KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Darryl Davis-McNeil ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns, and the Kutztown University defense kept No. 4 Slippery Rock off the board until the final minute as the Golden Bears clinically dismantled the previously unbeaten Rock, 31-7, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship game at Andre Reed Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The victory lifted Kutztown to its third PSAC crown all-time and second under current head coach Jim Clements in the last three years. All three of the program’s PSAC titles have come at the hands of Slippery Rock (2011, 2021 and 2023). It was also the Golden Bears’ first-ever win against a top five nationally ranked opponent, as The Rock came in No. 4 in the AFCA Division II Poll and No. 5 in the D2Football.com Top 25.
Kutztown’s (9-2) PSAC-leading defense made life miserable for the league’s best offensive unit for the entire 60 minutes. The defensive line and linebackers built upon their already stellar 87.2 rushing yards allowed per game by clogging up the lanes and limiting The Rock (10-1) to just 47 yards on 16 attempts (2.9 yards per carry). The secondary locked down SRU leading receivers Kyle Sheets and Cohen Russell, all the while making quarterback Brayden Long, who entered the game with NCAA Division II’s highest passer rating (181.3), look pedestrian.
