Game Report - Kutztown 41 - West Chester 7

The Kutztown Golden Bears (8-0, 5-0) scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and waltzed their way to a 41-7 victory over the Golden Rams (3-5, 1-4). The 34-point loss is the worst under head coach Duke Greco, eclipsing the 31-point margin to East Stroudsburg three weeks ago. It was a familiar story - a sluggish start, ineffective in the run game on both sides of the ball, and special teams faux paus.

Will Silverman had a 19-yard catch (Photo Chuck Greco)

Sluggish start - Kutztown opened with a 11 play, 83-yard touchdown drive that consumed almost six minutes off the clock, including picking up 38 yards on a fourth-and-two . The Golden Ram offense responded with three incomplete passes. So after 18 seconds, the West Chester defense was back on the field. With only 60 yards to the end zone, Kutztown only needed six plays in less than four minutes to go up 14-0.

Connor Noble and Jamir Reyes led WCU in tackles (Photo Chuck Greco)

Special teams faux paus - Late in the first quarter, West Chester managed a couple of first downs, but the possession stalled at their own 35. Dylan Shank's punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown to put the Golden Bears up 21-0. On West Chester's first possession of the third quarter, you know, the one that institutes the adjustments made in the locker room, the Golden Rams went three-and-out. Shank got the punt away, but West Chester was flagged for illegal formation. Kutztown accepted the penalty and forced WCU to punt again. This time, Kutztown blocked the punt again, setting up a short field for thier offense. Fortunately, the Golden Ram defense withstood the threat and Kutztown failed to score when their field goal attempt sailed wide.

Two of Dylan Shank's six punts were blocked (Photo Chuck Greco)

Kutztown kicked off seven times in this game. Two went for touchbacks and one was kicked short and fair caught by Luke van Brill at the 27. The other four kickoffs all went inside the 10-yard line and the best return came only to the 26. Those four returns gave WCU an average starting field position of the 20-yard line. Fair catching those kickoffs would place the ball at the 25-yard line avoiding the opportunity to fumble or commit a penalty on the return. West Chester special teams is essentially giving away yards.

Shamilyn Joppy drags down a KU receiver (Photo Chuck Greco)

Ineffective run game - After factoring West Chester's one defensive tackle for loss for a total of one yard, Kutztown rolled up 207 yards on the ground, picking up almost six yards per carry. Meanwhile, the West Chester offense had a total of 47 yards rushing, and 20 of those came on one play from freshman Mikhail Johnson who was making his collegiate debut.

Freshman running back Mikhail Johnson escapes a Kutztown tackle
(Photo Chuck Greco)

Quarterback Colin O'Sullivan (22 of 34, 193 yards, 1 TD, 2 int) played fairly well. On West Chester's best drive in the first half, he completed seven passes to five different receivers to reach the Kutztown 13-yard line, but the drive ended when the Golden Rams failed to convert a fourth-and-one. His first interception of the game happened when WCU was already down 34-0 and he overthrew his intended target. Kutztown diving pick was reviewed, and the play stood. In the fourth quarter, he connected with Ivan Thorpe (5 catches, 55 yards, 1 TD) on a 22-yard touchdown. On O'Sullivan's second interception, he was trying to throw the ball away and just didn't throw it far enough to get out of bounds.

Ivan Thorpe scored the only Golden Ram touchdown (Photo Chuck Greco)

Safety Jamir Reyes led the West Chester defense with ten tackles while linebacker Connor Noble was credited with nine. Reserve defensive back Rondell Bradley made two tackles and blocked a Kutztown PAT attempt.

Rondell Bradley and Ryan Shannon converge on a special teams tackle
(Photo Chuck Greco)

Personnel observations:

• Jake Phipps moved from left tackle to right guard, replacing Owen Chaffinch in the starting lineup. Geoffrey Gretta started at left tackle with freshman Nick Micewski also seeing time there.
• Running backs Juke Peaker and Ali Barkley were dressed but did not play. Freshman Mikhail Johnson ended as West Chester's leading rusher with 27 yards on seven carries.
• Similar to last week, quarterback Cooper Jordan was dressed but did not play. Tight end and team captain Thatcher Miller (3 catches, 6 yards) started, but left with an injury midway through the second quarter and did not return.
• With Zack Gillen not dressed, Thorpe was back to return punts. Kutztown only punted twice, with one rolling to the West Chester 10, and Thorpe returning the other ten yards.

Maybe one of the best things about this game was that despite two injury timeouts and a coach's challenge, it was completed in a snappy 2:37.

Sortable Box Score   

West Chester Athletic Site - No. 4 Kutztown Shuts Down West Chester, 41-7

Kutztown Athletic Site - No. 4 Golden Bears cruise to 41-7 win at West Chester

Golden Rams Review - Photo Album - Kutztown

Game Replay