The new message displayed in the Kutztown University football locker room reads: “It starts here, ends in Texas.”
The Golden Bears enter the 2023 season eager to get back to the NCAA Division II playoffs and contend for a spot in the national championship game, which will be held in McKinney, Texas on Dec. 16.
“National playoffs is always our end goal,” said senior offensive lineman Adam Kase, a Conrad Weiser graduate. “Everybody just needs to execute.”
After winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship and reaching the NCAA Division II quarterfinals in 2021, Kutztown finished 8-3 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
As they head into the 2023 season, the Golden Bears are using last year as a lesson.
“(We) focus on one day at a time, one rep at a time,” said senior team captain Kam Wolfe, a Gov. Mifflin graduate. “Looking ahead is something we definitely could learn from last year. We looked ahead a couple times and we fell short a couple times.”
Kutztown returns seven starters on offense, including graduate quarterback Donny Blaine. In his first year as the starter last season, Blaine completed 138-of-244 pass attempts for 1,920 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions in 11 games.
“He’s got to let it all loose,” Golden Bears coach Jim Clements said. “Mentally, he’s prepared. Making right decisions with the football — that’s probably where he has to take the biggest step for us.”
With a full year of starting experience behind him, Blaine is ready to rely on his offensive playmakers.
“(I want to) get this offense going at an efficient and explosive pace,” Blaine said. “Most of the confidence comes from the offensive unit itself and everybody working together.”
Graduate Darryl Davis-McNeil and senior Jordan Davis return at running back after the pair helped form the third-best rushing offense in the PSAC last year. Davis-McNeil recorded 1,013 yards and 13 touchdowns on 194 attempts, while Davis, a 2023 team captain, ran for 729 yards and four touchdowns on 173 attempts.
“If they’re playing well, we’re going to play well,” Clements said. “Between Jordan and Darryl, that’s probably one of the best one-two punches around.”
After leading wide receiver Jerome Kapp took his talents to the professional ranks, Kutztown will look to graduate Kurtis Ravenel Jr. to make a splash on offense. Ravenel had 17 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown last season.
“He’s really athletic,” Clements said about Ravenel. “He’s explosive.”
The Golden Bears return five starters on defense. They held opponents to just 17.6 points per game last season, the second-fewest in the conference.
Kutztown will need to replace leading tackler Amani Justice, who led the team with 70 tackles a year ago. Graduate linebacker Tyler Whary, an Upper Perkiomen graduate, is back after finishing with 56 tackles last season, and Wolfe returns after recording 50 tackles.
“Our secondary, if we stay healthy, is going to be really good,” Clements said. “To me, it’s about our defensive line. (If we) can we create some turnovers, (if we) can we get after the quarterback, (if we) can we hold up in the run game with some new bodies — I feel like we’ll be alright.”
The unranked Golden Bears will open the season with a non-league game at No. 23 Assumption on Saturday at noon in Worcester, Mass. Kutztown lost to the Greyhounds 3-0 in last year’s opener.
“Last year it was definitely a disappointing loss as a team,” Wolfe said. “We’re very fortunate and blessed that we’re able to go back up there and possibly redeem ourselves.”
The Golden Bears will open their home slate against Mercyhurst in a non-league game on Saturday, Sept. 16 at noon. Kutztown will begin league play the following week at defending PSAC East champion and 13th-ranked Shepherd on Sept. 23 at noon.
“We got to eliminate any mental mistakes, mental errors,” Blaine said. “We have the playmakers all over the place to be able to get explosive plays and put points on the board.”
Shepherd was once again selected to win the PSAC East in the conference’s preseason poll. The Golden Bears were ranked second in the East after finishing second last year.
However, Kutztown is poised to change that in 2023.
“We want to win a PSAC championship,” Wolfe said. “We definitely want to focus on one game at a time, but our goal is 100% to win a championship.”
And according to Wolfe, the Golden Bears have the drive to do it.
“This is the hardest-working team that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Wolfe said. “We’re not satisfied with anything.”
A look at the Golden Bears
Coach: Jim Clements, ninth season (67-25).
Last season: 5-2 PSAC East, 8-3.
Key players: QB Donny Blaine, RB Jordan Davis, LB Tyler Whary, defensive athlete Kam Wolfe.
Schedule: Sept. 2, at Assumption; Sept. 9, at California (PA); Sept. 16, vs Mercyhurst; Sept. 23, at Shepherd; Sept. 30, vs East Stroudsburg; Oct. 7, at Bloomsburg; Oct. 14, vs Shippensburg; Oct. 21, at Lock Haven; Oct. 28, vs Millersville (homecoming); Nov. 4, at West Chester; Nov. 11, vs Slippery Rock.
Source: Berkshire mont
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