Kutztown U looking to make program history with second-round victory

PSAC champion Kutztown puts its nine-game win streak on the line Saturday when it hosts fourth-seeded and 18th-ranked New Haven University at Andre Reed Stadium in an NCAA second-round football game. Kickoff is at 12:05.

The 12th-ranked Golden Bears (10-1), the Super Region I top seed, are looking to advance to the quarterfinal round and Super Region I Championship game for the first time in program history. They had a bye last week.

The Chargers (10-1) are champs of the Northeast-10 Conference.

This is KU’s third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The teams last met 10 years ago in the same game, a 44-37 win for New Haven at DellaCamera Stadium. Since that game both teams have qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times but neither advanced past the second round.

The Golden Bears and Chargers have met three times — 1994, 1995 and 2011. New Haven has won all three.

Kutztown’s only loss came at No. 15 Indiana (Pa.), 29-26 on Sept. 11. KU went 7-0 in East Division play to earn its second straight outright East Division crown and fifth overall. The PSAC championship was the program’s second.

The Golden Bears are one victory shy of matching the school record for wins, having gone 11-2 in 2011 and 2019.

PSAC East Coach of the Year Jim Clements, in his seventh season, has turned the Maroon and Gold into a regular in the postseason of late. KU played in its second consecutive PSAC championship game Nov. 13, a 38-32 win over defending champion Slippery Rock.

Clements has posted a 58-21 overall record that includes three unbeaten PSAC East seasons (2021, 2019 and 2016), and his teams have had winning records in all seven seasons under his direction. He is four wins shy of becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach; he trails only George Baldwin (1973-83, 85-87), who had 61 victories.

Kutztown has the 10th-ranked scoring defense in Division II and second in the PSAC, allowing just 13.9 points per game. It also ranks second in total defense (267.5 yards per game) and first in rushing defense (76.4 yards per game).

Defensive standouts in lineman Ryan Meyers (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley), linebacker Amani Justice (Salem, N.J./Salem) and defensive back Nick Palmer (Montville, N.J./Bergen Catholic) all earned All-PSAC first-team recognition; linebackers Chris Thomas (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) and Tyler Whary (Hereford, Pa./Upper Perkiomen), along with defensive backs Antaun Lloyd (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) and Shawn Turber-Ortiz (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy) received second-team honors.

Kutztown has utilized the ‘ground and pound’ method to success. It is averaging 197.9 rushing yards (second in the PSAC) and 188.9 passing yards for 380.8 total yards (fifth) and 26.5 points per game (seventh).
PSAC championship game MVP, Jeremiah Nelson (Jamaica, N.Y./Holy Cross) leads the attack with 523 yards on 83 carries, including three touchdowns. His 65.4 yards-per-game ranks eighth-best in the PSAC. All-PSAC first-team running back, Darryl Davis-McNeil (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) has 512 yards and five scores. 

Jordan Davis (Franklin, N.J./Saint Joseph Metuchen) has rushed for 485 yards and three TDs on 94 attempts. Zaire Jones (Salem, N.J./Salem) has played in all 11 games and has 67 carries for 427 yards and a score.

Senior quarterback Eric Nickel (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) leads the team in rushes with 97 and touchdowns with 11. Through the air, his favorite target, All-PSAC first-team wide receiver, Jerry Kapp (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) ranks ninth in the conference with eight touchdowns and has 37 receptions for 758 yards.
With a victory Saturday, Kutztown would advance further than any other team in program history.
The winner will meet either No. 2 Shepherd or No. 3 Notre Dame (Ohio).