Box Score
WATCH NOW: Post-game interview with Franklyn Quiteh
BLOOMSBURG-Bloomsburg's Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pocono Mountain West), the leading rusher in NCAA Division II, ran for 194 yards and four touchdowns, as the No. 13 Bloomsburg University Huskies (8-1, 6-0 PSAC East) defeated previously-unbeaten No. 15 Kutztown University (8-1, 5-1 PSAC East) by a score of 61-35 to clinch the 2010 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division crown and a spot in next weekend's PSAC Championship game. The Huskies will face off against No. 21 Mercyhurst College at noon on Saturday, November 13, 2010, to determine the conference champion.
Behind Quiteh, backup running back Codie Butler (Womelsdorf, Conrad Weiser) also had a stellar day. On the Huskies' first drive, Butler broke out for a 62-yard run before being brought down on the one-yard line. Butler got to finish what he started and ran in the final yard on the next play, putting Bloomsburg up 7-0 just over a minute into the game.
With the conference's highest scoring average and top passer in quarterback Kevin Morton, Kutztown surprised no one in responding quickly. Morton capped off a nine-play, 72-yard drive with a one-yard keeper rush to even the score at 7-7.
Bloomsburg took over and Quiteh got his first big run of the game, scoring from 25 yards away. A missed PAT left the Huskies ahead 13-7 with five minutes to play in the first.
The Huskies forced a punt on the ensuing possession and began a march down the field from their own 13. Twelve plays later, Daniel Fisher (Liverpool, Central Dauphin) completed a 30-yard field goal attempt, and Bloomsburg led 16-7.
Soon thereafter, three-time PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week Mike Varanavage (Philadelphia, Archbishop Ryan) came up with his third interception of the year. Starting from the Kutztown 15, Bloomsburg rushers had no trouble rushing the ball into the endzone, as Quiteh capped the short drive from four yards for a 23-7 advantage.
Bloomsburg's Oscar Rivera (Bethlehem, Liberty) had another interception on Kutztown's next drive, but Fisher was unable to get enough distance on a 52-yard downwind field goal attempt. A Golden Bears' punt gave way to a five-play, 73-yard drive by BU that included Quiteh's longest run of the day (58 yards) and a 10-yard Pat Carey (Loyalsock, Loyalsock Twp.) touchdown toss to Ben Weaber (Lebanon, Cedar Crest), giving the Huskies a 30-7 lead at the break.
The third quarter was a memorable one—a shootout dual that featured more scoring and exciting plays than a typical complete game. Kutztown came out of the intermission firing, as seven straight passing plays yielded a five-yard score from Morton to freshman receiver Josh Smith.
Next, Bloomsburg responded with a 65-yard bomb from Carey to Cory Stiger (Williamsport, Loyalsock Twp.).
Kutztown answered with a 44-yard pass completion from Morton to Chris McCormick.
BU slowed down the pace by taking 90 seconds off the clock on its next drive, which ended with Quiteh getting into the endzone for the third time from 13 yards.
Kutztown converted on a pair of third-down conversions on the succeeding drive, and Morton connected with McCormick again from four yards. Halfway through the period, five touchdowns had been recorded, and the score had inflated to 44-28 Bloomsburg.
Quiteh committed the Huskies' only turnover of the game on the first play of the next drive. Looking to capitalize on field position, Morton went to the endzone on his first play and connected with Bloomsburg's Vince Browning (Harrisburg, Central Dauphin).
BU's Butler broke out for a game-high 63-yard run, this time avoiding being caught before getting across the goal line, putting his team up 51-28.
Kutztown's passing game was no match for the Husky defense, as Morton's next throw was picked off by Browning again.
Bloomsburg weaned nearly six minutes off the clock to end the third quarter, and early in the fourth, Fisher connected on his second goal of the day, extending his school-record to 19 on the season, this time (coincidentally) from 19 yards. BU led 54-28.
Still not ready to quit, Morton worked the ball 69-yards down the field and scored on a keeper from one yard to narrow the gap to 54-35. With two TD's on the ground and three by air, Morton's five-touchdown performance was noteworthy even for a defeated quarterback.
Bloomsburg's running game won the day on the next drive, stealing more than nine minutes off the scoreboard. Quiteh scored the final touchdown of the day from 15 yards, sealing the 61-35 win.
Quiteh's 194 yards improves his season average to 163.8 yards per game. He also averages 1.8 touchdowns and 11 points per game. Butler managed a career-high 177 yards and two touchdowns, marking the second time this season that both backs broke the 100-yard mark in the same game.
Carey threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, while failing to throw an interception and only being sacked once. Morton racked up 302 yards on 19 of 43 throws but was sacked three times. Morton's four-interception day was irregularly bad, as had only thrown 10 prior interceptions this season.
With 685 yards of total offense, the Huskies set a new Bloomsburg team record.
Defensively, Alex Landis (Pine Grove, Pine Grove) and D. Solomon Oliver (Cheltenham, Cheltenham) both had a team-high six tackles for the Huskies. Browning had two interceptions, moving his season total up to three and career sum to six. John Pettine (Gilbertsville, Archbishop Carroll) had five tackles and a career high 1.5 sacks. Kutztown's Khalief Evans had a game-high 12 tackles and the day's only fumble recovery.
For Bloomsburg Head Coach Danny Hale, the win marks his 14th shared or outright PSAC East title, 11 of which have been won with Bloomsburg.
Bloomsburg has now earned the right to play in next week's PSAC Championship game. Mercyhurst, which clinched the Western Division with today's 38-14 win over Clarion, will serve as host. Kickoff is a noon on Saturday, November 13.
