NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL SEMIFINALS
Harding defeats Kutztown, 49-27
*RECAP COURTESY KUTZTOWN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Third-ranked Kutztown University's record-setting 2025 season came to a close in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship with a 49-27 setback against No. 2 Harding University (Ark.) on Saturday evening at Andre Reed Stadium.
Judd Novak threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns, and utilized his legs for 137 yards rushing and a 74-yard TD run. Rich Paczewski had a career-high six catches for 113 yards and two TDs, while Trevor Amorim brought in three catches for 50 yards and a score.
Harding's (15-0) flexbone offense proved tough to contain for yet another opponent. The Bisons ran for 389 yards on 47 attempts (8.3 yards per carry) and scored on seven of their first eight possessions, with the lone non-scoring drive being a kneel down at the end of the first half.
Harlon Hill Trophy finalist Andrew Miller rushed 23 times for a game-high 157 yards and four touchdowns, sending Harding through to next Saturday's national championship game against top-seeded Ferris State in McKinney, Texas. The Bisons are back in the national title game for the second time in three seasons after capturing the 2023 crown.
Miller's backfield mate, Braden Jay, ran for 120 yards and a TD on eight carries. Both players scored on runs of 70 yards or longer with Jay breaking off a 70-yard TD run in the third and Miller going 73 yards to paydirt in the fourth.
The Bisons build a 21-0 lead before Kutztown (14-1) got on the board late in the first half. Novak hit Paczewski near the left front pylon for a 26-yard TD catch with 26 seconds left to make it a 21-7 game.
KU got the ball to start the second half and drove to the Harding 35-yard line before Josh Gatlin intercepted Novak and returned the ball 70 yards to the Golden Bears' 8. Four plays later, quarterback Cole Keylon plowed into the end zone from 2 yards out for his second TD of the game and a 28-7 advantage.
Novak fought right back from his first interception of the season with a 74-yard TD run on Kutztown's very next play. It was the redshirt junior's second 70+ yard TD run in the postseason following a 78-yarder against Assumption in the second round. The PAT was no good and the Bears trailed 28-13.
Unfortunately, any momentum KU hoped to gain was quickly extinguished when Jay went 70 yards to the house on Harding's next offensive play to make it 35-13.
Harding went up 49-13 on TD runs of two yards and 73 yards by Miller before Novak threw touchdowns to Amorim (39 yards) and Paczewski (25 yards) on KU's final two possessions to close the gap to 49-27.
The Golden Bears moved the ball, outgaining Harding 453-409 in the game. The Bisons featured the top scoring defense (9.6 ppg) and total defense (249.2 ypg) in the nation. Two other drives for Kutztown nearly ended in touchdowns, but Curtis Jackson broke up Novak's fourth-down pass for Lenniek Preston in the end zone early in the second quarter and Josh Gatlin knocked down a third-down pass for Noah Kracyla
early in the fourth.
Kutztown played host to a national semifinal game for the first time in the program's 109-season history. The Golden Bears ended the season with new school records for victories (14), consecutive victories (14) and points scored (645), while winning their third consecutive PSAC East and PSAC championships, and their second Super Region 1 title in program history.
SUPER REGION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Kutztown defeats Frostburg State, 51-29
The Kutztown Golden Bears remained unbeaten in 2025 with a 51-29 victory over Frostburg State in the Super Region 1 Championship Game. KU racked up 216 yards rushing in the contest, including 74 yards and a touchdown from Jaedyn Stewart, 66 yards on six carries from Steven Burkhardt, and 48 yards and one TD from quarterback Judd Novak. The Golden Bear's ever-efficient offense was complemented once again by an opportunistic defense, which held FSU to just 7-of-16 third down conversions, forced a pair of turnovers, and tallied five sacks and seven tackles for loss. Kutztown now advances to the national semifinals, which are re-seeded for the Final Four.
SUPER REGION 1 SEMIFINAL RECAPS
Kutztown defeats Assumption, 56-19
The Kutztown Golden Bears defeated Assumption for the second time this season, 56-19, and once again got a yeoman's effort from quarterback Judd Novak, as he rushed 7 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns in addition to throwing for 88 more yards and three additional touchdowns. Kutztown will advance to play Frostburg St. in the Super Region 1 Championship Game, which KU won back in the 2023 season.
Frostburg State defeats California, 23-21
California's season came to a close with an overall record of 9-4 after a 23-21 loss to Frostburg State in the Super Region 1 semifinals. The Vulcans led 14-7 at the half but surrendered two second-half touchdowns and a game-winning field goal with just 4:06 to go in the game. Vulcans' running back Kendrick Agenor rushed for 121 yards on 16 carries to lead the ground game, while quarterback Roman Purcell completed 15 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
SUPER REGION 1 FIRST ROUND RECAPS
Assumption defeats IUP, 23-20
Assumption ended IUP's season with a 23-20 victory on Saturday afternoon, scoring a rushing touchdown with 2:34 left to go in the third quarter that ended up being the final points scored of the game. IUP went up 20-7 with 2:48 left to go in the second quarter after a Leon Parson touchdown but could not find the endzone again. Quarterback Matthew Rueve finished 22-of-36 for 231 yards, 152 of which went to Devin Whitlock, who hauled in 13 receptions. The Crimson Hawks end the season with a 7-4 overall record.
Kutztown defeats Bentley, 52-0
The Kutztown Golden Bears put on a dominant display against Bentley, winning 52-0 and getting a solid performance from PSAC Eastern Division Offensive Athlete of the Year Judd Novak -- as he completed 19-of-25 passes for 290 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. The KU defense totaled five sacks (including two from Freddie Retter) and seven total tackles-for-loss as they held Bentley to just 4-of-17 on third down and 171 total yards. Kutztown advances to play Assumption in the Super Region 1 semifinals. The two teams met back in Week 1, with KU winning 51-14.
California defeats Virginia Union, 27-24
The California Vulcans, unseeded in the Super Region 1 bracket, took down No. 3 seed Virginia Union, 27-24. Cal sprinted out to a 14-0 lead with two first quarter touchdowns -- both coming on Roman Purcell rushes. A pair of Harry Radcliffe field goals made it 20-17 Cal at the half, then a Kendriuck Agenor rush found paydirt to make it 27-17. The Vulcans held on, forcing an incompletion on 3rd and 19 and then securing the victory after a VU field goal attempt from 46 yards was wide left. Cal will face the winner of Frostburg St. / Johnson C. Smith next Saturday in the semifinals.
INDIANAPOLIS – Three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football programs were selected to compete in the 2025 NCAA Division II Football Championship, the NCAA announced Sunday evening: three-time defending PSAC champion Kutztown, IUP, and California.
The 2025 NCAA Division II Football Championship features 32 teams and begins on Saturday, Nov. 22.
The No. 1 seed in Super Region 1 is Kutztown (11-0 overall), who will host Bentley next Saturday. After a 28-23 victory in last Saturday’s PSAC Championship Game against IUP, KU has won three straight PSAC titles (and four of the last five.)
Despite the loss to Kutztown in the PSAC Championship, IUP (7-3 overall) is the No. 4 seed in the bracket and will host Assumption in the first round.
The third and final PSAC squad is California, which will have to travel to No. 3 seed Virginia Union in the opening round.
Complete bracket information can be found
here.