Kutztown University football opens conference play against familiar foe Shepherd
Sep. 23—Kutztown's 2021 season came to an end in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals on a game-winning Hail Mary from Shepherd as time expired, giving the Rams the 30-28 victory.
The Golden Bears will host No. 5 Shepherd for the first time since that loss on Saturday in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East division opener, with kickoff set for noon at Andre Reed Stadium.
"We got to go 1-0 this week," Kutztown coach Jim Clements said. "It's the first conference game in the East, (and) that's why this game is so big."
The Golden Bears (2-1) enter conference play off a 50-31 road win over Mercyhurst. The victory was Clements' 61st career win as head coach, tying George Baldwin for the most wins in program history. Clements, in his eighth season at KU, is 61-23. Baldwin went 61-71-3 in 14 seasons over two stints 1973-83, 1985-87).
In Kutztown's first 50-point game since 2019, the Golden Bears accumulated 271 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns against Mercyhurst. Running back Darryl Davis-McNeil led the way with 145 rushing yards, while Jordan Davis had 78 yards.
"Our offensive line did a good job," Clements said. "We had two running backs that played really well."
The Kutztown rushing attack will try to continue its success this week against a stout Shepherd defense that has allowed just 12.33 points per game, the fewest in the PSAC. The Rams have given up 39.7 rushing yards per game, the fifth-fewest in the nation.
"They're going to dedicate a lot to stopping the run," Clements said. "We're going to have to mix it up and be more balanced on offense."
On offense, Shepherd is led by senior quarterback Tyson Bagent, a 2021 Associated Press Division II First Team All-American. Bagent won the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy, an award given to the most valuable player in NCAA Division II football.
The Rams (3-0) average 38.3 points per game, the most in the PSAC East. Shepherd's 357.7 passing yards per game ranks third in the country.
"They're very good on offense," Clements said. "(We need to) give different looks to the quarterback, because he's really good."
Saturday's game will be the fifth all-time meeting between the Golden Bears and Rams and the fourth since 2019, with Kutztown winning two of the last three. All four previous matchups were decided by eight points or less.
"It's going to be a really good game," Clements said. "We have to put four quarters together, something that we haven't done yet this year in regards to all three phases of the game."
Former Kutztown great John Mobley, a linebacker who won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos, will be honored Saturday. Mobley, a first-round pick by Denver, 15th overall, in 1996, will be presented with his college degree, the KU President's Medal and be inducted into the KU Athletics Hall of Fame later Saturday.
