When linebackers Kam Wolfe and Tyler Whary made their debuts with Kutztown in 2019, the pair got their first taste of playing in a championship game at the collegiate level.
Wolfe and Whary saw the field in the Golden Bears’ loss to Slippery Rock in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship Game, and found themselves as two of the youngest members of a program transforming into a perennial title contender.
Now the leaders of the Kutztown defense, Wolfe, Whary and their fellow veteran teammates will take the field on Saturday in their third conference title game in the past four seasons.
“We came in at a great time,” said Wolfe, a team captain and Gov. Mifflin graduate. “We have very experienced, veteran players who have been in those big moments and don’t shy away from those moments either. We’re here to win championships and to be in those big moments.”
Looking to win their second conference title in the past three years, the PSAC East champion Golden Bears will take on PSAC West champion and fourth-ranked Slippery Rock in the PSAC Championship Game on Saturday at noon at Andre Reed Stadium.
“We’ve played in big games like this,” said Whary, an Upper Perkiomen graduate. “We know exactly what it means to play in games like this and also what needs to happen for us to win.”
After it fell to The Rock 37-35 in the 2019 title game, Kutztown defeated Slippery Rock 38-32 in the 2021 championship game at Andre Reed Stadium to capture its first title since 2011.
“I’m excited for our seniors and for the program and for our coaches,” Golden Bears coach Jim Clements said. “Everybody worked hard to get to this point.”
Kutztown (7-0 PSAC East, 8-2) dropped its first two games of the season in non-conference play before winning eight in a row. The Golden Bears held their conference opponents to 17 points or fewer in all but one game.
“We weren’t really happy where we were,” Clements said about the season-opening losses. “It woke us up pretty good.”
Kutztown’s suffocating defense is anchored by Whary, a graduate student who leads the team with 58 tackles and ranks third with 4.5 sacks; and Wolfe, a senior who ranks third with 53 tackles and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Fellow linebacker Brandon Hile, a sophomore, ranks second with 54 tackles.
“They are guys that lead by example and effort,” Clements said about Whary and Wolfe. “They seem to have been making some big plays for us. It’s good to have those guys.”
Nine of the Golden Bears’ 15 graduates and redshirt seniors play on defense. As a result, Kutztown’s defensive chemistry is well developed.
“We have a lot of experience,” Wolfe said. “We love each other. We just love playing with each other and for each other.”
The Golden Bears have allowed just 14.7 points and 257 yards per game this season, the fewest in the conference. Kutztown has allowed six rushing touchdowns, which is tied for the fourth-fewest in NCAA Division II among teams who have played 10 games.
“Eliminating the big play, we’ve done really well with that,” Whary said. “We’ve definitely grown each week.”
The Golden Bears will look to eliminate the splash play this week against a Slippery Rock offense that thrives on being explosive. The Rock (7-0 PSAC West, 10-0) is averaging 46 points per game, which leads the PSAC and ranks seventh in Division II.
“If you look at the way they put up so many points, it’s big plays through the air, big plays on the ground,” Whary said. “It’s all about eliminating the big play and just keeping them in check.”
Slippery Rock quarterback Brayden Long leads the conference in passing yards (2,879), completion percentage (69.8) and touchdowns (32). A junior, Long has thrown just two interceptions and leads Division II with an efficiency rating of 181.31.
“We have to tackle very well,” Wolfe said. “We have to be very disciplined in our coverages.”
The Rock leads the PSAC in rushing at 185.7 yards per game and has run for 34 touchdowns. Slippery Rock is the only team in the conference averaging more than 5 yards per carry.
“That absolutely is going to be a key — how we play up front,” Clements said. “We have to stop the run. Their running game is really good.”
Despite the challenges The Rock poses, the opponent and stage will not feel unfamiliar to the Golden Bears on Saturday.
“We’ve earned this to this point,” Clements said. “Now, we’ve got to finish it.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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