September 27th, 2025 2:55pm
From Kutzown sports information:
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Fifth-ranked Kutztown continued its blistering start to 2025, scoring 35 points before halftime in a 49-10 dismantling of Shepherd in its PSAC East opener at Ram Stadium on Saturday.
The Golden Bears were outstanding in all three phases once again. They sustained offensive drives, got timely turnovers and delivered their fourth special teams touchdown in the last three weeks.
Kutztown (4-0, 1-0 PSAC East) had driven into Shepherd territory early in the first quarter when Rams' defensive back D'Myo Hunter knocked the ball free from Noah Kracyla (Townsend, Del./Middletown) after a short catch for the Golden Bears' first turnover of the season.
The defense quickly forced a three-and-out, allowing Judd Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) and the offense to go back to work. KU moved the ball at will as Novak found Kracyla and Rich Paczewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) for first downs, and rushed for one himself to push the Bears inside the Shepherd 10.
On 1st-and-goal, Novak rolled out to his right, waited for the defense to commit and dropped a dime to Steven Burkhardt (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City) in the back of the end zone to finish off a 10-play, 84-yard drive for a 7-0 lead.
The Maroon and Gold quickly doubled their lead with the defense taking center stage. A backwards pass by Shepherd (0-4, 0-1 PSAC East) on the first play of its drive fell to the ground. The Rams did not pursue the live ball, linebacker Eden Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Governor Mifflin) scooped it up and took it into the end zone. Unfortunately, the officials blew an inadvertent whistle, negating the TD and setting the Golden Bears up at the Shepherd 15.
A personal foul from the Rams following a false start by KU put the ball at the 10, and Jaedyn Stewart (Newfield, N.J./Delsea Regional) darted left to run it in from there, untouched, for a 14-0 advantage with 4:10 remaining in the first.
Next it was the special teams unit stepping up again. After blocking three kicks and returning a kickoff for a TD last week against Gannon, the specialists were hungry for more. Shepherd punter Daishaun Alexander had the snap slip through his hands and roll into the end zone where reigning PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week Austin Leyman (Elmer, N.J./Woodstown) recovered it for a touchdown to extend the visitors' lead to 21-0.
Shepherd got on the board with a field goal midway through the second but KU answered with a quick 4-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a 29-yard Stewart TD run to the right side that made it 28-3.
The Golden Bears appeared to forced a fumble by Rams wide receiver Jaden Ashby just past midfield but Ashby was ruled down. KU challenged but the play was upheld. Instead, Brandon Hile (Winfield, Pa./Selinsgrove) and Brandon Strausser (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) stuffed Grant Swinehart on 4th-and-1 from the KU 39 to get the ball back for the Bears late in the half.
Novak and KU took over with 2:32 remaining but that proved to be plenty of time. A 40-yard pass to Kracyla had the Bears knocking on the door and Burkhardt snuck out of the backfield uncovered for an 8-yard TD reception two plays later for a 35-3 lead that would carry to the break.
Shepherd drove into the KU red zone with under five minutes left in the third but its fourth-down pass to the end zone fell incomplete for a turnover on downs.
Kutztown slammed the door shut with chunk plays on the ground and through the air, going 87 yards on five plays. Novak ran for 14 yards, Burkhardt broke one for 47 and Novak hit Szabo with a 22-yard TD pass to make it a 42-3 game.
Like he did last week, Ben Martin III (Middletown, Del./Middletown) put the finishing touches on the victory with a 2-yard TD run early in the fourth.
The Golden Bears came into the game outscoring their opponents by more than 36 points per contest. Saturday's 39-point margin of victory was the largest for either team in eight all-time meetings. Kutztown also improved to 4-0 in Ram Stadium since 2019 and has won three straight in the series by a combined score of 93-13.
Kutztown's rushing offense, ranked first in the PSAC and eighth in NCAA DII at 253.7 ypg, added 215 more against the Rams. The Golden Bears have rushed for 200+ yards in all four games this season and five straight dating back to last season –the first time that's happened since 2016.
Burkhardt led the way with 64 yards on six carries and also caught two passes –both touchdowns– for 17 yards. Martin III ran three times for 51 yards, including a 46-yarder, and Stewart added four totes for 43 yards and two TDs.
Novak tossed three TD passes. Kracyla totaled a season- and game-high 92 receiving yards on five catches, while Szabo had three catches for 62 yards.
Mikey Gray (York, Pa./William Penn) had six tackles and a sack to pace the defense. Hile had six tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Strausser, Kyree Butler (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin), Jhaisir Harden (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro) and Michael LeMay (Medford, N.J./Lenape) each recorded four tackles.
Along with rushing for 200+, KU held its third straight opponent under 100 yards on the ground. The Rams rushed 30 times for 89 yards. Kutztown outgained Shepherd 425-345 overall.
Kutztown is back at Andre Reed Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 4, to take on Shippensburg in the Pink Game at noon. The Golden Bears have won 22 straight games in October dating back to 2019.