Kutztown U hits the ground to beat Shippensburg, 20-3

Steady rain may have dampened Kutztown University’s productive passing attack Saturday evening but it didn’t stop the 25th-ranked Golden Bears from amassing a season-high 234 rushing yards in beating Shippensburg 20-3 in a PSAC East game at Andre Reed Stadium.

The win was the fifth straight for the Golden Bears (4-0, 6-1), the lone unbeaten team in the Pennsylvania Conference’s Eastern Division. Shepherd and West Chester are each 3-1.

Kutztown quarterback Eric Nickel completed just 6-of-18 passes, for 80 yards; half of them went to Boyertown grad Jerry Kapp, who netted 36 yards on his three catches.

Kutztown’s defense held Shippensburg (2-2, 5-2) to 19 rushing yards — the fewest allowed by the Golden Bears this season. It was the second time a KU opponent failed to rush for 25 yards in a game this season.

Jeremiah Nelson  led Kutztown with 85 yards on nine carries, bolstered by a 61-yard run. Jordan Davis carried it 13 times for 60 yards.

Gov. Mifflin grad Kam Wolfe, a junior linebacker, had two tackles for Kutztown.

Wilson grad Mason McElroy, a graduate wide receiver at Kutztown, was injured and left the game in the second half. He returned four punts.

Matt Feeney, a redshirt freshman from Exeter, had four tackles, including one for loss, for Shippensburg.

Aaron Alphee, a redshirt sophomore from Muhlenberg, started at defensive end for Shippensburg.

Shane McGarry, a senior from Exeter, started at guard for the Red Raiders.

Kutztown, which extended its PSAC East winning streak to 12 games, is at Lock Haven next Saturday at 2.