Kutztown looking to remain perfect on the road

photo by Matt Smith

Chris Medina has made several key plays for the KU defense early in the season.

KUTZTOWN, PA. (September 23, 2009) – The Kutztown University football team concludes September with an away contest against West Chester University Saturday, September 26 at Farrell Stadium beginning at 6 p.m. This will be the fourth and final night game of the 2009 season for Kutztown. (CLICK TO READ GAME NOTES)

The game will be broadcast on Kutztown’s Student Radio station KUR (830 FM/1670 AM) beginning at 5:45 p.m. with the pregame show. Fans throughout the world can listen to game at www.kubears.com.

The Golden Bears (2-2 overall, 0-1 PSAC East) lost their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opener to fourth-ranked Bloomsburg, 31-12, last week. Meanwhile, West Chester (2-2, 1-0) defeated Millersville, 63-10 in its conference opener. West Chester defeated Kutztown, 49-8 last year.

Kutztown's first two road trips to Saint Anselm and Clarion were a combined 640 miles. The jaunt to West Chester is 54 miles.

Kutztown will look to rely on senior running back Dontay Wilson (Stamford, CT/Stamford), the second-leading rusher in the PSAC (105.5 yards per game) to get past the Golden Rams. Junior kicker Matt Dineen (Wilmington, DE/Concord) is one of the top kickers in the conference. He is first in field goal percentage (87.5), second in made field goals (seven), third in punting (41.7) and third in kick scoring (7.0). Dineen had a solid game against Bloomsburg, making two field goals and uncorking a 63-yard punt. Dineen also made his 25^th career field goal, which is a school record for most in KU history.

Freshman wide receiver Chris McCormick (West Chester/East) will be playing in front of numerous friends and family. He has 11 catches in KU’s last two games. McCormick has a caught a touchdown pass in each of the Golden Bears’ last two contests. Overall, this season, McCormick is averaging 11.1 yards per catch on 18 catches for 200 yards. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Morton (Roslyn/Abington) had a solid debut against Bloomsburg, completing 15-of-22 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown.

The hard-hitting pair of junior Jay McKnight (Reading/Conrad Weiser) and junior Joel Irwin (Coatesville/Bishop Shanahan) combined for 25 tackles against Bloomsburg. Ten of McKnight’s 14 tackles were solo stops. Irwin, who is third in the PSAC in tackles per game with 10.2, had 10 tackles against the Huskies. Irwin has recorded double digit tackles in two of KU’s first four games.

West Chester will be playing its second home game of the season. The Golden Rams’ two defeats were to Football Championship Subdivision member Delaware (35-0) and 2008 NCAA Division II national semifinalist California (30-23). The Golden Rams have averaged 56 points in their two wins over Lock Haven (49-0) and Millersville (63-10).

Last week against Millersville, West Chester had an offensive performance to remember, scoring five touchdowns and racking up 401 yards of total offense in the first half. Four of West Chester touchdown’s covered 40 or more yards. D'Andre Webb carved up the Marauders' defense with 114 yards and two TDs on just four carries before the break. He scored on runs of two and 62 yards and finished with 126 yards rushing on seven carries. Webb is eighth in the PSAC in rushing (74.0).

None of the five scoring drives took more than three plays. The longest took 1:36 as the Rams went 82 yards on three plays, capped by a 58-yard touchdown pass from Joe Wright to Dan DePalma. Wright is sixth in the PSAC in total offense (186.8). The Golden Rams amassed 544 yards of total offense in the game. Wright was 9 of 16 for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Steve Miller, who is sixth in the PSAC in receiving yards (65.7), caught three passes for 101 yards and a score.

WCU's 18th-ranked defense held Millersville to 227 yards of total offense, including 92 yards on the ground. West Chester is second in the PSAC in scoring offense (32.2), total offense (392.5), rushing defense (86.0), total defense (241.2) and punt return average (18.2).

Next Saturday, Kutztown returns home to celebrate Family Day against Cheyney University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. The game will be a part of Kutztown’s week-long Paint The Town celebration. For more information on Paint The Town Gold, please visit www.paintthetowngold.com. Meanwhile, West Chester will host East Stroudsburg next Saturday starting at 2 p.m.

NOTES: The Kutztown defense has not intercepted a pass. …West Chester leads the all-time series, 45-7-1. …Dineen has made at least one field goal in every game this season. …McCormick has had a double digit catch in three of KU’s four games: 39 against Saint Anselm, 29 against Slippery Rock and 42 against Bloomsburg.