RELEASE DATE: 10/11/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES RUN PAST KUTZTOWN 45-24 TO IMPROVE TO 6-0 – VICTORY CLINCHES FIRST WINNING SEASON SINCE 1975

MANSFIELD – Poohbear McNeal rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass to lead Mansfield University to a 45-24 win over Kutztown University (4-2, 1-1) in a key PSAC East match up Saturday afternoon before a record attendance of 5,316 at Karl Van Norman Field.

The win improves the Mountaineers to 6-0 on the season and 2-0 in the PSAC East. More importantly, it guarantees Mansfield its first winning for season since posting a 5-4 mark in 1975.

"I'm just so happy for our seniors who have stuck it out," coach Chris Woods said. "I remember three, four years ago, coming off the field against this same team, and the future wasn't so bright at that point. It was a tough sell keeping these guys around. They just stayed the course and had faith - I couldn't be more proud of them."

Mansfield built a 24-0 lead over the first 25 minutes of the game. Daricus Haynes started off the scoring by intercepting a Kutztown pass in the end zone and returning it 82-yards to set up the Mountaineers first score. Four plays later, McNeal took it in from five-yards out for his first score of the game.

"That (interception) was the biggest statement of the game, point blank," McNeal said. "He came out, intercepted it and took it almost all the way back. We were working with a short field almost the whole game, so all we had to do was stick it in, and we had the ability to do that today."

With less than two minutes remaining the first quarter, freshman Sean Hair capped off a 58-yard drive by booting a 34-yard field go to give Mansfield a 10-0 lead.

Less than three minutes later, McNeal scored again, this time on a 16-yard screen pass from Travis Motley to give Mansfield a 17-0 lead. McNeal scored his third touchdown of first half on an 11-yard run.

Kutztown got on the board late in the first half on a 43-yard field goal by Matt Sartozzi as the half ended with a Mansfield 24-3 lead.

Joe Bennett increased the Mountaineers lead to 31-3 on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Travis Motley midway through the third quarter. It was Bennett’s 10^th touchdown reception setting a new Mansfield single season mark with five games left on the schedule.

Kutztown cut the lead to 31-10 on a 31-yard touchdown catch by Trevor Smith from Gabe Maiocco. But the Mountaineers would come right back with a four-yard TD run by McNeal and 42-yard Motley to Joe Bennett toss to take a 45-10 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Kutztown rounded out the scoring on a three-yard run by Tony Bria and 13-yard Maiocco to Jason Henley pass.

McNeal, who leads the nation in rushing and all-purpose yardage, combined for 237 all-purpose yards along with his four touchdowns. McNeal became just the third Mountaineer to surpass the 1000 yard mark, currently at 1118.  Not to be overshadowed was the performance of senior quarterback Travis Motley who hit on 12 of 19 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Joe Bennett had five catches for 125-yards and two touchdowns.

Senior All-American Dan Holland led the defense with 19 tackles, including 13 solo. He also blocked a punt and returned it eight yards and had a sack for six yards. Holland became Mansfield’s all-time solo tackle leader with 274. He is just four tackles short of becoming Mansfield’s all-time leading tackler. Daricus Haynes had eight tackles and an interception.

Stephen Gammage ran for 97-yards on 19 carries while Gabe Maiocco completed 11 of 20 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns to lead Kutztown.

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