Game Overview
The No. 3-ranked Kutztown Golden Bears (13-0) host the Frostburg State Bobcats (11-2) in a high-stakes NCAA Division II quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, December 6, 2025. This Super Region One championship game pits two undefeated playoff juggernauts against each other, with the winner advancing to the national semifinals and a chance to represent the East in the DII title chase. Kutztown, fresh off a dominant postseason run, enters as the clear favorite, boasting a program-record 13 wins and the nation’s second-best scoring defense. Frostburg State, making program history in their first-ever DII playoff appearance, rides a wave of Cinderella momentum with back-to-back road upsets. Expect a gritty, physical battle between a battle-tested PSAC powerhouse and a resilient MEC upstart, where Kutztown’s depth and home-field edge could prove decisive.
Venue and Location
The game will be played at Andre Reed Stadium on the campus of Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Located in the rolling hills of eastern Pennsylvania, approximately 90 miles northwest of Philadelphia and 20 miles northeast of Reading, the stadium seats about 10,000 fans and features a modern turf surface installed in recent years. Named after NFL Hall of Famer and Kutztown alum Andre Reed, the venue has been a fortress for the Golden Bears this season, where they’ve outscored opponents 452-85 in home games. The stadium’s intimate atmosphere, with fans packed close to the field, amplifies the noise from Kutztown’s passionate “Bear Nation” crowd, which has sold out playoff rounds. Parking is available on campus lots, with shuttle services from overflow areas; gates open two hours prior to kickoff.
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET (local start time, subject to final NCAA confirmation; aligns with regional broadcast slots) This midday kickoff allows for prime-time viewing on the East Coast and accommodates the cold December weather typical for Pennsylvania gridiron classics.
Weather Forecast
Kutztown in early December often brings crisp, wintry conditions, and the forecast for game day calls for partly cloudy skies with temperatures hovering around 35°F (2°C) at kickoff, dropping to 28°F (-2°C) by the fourth quarter. Winds from the northwest at 8-12 mph could make passing plays tricky, especially for downfield throws, while humidity levels around 60% suggest minimal precipitation risk—though a 20% chance of light flurries exists late in the game. Ground conditions should remain firm on the turf, favoring run-heavy offenses, but players will need to bundle up with heated benches and thermals. No major disruptions expected, but the chill could test endurance in a potentially low-scoring affair.
Injury Report
Both teams enter the quarterfinals relatively healthy after navigating the playoff’s physical toll, with no major long-term absences reported. Here’s a breakdown:
Kutztown Golden Bears:
Out: None significant. The Bears’ depth has been key, with no starters sidelined from the second-round win over Assumption.
Questionable: Backup RB Jaedyn Stewart (ankle sprain from Week 11) practiced fully this week and is expected to back up starter Craig Miller if needed.
Probable: All key contributors, including QB Judd Novak (minor shoulder tweak from Nov. 22) and LB Brandon Strausser (knee), are cleared after limited practice sessions.
Frostburg State Bobcats:
Out: WR Myles Fulton (concussion protocol from first-round game vs. Johnson C. Smith) will miss his second straight contest; his seven TD receptions leave a void in the passing game.
Questionable: DE Malik Johnson (hamstring strain from Nov. 29 win over Cal PA) is a game-time decision; he’s their leading sacker (9.5) and could rotate if cleared.
Probable: QB rotation intact, with redshirt junior Myles Fulton (no relation) and backups healthy; RB group fully available after a clean bill post-Cal PA.
Kutztown’s medical staff reports 95% availability, while Frostburg’s is at 90%, giving the Bears a slight edge in lineup stability.
Key Player Matchups
This clash will hinge on several head-to-head battles that could swing momentum:
Kutztown QB Judd Novak vs. Frostburg State Pass Rush (Led by DE Malik Johnson): Novak, a senior dual-threat with 2,150 passing yards, 25 TDs, and 650 rushing yards this season, faces a Bobcats front that ranks top-15 nationally in sacks (32). If Johnson (questionable) plays, his speed off the edge could disrupt Novak’s rhythm; otherwise, Kutztown’s O-line (allowing just 1.2 sacks per game) should protect well.
Frostburg State RB Group (Khalil Brown & Co.) vs. Kutztown Front Seven (LB Brandon Strausser & DT Freddie Retter): The Bobcats’ ground attack (185 YPG) relies on committee runs, but they’ll test the Golden Bears’ vaunted defense (No. 2 in DII at 9.58 PPG allowed). Strausser (85 tackles, 3 INTs) and Retter (5 sacks) have stuffed runs all postseason—expect a battle for the line of scrimmage.
Kutztown WR Trevor Amorim vs. Frostburg State CB Jalen Carter: Amorim (68 catches, 950 yards, 10 TDs) is Kutztown’s big-play threat, but Carter’s shutdown coverage (2 INTs, 45 tackles) could force Novak to check down. This aerial duel may decide third-down conversions.
Frostburg State QB Myles Fulton vs. Kutztown Secondary (CB Lee Coleman): With limited passing options sans Fulton (the WR), the QB must improvise. Coleman’s versatility (1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 3 PBUs in playoffs) could bait turnovers from a Bobcats offense prone to picks (12 on the year).
These matchups favor Kutztown’s superior talent and experience, but Frostburg’s upset pedigree means nothing’s guaranteed.
Recent Team Forms
Both squads are scorching hot entering the quarterfinals, with Kutztown’s perfection contrasting Frostburg’s gritty road warrior vibe.
Kutztown Golden Bears: The Golden Bears are a well-oiled machine, winners of 13 straight since the season opener (a 51-14 rout of Assumption). Their last five games: W 52-0 vs. Bentley (Nov. 22, first round), W 56-19 vs. Assumption (Nov. 29, second round), W 28-16 vs. Slippery Rock (PSAC semis), W 35-7 vs. IUP (PSAC final), W 45-10 vs. West Chester (regular season). Offensively explosive (42.5 PPG), defensively suffocating (244.8 YPG allowed), Kutztown has three shutouts and hasn’t trailed since September. Their 600-yard explosion vs. Assumption signals peak form.
Frostburg State Bobcats: The Bobcats have rebounded from early-season hiccups (losses to Shepherd and West Liberty) with an eight-game win streak, capped by playoff heroics. Last five: W 23-21 vs. Cal PA (Nov. 29, second round—clung to a late lead after trailing 21-10), W 21-7 vs. Johnson C. Smith (Nov. 22, first round—upset the No. 2 seed), W 31-26 vs. Charleston (MEC semis), W 28-24 vs. Notre Dame (OH) (MEC final), W 35-14 vs. Urbana (regular season). Their defense has stiffened (holding foes to 18 PPG lately), but turnovers (3 in playoffs) remain a Achilles’ heel.
Kutztown’s consistency gives them the form edge, but Frostburg’s knack for close wins (4 of last 6 by <10 points) screams danger.
Conference vs. Conference (PSAC vs. MEC)
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and Mountain East Conference (MEC) represent regional rivals in NCAA DII’s Super Region One, with the PSAC historically dominating head-to-head battles. The PSAC, founded in 1951 and now the largest DII all-sports conference (18 members), has produced eight national football titles (most recently Bloomsburg in 2009) and 12 Super Region One reps since 2010. Its depth—six playoff teams in 2025—stems from Pennsylvania’s recruiting hotbed, emphasizing physical, run-first schemes.
The MEC, launched in 2013 from the ashes of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association, is younger and scrappier (11 members, mostly West Virginia-based), with one national runner-up (West Liberty, 2022) but no titles. Frostburg’s 2025 MEC championship marks their first since transitioning from DIII in 2019. Historically, PSAC teams hold a 28-12 edge over MEC foes since 2015 (70% win rate),
including Kutztown’s 3-0 mark vs. MEC squads (e.g., 42-21 over Shepherd in 2023). The PSAC’s superior resources and talent pipeline make it DII’s mid-tier power conference, while the MEC excels in upsets (like Frostburg’s this postseason). Expect the PSAC’s grind-it-out style to test the MEC’s speed and resilience.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Conference Record | Playoff Record (2025) | National Rank |
| Kutztown Golden Bears | 13-0 | 7-0 (PSAC East Champs) | 2-0 | No. 3 |
| Frostburg State Bobcats | 11-2 | 8-0 (MEC Champs) | 2-0 | Unranked |
Kutztown’s undefeated slate includes three shutouts and a +1,200 point differential; Frostburg’s losses were early (both by 7 points), fueling their 8-game streak.
Series History
This marks the first-ever meeting between Kutztown and Frostburg State in football. The Golden Bears hold a 3-1 all-time record against MEC opponents dating back to 2020, but the Bobcats’ DII transition in 2019 means no prior clashes. Kutztown’s playoff pedigree (8-7 all-time, three quarterfinals in five years) contrasts Frostburg’s debut run, adding intrigue to this blank-slate rivalry.
Betting Trends
Kutztown: 9-4 ATS this season (69%), covering in 7 of last 8 home games and both playoff wins. Public money (65%) heavily on Bears to cover; they’ve hit the under in 10 of 13 games.
Frostburg State: 7-5-1 ATS (58%), but 5-1 ATS as road dogs. Sharp action (55%) on Bobcats +14.5, citing their road playoff covers; 8 of 11 wins have gone over, but recent playoff unders (both under 50).
Head-to-Head/Neutral Trends: No series history, but PSAC vs. MEC games are 6-4 to the under since 2022; favorites cover 75% in DII quarterfinals.
Historical Betting Results (DII Quarterfinals Context)
In the last 10 DII quarterfinals (2020-2024), home teams won 8 (80%), covering spreads in 7 (70% ATS). Top-5 seeds like Kutztown are 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS, while unranked underdogs (like Frostburg) are 2-8 SU but 5-5 ATS, often keeping games within 10 points in upsets. Totals have trended under (7-3), averaging 42 points, thanks to playoff defenses. PSAC teams in quarterfinals: 5-2 SU since 2018; MEC: 1-3 SU.
Final Score Prediction: Kutztown 28, Frostburg State 13
Game Odds
Kutztown Golden Bears – 14.5
Frostburg State Bobcats 45.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 5, 2025
