Key defensive plays by Lafferty brothers spark Kutztown

Senior quarterback Jacob Lafferty ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns and Kutztown used three takeaways to hold off visiting Nativity 26-20 Friday in a non-league game.

The win snapped a nine-game losing streak that dates back to last season, when the Cougars lost their final seven games after a 2-1 start.

The Cougars (1-2) used a pair of key defensive plays to build a 19-0 lead at the half.

Junior Ethan Lafferty returned a fumble 93 yards for a touchdown and 19-0 lead with 5:07 left in the second quarter.

Jacob Lafferty intercepted a pass and returned it to the 2, setting up Dakota Thomas’ 3-yard TD run that made it 13-0.

Jacob Lafferty scored on runs of 28 and 25 yards.

The Cougars did not turn the ball over.

Kutztown led 19-7 after three quarters before the Green Wave rallied with a pair of late scores, the last with 5:54 remaining.

The Cougars rushed 47 times for 296 yards.

Kutztown lost to Nativity 46-24 last season.

Kutztown opens Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 play next week against a familar foe, long-time Berks League rival Schuylkill Valley.

Kutztown was outscored 105-39 in losing to Fleetwood and York Vo-Tech the past two weeks.

Nativity opened the season with a 43-16 win over Wyalusing; it lost 34-7 last week to Schuylkill Haven.

	1	2	3	4	Final
Nativity					20
Kutztown					26

Scoring summary

Kutztown	J. Lafferty, 28 run (Kimpland kick)
Kutztown	Thomas, 3 run (kick failed)
Kutztown	E. Lafferty, 93 fumble return (run failed)
Kutztown	J. Lafferty, 25 run (Kimpland kick)

Team statistics

		Kutztown
First downs		13
Rushes-yards		47-296
Passing yards		12
Total yards		308
Passes		1-4-0
Fumbles-lost		1-0
Penalties-yards		4-50

Individual statistics

RUSHING

Kutztown: J. Lafferty 19-147, Swoyer 6-49, Thomas 6-43, Gruber 9-35, Ackley 5-19, Bates 2-3.

PASSING

Kutztown: J. Lafferty 1-4-0–12.

RECEIVING

Kutztown: Bates 1-12.

INTERCEPTIONS

Kutztown: J. Lafferty.

MISSED FIELD GOALS

Kutztown: Kimpland 40.