Charleston, W. Va – The Golden Eagles and the Golden Bears would clash in the NCAA Super Region One Second Round on Saturday at Laidley Field. The Golden Bears came in as winners of their last 10 contests, winning the PSAC Championship game over Slippery Rock in their last regular season game of the year. Charleston, champions of the Mountain East Conference, faced their toughest test to date. 
 
The Basics
Location: University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field
Score: UC 31, KU 32
Records: UC 10-2, KU 11-2
 
How it Happened
For the second game in a row, the Charleston offense would start the game off with their opening drive starting at the 25-yard line. The Golden Eagles would march all the way down to the five-yard line and cash in for six points on a connection from Javonte Howard to Alex Brink through the air for the early 7-0 lead. Kutztown would march down in similar fashion deep into Charleston territory, but the defense would prevail as Dawson Evitts' 25-yard field goal would push wide of the post. The Golden Eagles would put together a strong drive and find themselves with a 4^th and 1 at the Kutztown 43-yard line. Howard's pass intended for Niko Kausky would be knocked down by Devon Jones and the Golden Bears would take possession with great field position heading into the second quarter after an incredibly fast first quarter. 
 
Judd Novak would get the Golden Bears on the board with their drive in the second quarter on a 23-yard reception into the endzone to Kaden Hastie to knot the game at 7-7. As the Golden Eagles had done all year long, they would respond with a touchdown reception of their own from Howard to Marquan Herron 21-yards out to regain the one score lead. After forcing a punt, Charleston would strike again through the air with a leaping grab from Yves Bosmans just inside the pylon to take a 21-7 lead over Kutztown. On the ensuing kickoff, Sincere Thomas would swing the momentum with an 82-yard kickoff return all the way down to the 10-yard line and the Golden Bears would capitalize with the short distance on a pass into the endzone to Nick Lovenguth for the score. Kutztown would hold the Golden Eagles again on a fourth down conversion and turn it into a field goal from 26 yards away by Evitts to run into the half with Charleston ahead 21-17. 
 
With Kutztown electing to differ after winning the coin toss at the start of the game, they would have the ball to start the second half. Ashton Gilkey would steal the show with a pick six from 53 yards out to give Charleston a 28-17 lead coming out of the halftime break. The Golden Bears would attempt a fourth down conversion on their next possession, but Novak's efforts would be stuffed by Nesta Owens at the line and the Golden Eagles would take possession. They would attempt yet another fourth down conversion on a 4^th and 7, but Marquan Herron would be tackled short of the marker on a reception to the sideline. 
 
In the fourth quarter, Charleston would start with the ball at their own 19-yard line. On a penalty-filled 21-play drive that took a tremendous amount of time off the clock, Tim McCutchen would knock home a 24-yard field goal to give Charleston a 31-17 lead. With the time remaining, it looked as if Charleston just needed one more stop to secure their spot in the Elite Eight. It would be another haunting kickoff for Charleston as Steven Burkhardt would run 74 yards the other way and get Kutztown to the one-yard line. They would score on the next play with a Darryl Davis-McNeil rush into the endzone. A bold call to go for the two-point conversion would prove to be worthy as Kutztown's "Philly Special" would get the Golden Bears to within six points with 4:48 to go. On Charleston's drive, Howard would be intercepted by Oyame Adoga at the Kutztown 29-yard line and the Golden Bears had plenty of time to find their first lead of the game. Judd Novak would break the hearts of the Charleston faithful with the use of his legs running into the endzone for a 14-yard rushing score to take a 32-31 lead over Charleston. This would be the first deficit the Golden Eagles had faced since the first quarter of the West Virginia State contest. 
 
Charleston would have a final shot to win the game with a 51-yard field goal from McCutchen, but the effort would fall short of the crossbar and Kutztown would end Charleston's historic season in a shocking turn of events.