WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester University struggled to slow down unbeaten Kutztown on Saturday afternoon at Tomlinson-Fillippo Field at John A. Farrell Stadium, falling, 41-7, in Pennsyulvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division play.
The Golden Bears (8-0, 5-0 PSAC East) scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and added a blocked punt return for a score to build a 21–0 lead after one quarter. The blocked punt that resulted in a scoop-and-score marked the third straight week that West Chester (3-5, 1-4) has allowed a touchdown on special teams. It was one of two blocked punts on the day by the Golden Bears. With the loss, West Chester dropped its fourth straight contest on the season.
The Golden Rams finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when quarterback, Colin O'Sullivan (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) connected with wide receiver, Ivan Thorpe (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) for a 22-yard touchdown strike on a slant pattern. Thorpe finished with the day with 134 all-purpose yards, including 55 receiving yards, 61 yards on kickoff returns, 10 yards on a punt returns and eight yards rushing. Freshman RB Mikhail Johnson (Darby, Pa./Monsignor Bonner-Prendergast) led the Golden Rams in rushing with 27 yards on seven carries.
O'Sullivan completed 22 of 34 passes for 193 yards, one TD and two picks while Matthew Iuvara (Haddon Heights, N.J./Haddon Heights) added five catches for 42 yards. The Golden Rams managed just 47 rushing yards on 19 attempts against a stout Kutztown defense.
Defensively, safety Jamir Reyes (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) led West Chester with 10 tackles, and Connor Noble (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) and Jimmy Wright (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) added nine each. Noble and Wright each had a pass break up as well.
Kutztown's defense came up with two interceptions and limited West Chester to 4-for-11 on third-down conversions. The Golden Bears outgained the Golden Rams 450 yards to 240.
Golden Bears quarterback, Judd Novak, was 16-for-25 for 227 yards and a pair of TD passes. Running back, Steven Burkhardt, had 97 yards on the ground on 15 carries, including one score. He added 45 yards receiving for a game-high 142 all-purpose yards. Brandon Strausser led the way defensively with eight tackles, two pass break ups and one QB hurry.
West Chester will look to bounce back next week when it faces Bloomsburg University at Farrell Stadium for a 12 p.m. kickoff.
