Kutztown University kicks off season with win over Assumption

Defending Super Region One champion and 10th-ranked Kutztown University wore down Assumption Thursday to grab a 24-6 season-opening victory at Andre Reed Stadium.
Quarterback Judd Novak ran for 87 yards, highlighted by an 80-yard first-quarter touchdown, and threw for 129 and a score.

Freddie Retter was a menace on defense with seven tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries, including one in the end zone with 9:11 remaining that pushed KU’s lead to 24-6.
It didn’t take long for the fireworks to start. After Assumption’s opening drive stalled near midfield, Kutztown needed just three plays to find the end zone. Novak took a first down keeper from his own 20-yard line around the right end and outran the defense for a 7-0 lead. The 80-yard run was 2 yards shy of Collin DiGalbo’s school record 82-yard run by a quarterback.
Assumption, looking for its third straight victory in the series, scored its only points on a Kameron Robbins 4-yard run midway through the second quarter but the extra point attempt missed wide right.

As the first half wound to a close, Kutztown put together its best drive of the night. Jaedyn Stewart picked up 30 yards on the ground and Sincere Thomas recorded a pair of 13-yard catches to set up a 4-yard Novak to Tyreek Husser touchdown connection that finished a 13-play, 75-yard drive spanning 6:50. The score extended KU’s lead to 14-6 at the half.
Freshman placekicker Will Smith had his first career field goal from 25-yards out on Kutztown’s second possession of the second half to make it 17-6. The points came off a turnover as Retter dove on a botched snap by the Greyhounds at their own 27-yard line.
Kutztown’s defense continued to swarm to the ball and make life difficult for the Assumption offense. Following Smith’s field goal, KU forced back-to-back punts by the visitors before putting the game away on a Lee Coleman sack that forced Greyhound quarterback Jay Kastantin to fumble; it was recovered by Retter in the end zone for a touchdown.
Kastantin was held to 42 yards passing and an interception while completing just 9-of-19 attempts. Assumption finished with just 132 yards of total offense on 61 plays for an average of 2.2 yards per play. Kutztown, meanwhile, ran for 162 yards and produced 291 overall for 5.6 yards per play.
Stewart ran eight times for 44 yards and Mehki Gibson led the receivers with 58 yards -all of which came on one catch over the middle late in the first quarter.
Brandon Hile led the defense with nine tackles and forced a fumble. Kyree Butler had eight stops while Gov. Mifflin grad Eden Johnson had a tackle for loss.

Kutztown improved to 4-5 all-time against Assumption, with the teams having opened each of the last nine seasons against one another. The Golden Bears have won the last three games in the series at Andre Reed Stadium dating back to 2019, having outscored the Greyhounds a combined 97-22 in those games.
Next up for the Golden Bears is a home non-conference matchup against PSAC West foe Edinboro Saturday, Sept. 14 at noon. It will mark the first meeting between KU and the Fighting Scots since 2018.