KUTZTOWN - One of the trademarks of this - and many previous - Bloomsburg University football teams is its ability to overcome shortcomings, so long as there was time remaining on the clock.
Saturday, with an at-large NCAA Division II playoff berth and share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East title on the line, time ran out on the Huskies in a 52-14 loss that gives Kutztown (9-1, 6-1 PSAC) the title. While the Golden Bears prepare for an appearance in the State Game at home against Western champion Slippery Rock, Bloomsburg (8-2, 5-2) will apparently see its season end in this week's home game against Lock Haven.
After last week's 24-21 home loss to C.W. Post (6-4, 6-1), the Huskies were the longest of long shots to win the East, as they would have had to beat Kutztown and have Cheyney (1-9, 0-7) beat Post. Because of its 42-30 victory at Post, the Bears are the East champions, and the back-to-back losses make it unlikely that Bloomsburg - which was ranked No. 2 just two weeks ago - will receive an at-large berth.
Still, the Huskies are now one of three PSAC teams with overall 8-2 records, including Slippery Rock. So, expect them to be rooting for Kutztown in the championship game.
Quarterback Kevin Morton was masterful for the Bears in maintaining ball control by converting 10-of-17 third downs and all three fourth downs into first downs. He completed 21-of-34 passes without an interception for 302 yards and four touchdowns, with Josh Smith getting three touchdowns among his five receptions for 144 yards.
Morton rushed the ball 11 times for 65 yards and one touchdown, which was second for the Bears to former Lehighton standout Robbie Frey. A transfer from Connecticut, Frey carried 19 times for 87 yards and one touchdown.
Franklyn Quiteh, the PSAC's leading rusher who has been hampered much of the season by an ankle injury, led the Huskies with 13 carries for 151 yards, giving last year's 2,000-yard rusher 1,072 for the season. He gained a total of 88 yards, however, on two carries, and was caught from behind on both runs.
Bloomsburg got back into the game late in the first quarter when quarterback Pat Carey capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper on fourth down to make it 10-7. Otherwise, it was a tough outing for Carey, who completed 8-of-19 passes for 75 yards, had two interceptions and was sacked three times.
Following that touchdown, the Bears scored four unanswered touchdowns before Carey completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Dickerson early in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Josh Mastromatto scored on an 83-yard return to give the Bears a 45-14 lead.
After last year's 61-35 loss at Bloomsburg, sophomore center Chase Fraley said the Bears were determined to control the line of scrimmage. As a result, they put additional emphasis on ball control and converting third downs.
"Every week, the coaches drill us on third-down situations, as that's such a key part of the game," Fraley said. "We remembered that game at Bloomsburg last year, and we understand what kind of program is there, but we're trying to develop that same philosophy."
Hale's teams had been 23-0 against the Bears - including 18-0 at Bloomsburg - said he saw a major turnaround in their style of play. In particular, he believes they are playing with confidence and also said the addition of Frey completed their offense.
"I guess that first play kind of set the tone," Hale said. "It got worse from there, but before I say anything about our shortcomings, I know that was a heck of a football team we played today.
"That said, I put this on me because it's obvious I didn't do the job in bringing us back from last week. We weren't able to overcome that game, and today we failed in all three areas."
Hoping to catch the Bears by surprise, Bloomsburg showed run on the game's opening play, but Carey's play-action pass was intercepted at the 11 by Corey Harris and returned 40 yards. When Kutztown was forced to settle for a 43-yard field goal by Jack Ruggieri, it appeared the Huskies had regained momentum.
Instead, it was the Bears who scored on their next three possessions to take a 24-7 halftime lead. In the three scoring drives, they were successful converting 4-of-5 third downs, and on the one that failed converted on fourth down when holder Zach Snyder ran from field goal formation.
"I thought it was important that we maintain ball control and kept thinking about how they came back from being down 35-0 at West Chester," Kutztown coach Ray Monica said. "Every time we converted, it gave us three more plays to keep them off the field.
"Also, we're playing defense with an attitude. It took a little longer than we hoped, but right now, we're playing pretty good football."
It appears, the Bears are a team whose time has arrived.