Game 590: DiGalbo leads Kutztown Golden Bears past Assumption Greyhounds in a romp, 54-16

Kutztown, PA – On our way to Penn State for a 7:30 pm kickoff on Saturday, Collegefootballfan.com took a slight detour and added a convenient 12 noon start at Kutztown University’s Andre Reed Stadium, named for their famous, football alumnus who started at wide receiver for a very good Buffalo Bills team for many years.  Two firsts – our first time at Kutztown and our first Assumption game.   QB Collin DiGalbo of the Golden Bears threw four TD passes and ran for two more as they defeated Assumption in a somewhat unexpected blow-out, 56-14. In two previous games played here by these two Division 2 programs, the Greyhounds bolted out of town with close wins.  DiGalbo foiled that this time leading his team to 629 total yards.   He gained 352 himself, rushing and passing.

Surprised by some small school spirit!

    A great atmosphere pervaded in Kutztown as the home crowd among the 4,162 in attendance showed great spirit and support for the Golden Bears at the D-2 level.  The home team fans followed the lead of its Golden Bear Marching Band which exuded spirit and antics from the Reed stands throughout the game.   Their football program has improved vastly during the past five seasons.   They’ve defeated every other team in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference over that period.  The sunny, calm day made it a glorious Saturday afternoon to attend a college game, and the fact that this contest was not televised gave us no cause for concern to see this one in its entirety before driving another two and a half hours to State College in time for our nightcap.

Bears start out quick against Greyhounds

     Kutztown’s first three scores came on their first three possessions. DiGalbo completed a 20-yard TD pass to TE Jake Pilkerton to polish off a 70-yard drive.  The same combo updated the scoreboard again at the end of an 80-yard drive connecting from the one.  The Bears next TD drive went for more yards and came about much quicker.  Starting from the three and getting some breathing room from their 24, DiGalbo (5 carries for 89 yards) swept right on a 76-yard TD scamper.  Before the period ended Assumption responded with a long scoring drive when RB Khaleed Exum-Strong ran it over from the three to close to 21-7. 

     To start the second, Assumption forced a punt and drove to KU’s seven.  A field goal attempt went wide left killing whatever momentum the Greyhounds seemed to muster.   The Golden Bears took offense to that second, yet scoreless drive.  On their next two possessions, the Golden Bears scored two more times with DiGalbo throwing scoring strikes to redshirt-freshman WR Jake Novak from 20 and 21 yards out respectively. They dominated by halftime, 35-7.

Can’t keep a good coach down

     The Kutztown football program has been mediocre at best in the PSAC for many years.  Enter current Head Coach Jim Clements in 2014.   His Bears have thrived since.  He’s the first KU Coach to start his career there with five consecutive winning seasons.  Under his tutelage, the team’s record now stands at 38-18, 27-9 in the PSAC.  In 2018, he coached the Golden Bears to only their third D-2 playoff in school history.  Jim Clements owns an overall head coaching career record during 13 seasons of 104-42 mentoring Kutztown and D-3 Delaware Valley University.  The man can coach!  During this game, you saw how well his players were coached.  They did little things right like closing down outside lanes to ball carriers to run them into oncoming tacklers.  They tackled well.  Most impressive was when a ball came loose, the entire sideline shouted, “Ball!”  His team totally focused on the game.

    Duly impressed with what we witnessed and what is written in the KU Game Day program, there should be interest in him beyond D-2. We’ll keep an eye on his success for the balance of this season and what possibilities may lay ahead for him.  He’s no doubt a winner at the lower levels as his record indicates.  Someone should be willing to give him a chance.  Possibly nearby – FCS Bucknell?

Beat goes on

     In the third period, RB Daryl Davis-McNeil put the Golden Bears on the board to start with a one-yard run after he picked up 24 there on his previous run.  However, the Greyhounds blocked the point after and CB Carlins Platel picked it off the turf and sprinted the length of the field for a defensive PAT return to make the score 41-9.  An interception by LB Kyle Sapp in close range from Assumption QB Easton Turner put KU back on offense at AU’s 17.  DiGalbo carried the ball over from the five to make the score 47-9 late in the third.

    For the balance of the game, the Golden Bears played their second teamers and the upstarts continued to move the football against Assumption’s first team.  The visitors played without their five leading tacklers from a year ago.  There’s a lot of need for more experience on D.  The offense graduated their starting QB and All-American WR Deonte Harris from last year finishing 6-4 under then first-year HC Andy McKenzie.  Their leading rusher from 2018, Doug Santos, returned though, and he scored from the two to top off a 64-yard drive.  Harvin Keagan finished off the scoring for the day with a one-yard run late in the game, and the Golden Bears looked good in a 54-16 triumph over the Greyhounds. 

Next!

  Kutztown heads to western Pennsylvania to meet PSAC conference foe California of Pennsylvania (1-0).  Assumption returns home to Worcester, MA to host St. Anselm’s of Manchester, NH (0-1).  It just so happens that St. Anselm’s fell to the Vulcans of California, PA in their opener last weekend, 53-19.   It sounds as if all teams will be meeting challengers of equal talents.  These could both be good games.  We won’t be going to either.

  We headed up to State College right after this to see Penn State host Buffalo.  Look for our upcoming game review by Thursday this week.

We have another DH weekend planned for next week with the feature on Saturday between FCS No. 1 North Dakota State (2-0) visiting No. 18 Delaware (2-0).  On Friday night, we’ll hit up a local D-3 contest when William Paterson (0-1) visits FDU-Florham (1-0), a 56-48 winner over Kings Point last weekend.