By The Keystone Newspaper “Misjudgement” in KU Athletic Department costs team a home playoff game
By Conor Doherty
Charlestown, WV – A 15-point fourth quarter from KU football parlayed the team into the Super Region One Title game next Saturday. The game, which should have been held at Andre Reed Stadium, will be played at Slippery Rock due to Kutztown’s Athletic Department’s “misjudgement”.
Statement from KU:
“Kutztown University regrets that it will not be hosting the NCAA Super Region One football final on Saturday.
Bids for each round of the NCAA playoffs must be completed by the end of October. Slippery Rock was awarded the regional final home game based on processing a bid for all three rounds of the regional. Not submitting the bid for the regional final was a misjudgment on our part.
We apologize to everyone for this mistake, especially our student-athletes and their families.
After defeating Slippery Rock in the PSAC title game three weeks ago, KU requested further consideration from the NCAA to submit bids for additional home playoff games. The request was denied.
We are very proud of our coaches and student-athletes who have led us to another historic football season. We encourage all Golden Bear fans to join us in supporting them this week and cheering them on at Slippery Rock in our quest to win the regional title.”
Moving on to the game, KU fell behind 7-0 after the first quarter of play, but rallied to bring the score to 24-17 at the half.
Two touchdown passes from redshirt freshman Judd Novak (Manheim Cental/Manheim, PA) to Kaden Hastie (Seneca/Tabernacle, NJ) and Nick Lovenguth (Downingtown East/Downingtown, PA) and a Dawson Evitts (Schuylkill Haven/Auburn, PA) field goal as time expired in the first half accounted for KU’s first half offense.
Down 31-17 after another Charlestown score, KU shocked the Golden Eagles by stealing 15 points in the final 4:38 of the game.
First, Daryl Davis-McNeil (Roslyn, PA/Abington, PA) pounded the rock in from a yard out. KU converted the point conversion, making it a 31-25 game.
Following that score, Novak took a QB Draw to the house from 14 yards out.
A missed field goal as time expired sealed the win for Kutztown, establishing a new school record of 11 straight.