Kutztown beats Northern Lebanon, snaps 70-game league losing streak
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Kyle Morgan — LNP/Lancasteronline
FREDERICKSBURG — Kutztown looked to be in control the entire way Friday against Northern Lebanon before the Vikings mounted a late rally to shake things up.
The Cougars got touchdowns from four different players and held on for a 34-28 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 victory.
The win was the first for the Cougars (1-3, 2-5) in Section 5 play and snapped a 70-game league losing streak that dates back to the Berks Football League, and 2009.
Dakota Thomas rushed for 183 yards on 13 carries with TD run of 87 yards. He also scored on a two-point conversion. The Cougars rushed for 362 yards.
Kutztown quarterback Jacob Lafferty rushed for 77 yards, scored on runs of 1 and 10 yards, and threw a 34-yard TD pass to his brother, Ethan.
The Cougars led 27-7 in the third quarter and 34-14 before a pair of late scores by the Vikings (1-3, 2-5).
Kutztown’s opening drive stalled just beyond midfield to open the game; Joshua Kimpland’s punt was briefly bobbled by Moises Gonzalez, who was able to recover and blaze down the left sideline for an 87-yard return touchdown for Northern Lebanon.
The Cougars had an 11-play series in response but turned the ball over on downs following a blown-up quarterback keeper for Jacob Lafferty, who got some revenge by picking off opposing quarterback Grady Stichler just two plays later.
Thomas rumbled 38 yards down to the 1 and Jacob Lafferty got a push from his running backs two plays later on a sneak for the TD.
A short Vikings drive into Cougars territory got pushed back, and on fourth-and-19, Stichler connected with Gonzalez for 17 yards short of the first-down markers for a turnover on downs. Some Kutztown runs from Thomas and Brenden Ackley were enough to set up a wide-open 35-yard TD pass from Jacob Lafferty to Ethan Lafferty, though the extra point was blocked.
Northern Lebanon bounced back from an early holding penalty on the next drive, with Stichler finding James Voight for 28 yards on a third-and-long, but his next pass was intercepted for the second time by a falling Jacob Lafferty. On the next snap, Thomas ran around the right side past everybody for an 87-yard TD.
The Vikings had a shot at a Hail Mary to end the half, but that was erased by a Tyler Hallock sack as time expired.
On the first snap of the second half, Stichler was hit while pitching the ball by Thomas for a fumble, which was recovered by Ben Lorencz for Kutztown. Three plays later, Ackley scored from 10 yards out, with Thomas adding a two-pointer.
After a Vikings punt and a Cougars turnover on downs deep in Northern Lebanon territory, freshman Kael Erdman came in at quarterback for the Vikings. He helped spark the offense with a 12-yard run and a 12-yard pass to Collin Wall, followed by a 40-yard run from Gonzalez. On fourth down, Myles Watson took a jet sweep in for a 5-yard TD.
Kutztown had another turnover on downs in Northern Lebanon’s red zone, but immediately forced a turnover after David Bates picked off Erdman. Two plays later, Jacob Lafferty took a 10-yard keeper into the end zone.
Stichler returned at quarterback for the Vikings, converting a fourth down with a 36-yard screen to Voight, then finding him on the next play for a 22-yard TD. They got the ball back after a three-and-out and quickly drove down the field for another score, this time from Luke Shaffer on a 14-yard TD catch, but the Cougars were able to recover the subsequent onside kick to hold on for the win.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Kutztown | 7 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 34 |
| Northern Lebanon | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 28 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Northern Lebanon | Gonzalez, 87 punt return (Bohn kick) |
| 1 | Kutztown | J. Lafferty, 1 run (Kimpland kick) |
| 2 | Kutztown | E. Lafferty, 35 pass from J. Lafferty (kick failed) |
| 2 | Kutztown | Thomas, 87 run (kick failed) |
| 3 | Kutztown | Ackley, 10 run (Thomas run) |
| 4 | Northern Lebanon | Watson, 5 run (Bohn kick) |
| 4 | Kutztown | J. Lafferty, 10 run (Kimpland kick) |
| 4 | Northern Lebanon | Voight, 22 pass from Stichler (Bohn kick) |
| 4 | Northern Lebanon | Perez, 14 pass from Stichler (Bohn kick) |
Team statistics
| Kutztown | Northern Lebanon | |
| First downs | 14 | 15 |
| Rushes-yards | 57-362 | 28-111 |
| Passing yards | 42 | 160 |
| Total yards | 404 | 271 |
| Passes | 2-4 | 11-23-3 |
| Fumbles-lost | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| Punts-average | 32.0 | 33.0 |
| Penalties-yards | 6-54 | 4-56 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Kutztown: Thomas 13-187, J. Lafferty 19-77, Ackley 13-66, Gruber 7-30, Swoyer 5-6.
PASSING
Kutztown: J. Lafferty 2-4-0–42.
RECEIVING
Kutztown: E. Lafferty 1-34, Thomas 1-8.
INTERCEPTIONS
Kutztown: J. Lafferty 2, Bates.