Cougars come up just short in loss to Dutchmen

By David Bohr Last updated Sep 30, 2023

2023 Berks football coverage presented by

Utilities Employees Credit Union

(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)

By David Bohr — LNP/Lancasteronline

ANNVILLE — Bryce Keller’s 7-yard touchdown run with 4:41 left gave Annville-Cleona a 41-40 victory over visiting Kutztown in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 game Friday night.

The key play in the 73-yard drive was a 45-yard scramble by quarterback Cam Connelly that put the ball at the Cougars’ 15-yard line. Connelly never got back on the field after being tackled on that play but Keller went under center to run the ball the next three snaps, including the deciding touchdown.

Kutztown’s attempt to go back ahead was stopped by Cael Harter, who tackled Mason Sherry behind the line of scrimmage on a fourth-and-3 at the Annville-Cleona 17-yard line.

Connelly finished with 172 rushing yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns. Keller had 113 rushing yards on 17 attempts.

Brenden Ackley had 126 rushing yards on 16 carries for a touchdown, plus a rushing two-point conversion, for Kutztown. Sherry ran for 90 yards and one touchdown, along with a 75-yard fumble return for a score.

Kutztown quarterback Colten Mathias only had three pass attempts but got the most out of them with touchdown throws to Jimmy Undercuffler and Ethan Lafferty.

When Kutztown (1-2, 2-4) scored on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Matthias to Lafferty to end the first half and then opened the second half with an 8-yard touchdown run by Sherry, the Cougars led 34-27 and had the momentum.

It was the perfect time for the 13-play, 79-yard touchdown drive by the Dutchmen (3-0, 4-2). Helped along by an encroachment on fourth down, A-C tied the game 34-34 when Connelly ran right for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Conversions after touchdowns were critical. Annville’s Mina Elzek was 3-for-4 on PATs, including the winner after Keller’s last score. The Dutchmen were also 1-for-2 on two-point rushes.

Kutztown missed one PAT and one two-point conversion attempt. The Cougars were 2-for-4 on two-point runs but had a key make called back on a holding after Ackley’s 24-yard run put them ahead 40-34 with 8:56 to go. The second attempt, from 12 yards out, was stopped.

	1	2	3	4	Final
Kutztown	14	12	8	6	40
Annville-Cleona	13	14	0	14	41

Scoring summary

1	Annville-Cleona	Connelly, 45 run (Elzek kick)	10:25
1	Kutztown	Mathias, 41 run (pass failed)	5:22
1	Annville-Cleona	Keller, 25 run (kick failed)	1:22
1	Kutztown	Sherry, 75 fumble return (Mathias run)	0:30
2	Annville-Cleona	Connelly, 25 run (run failed)	11:16
2	Kutztown	Undercuffler, 8 pass from Mathias (kick failed)	7:23
2	Annville-Cleona	Keller, 3 run (Harter run)	0:33
2	Kutztown	Lafferty, 59 pass from Mathias (run failed)	0:16
3	Kutztown	Sherry, 8 run (Ackley run)	9:12
4	Annville-Cleona	Connelly, 25 run (Elzek kick)	11:54
4	Kutztown	Ackley, 24 run (run failed)	8:56
4	Annville-Cleona	Keller, 7 run (Elzek kick)	4:41

Team statistics

	Kutztown	Annville-Cleona
First downs	16	22
Rushes-yards	45-303	49-377
Passing yards	67	20
Total yards	370	397
Passes	2-3-0	2-5-0
Fumbles-lost	2-1	2-2
Punts-average	0-0	1-35
Penalties-yards	3-30	3-15

Individual statistics

RUSHING

Kutztown: Ackley 24-150, Sherry 16-90, Mathias 3-56, Lafferty 6-30.

Annville-Cleona: Connelly 15-206, Keller 17-107, Harter 13-75, Shay 3-17.

PASSING

Kutztown: Mathias 2-3-0–67.

Annville-Cleona: Connelly 2-5-0–20.

RECEIVING

Kutztown: Lafferty 1-59, Undercuffler 1-8.

Annville-Cleona: Shay 2-20.