Golden Bears kick off season aiming for 3rd straight PSAC title
The standards are so high now at Kutztown University that even an appearance in the Division II national tournament – once a dream for the Golden Bears – is not enough.
Kutztown took an unbeaten record into the NCAA playoffs last season but a stunning 25-24 overtime loss to Pennsylvania Conference rival Slippery Rock in the opening round left a bad taste around campus.
“It hurt bad,” said junior linebacker Eden Johnson, a Governor Mifflin grad. “We’ve gotta get back and make it right.”
Slippery Rock finished second in the PSAC West to California, the team the Golden Bears beat 21-14 for in the conference championship game. The Rock went all the way to the NCAA semifinals game before losing to Ferris State.
Kutztown, which has reached the NCAA Tournament three times in the last four years – with a semifinal appearance in 2023 – is hoping for big things again. It has won 23 games the past two seasons and gone 42-9 over the last four years.
The Golden Bears went 11-1 last year and won their second straight PSAC championship, third in the last four seasons and fourth overall in program history. They earned a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament for the fifth time in the last six year.
Kutztown was fifth in the final AFCA poll last year.
It has finished with a winning record in all 10 seasons under head coach Jim Clements, with four 10-plus-win seasons in the last five years.
Kutztown opens its season Thursday at home against Assumption ranked No. 7 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II poll. Slippery Rock in fourth after earning one first place vote
The Golden Bears will attempt to become the first team to win three consecutive conference titles since the PSAC Championship Game was reintroduced in 2008. They were ranked No. 1 in the Eastern Conference in a preseason poll of league coaches.
Johnson, an all-conference linebacker last season, is one of six Berks grads on the Kutztown roster, and one of three starters. The 5-10 redshirt junior is joined by redshirt senior linebacker Brandon Strausser of Gov. Mifflin; senior kicker Nate Millard of Daniel Boone; redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jack Dendall of Wilson; redshirt freshman defensive lineman Kabine Toure of Gov. Mifflin; and freshman quarterback Evan Myers of Twin Valley.
Strausser is one seven return starters from a defense that led the PSAC and NCAA Division II by allowing just 10.2 points per game. It was the fewest points per game allowed by KU since moving to a 10-game schedule in 1976 and fewest allowed overall dating back to 1964.
“We’ve got a lot of dudes who have played big-time football,” said Johnson, “(who) have played in playoff games, played in championship games.”
Manheim Central grad Judd Novak is back as the starting quarterback after throwing for 2,004 yards and 20 TDs last season.
Jaedyn Stewart returns at running back after leading the team with 596 rushing yards; he averaged 5.2 yards per carry. Noah Kracyla returns after leading the team with 40 receptions last year.
Defensive lineman Freddie Retter and offensive lineman Ryan Schernecke have been selected to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Team; offensive lineman Billy Everitt was an honorable mention pick on the team.
Retter had a breakout season in 2024 with career-highs of 22 solo tackles (43 total), 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two fumbles forced, two fumbles recovered, and three blocked kicks. The redshirt junior from Quakertown was the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year.
Schernecke is a two-time All-PSAC player, earning first team recognition last year. He started all 12 games at tackle. Schernecke was one of the anchors on the line that helped pave the way for a rushing attack that ranked third in the conference in rushing yards per game (163.1), second in total yards (1,957) and second in scoring (30.0 points).
Everitt is a two-time All-PSAC performer, garnering a first team honors last season. He started all 12 games at guard.
Millard is the Golden Bears’ starting punter and will compete for chances to kick off. He’s also the holder for field goals and PATs.
Clements, a four-time AFCA DII Region 1 Coach of the Year (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024), is the winningest coach in program history and just 10 wins shy of 100.
The Golden Bears won last year’s opener vs. Assumption 24-6. Novak ran for 87 yards, highlighted by an 80-yard first quarter touchdown, and threw for 129 Retter was a menace on defense with seven tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries, including one in the end zone with 9:11 remaining.
The Greyhounds, who finished last season 6-4, return six All-NE10 selections, including quarterback Jay Kastantin.
