play to our level, then there’s no stopping us as a defense.”
Here’s a look at this week’s games. Muhlenberg has a bye. SUNY Morrisville (1-2 overall) at Moravian (1-2) When: 2 p.m. Saturday.
Taking note: Moravian junior quarterback Jared Jenkins (Freedom) threw for a career- high 354 yards in Saturday’s 29-28 win over The Apprentice School. … Greyhounds senior wide receiver Jordan Bingham had 11 receptions last week, one shy of the singlegame school record. … SUNY Morrisville has held its opponents to 4.3 yards per pass play. East Stroudsburg (3-0) at Lock Haven (2-1) When: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Taking note: ESU junior wide receiver John Siggins (Parkland) caught six passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over Seton Hill. He has caught six passes in two of the Warriors’ first three games. … The Warriors hammered Lock Haven 48-7 last season. … Lock Haven junior wide receiver Chase Holmes (Easton) has caught nine passes for 105 yards and one touchdown in the last two weeks.
Kutztown (1-2) at Shepherd (3-0)
When: noon Saturday.
Taking note: The Golden Bears and Shepherd have played four times since the start of the 2019 season. None of the matchups have been decided by more than eight points. … The Rams are averaging 324 passing yards per game and 10.13 yards per pass attempt. … Kutztown has limited teams to 4.9 yards per playing, third-best in the PSAC.