Golden Bears the pick again in PSAC East
By Benjamin F. Pierce — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Kutztown University again enters the season as the favorite in the Pennsylvania Conference Eastern Division after finishing first in the coach’s preseason poll. The Golden Bears received all seven potential first-place votes.
The Golden Bears finished 11-1 last year, won their second straight PSAC championship, third in the last four seasons, and fourth overall in program history.
| Coaches poll | |
| 1. | Kutztown |
| 2. | East Stroudsburg |
| 3. | West Chester |
| 4. | Shepherd |
| 5. | Bloomsburg |
| 6. | Lock Haven |
| 7. | Shippensburg |
| 8. | Millersville |
All-League linebacker Eden Johnson of Gov. Mifflin is one of six Berks grads on the Kutztown roster.
The 5-10 redshirt junior is joined by 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.
Kutztown earned a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second consecutive season and fifth time in the last six after winning a program-record 11 straight games to begin the season.
The Golden Bears will attempt to become the first team to win three consecutive titles since the PSAC Championship Game was reintroduced in 2008.
They have 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. 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 return seven 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.
Kutztown ranked in the top three in the conference in four major defensive categories last season: scoring (10.2, first), rushing (68.4 yards, first), total defense (234.0 yards, first) and passing defense (165.6 yards, third).
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Freddie Retter of Quakertown is coming off a season that saw him earn PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year and D2CCA Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year honors. Retter led Kutztown with 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries and three blocked kicks. In two seasons, Retter has amassed 89 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.
Along with Retter, KU welcomes back a pair of All-PSAC East first-team defenders in Johnson and defensive lineman Brayden Pholman; Pholman was also a D2CCA All-SR1 Second Team pick.
On offense the Bears are bolstered by the return of All-PSAC East and D2CCA All-SR1 first-team lineman Ryan Schernecke of Upper Moreland), All-PSAC East first-team lineman Billy Everitt of Abington) and a pair of PSAC East second-team selections, quarterback Judd Novak of Manheim Central and running back Jaedyn Stewart of New Jersey Delsea Regional.
Novak enters his third year as KU’s starting quarterback with a record of 23-3 since making his debut. He has surpassed 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air in each of his previous two seasons. Novak has completed 322-of-559 passes for 4,243 yards, 41 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He has also rushed for 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns.
East Stroudsburg earned one first-place and finished No. 2 in the poll, followed by West Chester, Shepherd, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Shippensburg and Millersville.
Kutztown opens the season begins Sept. 4 with a non-conference matchup against Assumption at Andre Reed Stadium at 7.
