By The Keystone Newspaper Golden Bears win 28-23 over IUP
By Tommy Scuderi
Fourth-ranked KU hosted IUP on Saturday, Nov. 15, with the PSAC title on the line. The Golden Bears went head-to-head with the Crimson Hawks after a 10-0 season, scoring six points in the second half to win their third consecutive PSAC championship, 28-23, at Andre Reed Stadium.
IUP struck first, opening with a TD pass from the conference leader in passing yards, Matthew Reueve, to WR Jeremiah Coleman, putting the Golden Bears in their first deficit all season. In response, KU would run a six-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 12-yard TD pass from QB Judd Novak to WR Trevor Armorim in the back of the end zone to knot the score at 7-7.
IUP went back on top in the second quarter on another Rueve touchdown pass, this time to Devin Whitlock, for a 14-7 lead. KU would not be deterred, responding on their next drive with a 9-yard TD run from Steven Burkhardt, who was given an extra boost by his offensive line across the plane to even the score at 14.
A 50-yard FG from IUP’s Nick Andrasi at the end of the half would send the Golden Bears into the locker room trailing for the first time all season. KU regrouped and opened up the second half with a 6-yard TD pass to a wide-open Steven Burkhardt from Judd Novak on KU’s opening possession to give them their first lead of the game at 21-17.
Photo Credit: McKenna Maguire – Insta: Cinemacktic
Both defenses tightened until KU added to its lead with another TD drive, where sure-handed Luke Maxwell would score at the FB position out of the I-formation for a 1-yard TD run. The Crimson Hawks would get back within one score on a deflected pass that ended up in the hands of Jeremiah Coleman to set the score at 28-23 early in the fourth quarter.
IUP would have the ball with under 2 minutes to go in the game, where KU’s Brayden Pohlman would take matters into his own hands to secure the game. He broke through the line to sack Rueve for a 6-yard loss on 2nd down before storming off the edge on 4th and 1, blowing up a run from HB Tavion Banks to clinch the win. Pohlman finished the day with two sacks, four tackles for loss and five total tackles; a performance that earned him Championship Game MVP.
KU’s defense held IUP to 12 net yards rushing, while Steven Burkhardt ran 22 times for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns. Noah Kraycla had six catches for 98 yards, and Novak was 14-23 passing for 188 yards and two touchdowns. KU’s win on Saturday gave them their fifth conference title and made the Golden Bears the first team in 51 years to win three straight PSAC championships.
KU earned the No. 1 seed in Super Region One and will host Bentley in the first round of the NCAA playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 22 at noon at Andre Reed Stadium.