THE BASICS:
- Score: Kutztown 32, No. 17 Assumption 28
- Records: Kutztown (1-0), No. 17 Assumption (0-1)
- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Multi-Sport Stadium)
- The Lead: No. 17 Assumption trailed 26-0 with two minutes left in the first half before answering back with four consecutive touchdowns over the next two periods to take a lead. However, the Golden Bears came through with a touchdown in the final two minutes to earn a 32-28 upset on Saturday afternoon in the season-opener for both teams.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Assumption offense struggled in the opening 15 minutes, while Kutztown built up a 14-0 advantage. Quarterback Collin DiGalbo scored on a two-yard run for the 6-0 advantage, though the ensuing PAT was blocked. Four minutes later, Craig Reynolds went right through the defense for a 77-yard touchdown run.
- In the second, Kutztown added to its lead as DiGalbo scored on a three-yard plunge with 3:51 remaining. A two-point conversion gave the visitors a 20-0 edge. After forcing another three-and-out, DiGalbo found Amadou Barry for a 52-yard touchdown reception and 26-0 lead with 2:03 left.
- Assumption's offense finally clicked on its final drive of the half. Cody Williams (Wilbraham, Mass. / Springfield Central) completed three straight passes and then rushed for 13 yards to the 22-yards line. On the ensuing play, he found Tyis Boykin (Worcester, Mass. / St. Peter-Marian) in the corner of the end zone to cut it to 26-7 with 41 seconds left.
- The Hounds took ball to start the second and marched down the field in eight plays. Khaleed Exum-Strong (Norwichtown, Conn. / Norwich Free Academy) finished it off with a four-yard rush up the middle to cut the deficit to 26-14.
- Assumption earned another defensive stop and then embarked on a 13-play, 80-yard drive. The final eight plays of the drive were rushes and Williams went over the pile on third down from the one-yard line to pull the Hounds within five, 26-21.
- The Hound defense came up with a huge stop on 4th down and four from their own 28 midway through the fourth, with Joe Bruno (Old Forge, Pa. / Old Forge) bursting through the line for a 12-yard sack. Just four plays later, Williams executed a perfect fake handoff and went right down the middle of the field for a 52-yard touchdown and 28-26 lead with 3:38 remaining.
- Kutztown took over on its own 41 and methodically moved the ball down the field, and a pass interference call put the ball on a 3-yard line. Reynolds scored one play later for a 32-28 advantage. Assumption was unable to complete the comeback, as Williams had a pass go off his wide receiver's hand into the defense, where it was intercepted. One final drive also came up short as the Golden Bears held on for the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Kutztown outgained Assumption 456-372 in the contest, though the Hounds had 276 yard of offense in the second half. They had 220 through the air and 152 on the ground in 77 total plays. Williams led the team with 73 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and went 24-for-35 for 214 yards with one touchdown through the air.
- Boykin was his primary target, catching a career-high seven passes for 90 yards, while Deonte Harris (Middle River, Md. / Archbishop Curley) had five receptions for 43 yards. Doug Santos (Peabody, Mass. / Peabody Veterans Memorial) added five receptions and rushed 12 times for 48 yards.
Defensively, Bruno led the defense with ten tackles, two sacks and three tackles for a loss. Mason Spence (Boston, Mass. / Episcopal) added nine tackles while Kaleb Silva (Revere, Mass. / Revere) contributed nine stops and one interception. As a team the Hounds finished with five sacks.
- DiGalbo went 18-for-27 from 298 yards and one touchdown while rushing for a pair. Reynolds ran for 107 yards and two scores, fishing with 143 all-purpose yards. Conor Sullivan caught seven passes for 133 yards. Chris Kimbiz led the defense with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for a loss.
UP NEXT:
- Assumption returns to action on Saturday when the team travels to play Merrimack at 6 p.m.
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