East Stroudsburg-Kutztown Football

Pete Nevins, SID (570 422-3312)

East Stroudsburg, Pa. - Linebacker Alex Daescher's 25-yard interception return for a touchdown and a fourth-quarter goal line stand lifted Kutztown to a 17-16 victory over East Stroudsburg in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division football game Saturday.

Behind at halftime, 14-10, the Golden Bears took the lead when Daescher picked off a Jeremy Palm pass and carried the ball into the end zone for the only touchdown of the second half.

East Stroudsburg drove to the Kutztown one-yard line with four minutes remaining, but the Kutztown defense stopped tailback Nate Pendry for no gain on third down and then held Palm inches short of the goal-line on fourth down.

The Warriors' Mike Berry missed on two field goal attempts in the fourth quarter. Kutztown defensive back Pete Mendez blocked Berry's 26-yard try with 11 minutes to go. Then after the Golden Bears had deliberately taken a safety, Berry was wide left on what would have been a game-winning 41-yard field goal with 1:27 to go.

Marcel Kottke put Kutztown ahead with a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter. East Stroudsburg countered on tailback Andre Castiglioni's two-yard touchdown run and Palm's nine-yard scoring pass to wide receiver John Jeffries to take a 14-3 lead. The Golden Bears scored late in the second quarter on Harry Mims' two-yard run.

Linebacker Kevin Nagle had a big game on defense with 14 tackles, 12 solo and two assists. Linebacker Rich Butcofski added 11 tackles. Cornerbacks Jeremy Brown and Nick Beisker each had interceptions. Linebacker Chad Weaver recovered a Kutztown fumble which led to the team's first touchdown.

The win raised Kutztown's record to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC Eastern Division. East Stroudsburg also is 4-2 and is 1-2 in conference play.

Kutztown (4-2, 1-1 PSAC) 0-10-7-0 17

East Stroudsburg (4-2, 1-1 PSAC) 0-14-0-2 16

Kutz - Marcell Kottke 31 field goal

ESU - Andre Castiglioni 2 run (Mike Berry kick)

ESU - John Jeffries 9 pass from Jeremy Palm (Berry kick)

Kutz - Harry Mims 2 run (Kottke kick)

Kutz - Alex Daecher 25 interception return (Kottke kick)

ESU - Safety, Jon Corson ran out of end zone