MILLERSVILLE, PA (October 24, 2009) – The Kutztown University football team’s courageous rally came up short to Millersville University, 41-35, in a double overtime thriller in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium Saturday afternoon. (BOXSCORE)

In losing its second consecutive overtime decision, Kutztown (3-6 overall, 1-5 PSAC East) finished with 530 yards of total offense despite playing through a fierce rainstorm. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Morton (Abington/Abington) had an effort to remember as he threw for a career-high 324 yards and four touchdowns. It was the second consecutive week Morton had a career best passing performance. Morton became the first KU quarterback to throw for 300 yards and four touchdowns in a game since Kyle Spotts in 2007.

The Golden Bears showed tremendous heart in overcoming a 12-point fourth quarter deficit during the final six minutes to force overtime. Overall, Kutztown scored 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Millersville’s Brad Lantz scored the decisive touchdown, a 2-yard run in the second overtime to help the Marauders (3-6, 2-4) break a two-game losing streak to Kutztown.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime. Kutztown senior wide receiver Shane Martin (New Holland/Garden Spot) answered a Jamal Smith score with a 21-yard touchdown catch that tied the game, 35-35. Kutztown had the ball first in the second overtime but did not generate a first down.

Kutztown freshman wide receiver Dominick Massey (Abington/Abington) caught both of his touchdown passes after the game was halted by a 30-minute lightning delay in the fourth quarter. Massey’s second touchdown catch, a 2-yarder with 36 seconds remaining tied the score, 28-28. Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, a bad snap prevented them from trying the potential go-ahead PAT attempt.

Millersville had an opportunity to win the game but it missed a 37-yard field goal as regulation time expired.

Things looked bleak for Kutztown after Millersville’s Matt Egenrieder returned a blocked punt for a 5-yard touchdown that gave the Maurauders a 28-16 cushion with 6:09 remaining. The Golden Bears got back into the game as Morton directed touchdown drives of 80 and 79 yards.

Freshman running back Josh Mastromatto (Fort Washington/Upper Dublin) caught a 21-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and ran for a 21-yard score in the fourth quarter that helped Kutztown cut Millersville’s advantage to 21-16 with 11 minutes, 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Freshman wide receiver Chris McCormick (West Chester/East) caught a team-high seven passes for 53 yards. Martin had five catches for a career-best 82 yards. Mastromatto was busy as he led the Golden Bears with 63 rushing yards and caught four passes for 49 yards.

Kicker Matt Dineen (Wilmington, DE/Concord) set the Kutztown record for most field goals made in a single-season when he made his 14^th field goal this year, a 31-yarder with 7:43 remaining in the first half. Senior running back Dontay Wilson (Stamford, CT/Stamford) gained 15 yards on three carries to move into seventh place on the KU all-time rushing list with 2,062 yards. Wilson passed Stephen Gammage (2,056), Phil Anthony (2,057) and Bob DiRico (2,057).

Defensively, junior linebacker Joel Irwin (Coatesville/Bishop Shanahan) led KU with 10 tackles. Junior linebacker Keith Massey (Allentown/William Allen), junior safety Khalief Evans (Philadelphia/Imhotep Charter) and junior safety Jay McKnight (Reading/Conrad Weiser) finished with seven tackles for the Golden Bears.

Kutztown was unable to slow Smith, who caught four touchdown passes from quarterback Bill Shirk. Smith caught five passes for 133 yards. Lantz finished with 86 rushing yards for the Marauders. The Smith-Shirk combination hooked up twice in the opening 10 minutes to help stake Millersville to a 14-6 lead after the first quarter.

This was the second time in three years that KU and Millersville have needed overtime to decide the outcome. Kutztown edged Millersville, 26-23, in three overtimes in 2007. The last time Kutztown played consecutive overtime games was in 1996 when it lost to Southern Connecticut State and East Stroudsburg.

 Kutztown visits C.W. Post next week in its final road game beginning at 1 p.m. Millersville travels to East Stroudsburg next week. 

--KU--