KUTZTOWN, Pa. - Millersville first drive of the game went exactly as planned. An up-tempo pace had the PSAC East champ's defense scrambling, and Collin Shank connected with Kevon Newerls for a highlight-reel worthy touchdown catch to take an early 7-0 lead against No. 15 Kutztown. But on the very next drive, Shank was lost for the game with an injury, and from there, the offense sputtered in a 37-17 loss. 

Kutztown, the top-ranked team in Super Region 1 remained undefeated at 10-0 while Millersville dropped to 2-8. Shank went 3-for-3 for 68 yards but for the fifth time in 10 games, he missed the majority of the game because of injury. The first drive touchdown was Shank's 11th in his last four games compared to one interception. The offense managed just 37 passing yards after Shank's exit and finished with 184 yards on 53 plays. Kutztown totaled 517 yards on 88 plays. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Shank found Evan Morrill twice for 27 total yards and then swung a pass to the right sideline for Newerls. Newerls hurdled a defender and raced 40 yards for a 7-0 Millersville lead. Kutztown, playing without starting quarterback Collin DiGalbo, answered right back with a 10-play drive culminating in an Eric Nickel to Diego Torres four-yard touchdown pass. 
• On the first play of the next drive, Shank was hit and lost the ball at the Millersville 21. He exited the game, but Millersville's defense held, allowing just two yards on the drive. 
• The Marauders' offense, however, managed just 10 snaps on its next three drives. They did pull within 17-10 with 6:26 left in the second when the Marauders' defense for a three-and-out and 19-yard punt to set up a drive at the Kutztown 33. Chris Persiko finished the drive with a 32-yard field goal. The one-score differential didn't last long, though. Nickel led a 10-play, 91-yard drive that put Kutztown up 24-10 just before the half. 
• The Marauders had three punts, two interceptions and a lost fumble in the second half before Evan Morrill capped a 35-yard, short-field drive with a 14-yard touchdown run with 1:16 left in the fourth. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Morrill essentially played four positions for the Marauders Saturday. He rushed 18 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team in receiving with five catches for 53 yards. He threw four passes as a quarterback and also served as the long snapper on punts, field goals and PAT attempts. He was the lone Marauder with more than one catch. 
• Isaiah Onuschak recorded his seventh sack of the season--the most by a Marauder since 2001. He totaled 10 tackles. Christian Martir led the team with 17 stops and two passes broken up. Chase Alisauckas and Datrell Reed shared a sack. 

POSTGAME REACTION: COACH J.C. MORGAN
• On the fast start to the game: "We were confident in our game plan and it was executed very well. That was a tremendous effort by Kevon to score after the catch. Those are things we know he can do." 
• On losing rhythm because of injuries: "It's tough. Definitely tough. It has happened a lot throughout the season. Those are things you can't control. We have to find a way to rise above it. We played hard but didn't have a lot offensively after Bear went down. But they played hard. Even the last drive, finding a way to get in, muscling it in the end zone was good to see."
• On the contributions of Morrill: "He's playing more quarterback than we would like. He's a great athlete. He'll do anything for the team. That's what we love about him. That was on display today. He was running around on third down then snapping the ball for a punt. He scores a touchdown then short snaps for the PAT. It's great to have somebody like him. The one thing that gets lost a little bit is him moving around and playing different positions, it's helped his understanding of the offense and that will be big for him moving forward as a wide receiver." 

NOTES
• Isaiah Onuschak surpassed 100 tackles for the season with Saturday's performance. He is the fifth Marauder since 2000 to total 100 in a season.
• With Millersville's first three running backs injured, freshman Nasir Best earned his first career start. He is the eighth true freshman to start on offense this season. 
• Newerls' touchdown catch was his team-leading fifth of the season--three of which are of 40 yards or longer. 
• Alisauckas has at least a half sack in three of the last four games. 

UP NEXT
• Millersville closes its 2019 campaign at home against Mercyhurst on Saturday, Nov. 16. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.