WORCESTER, Mass. — On Saturday, the Assumption University Greyhounds football team opened its season with a 3-0 victory over the Kutztown University Bears.

It was the Greyhounds’ first victory over Kutztown since 2017, snapping a three-game losing streak.

The game also marked the first home-opener since 2019, which the Brian Kelly Stadium opened at full capacity for fans. 

David Collier and his family tailgated outside the stadium before kickoff along with dozens of other Greyhound fans. He came to watch his son Bailey play. 

“My wife, the whole family, we’ve been looking forward to this for a month now, and the day is finally here,” Collier said. “Time for the boys of fall to get busy, and go Hounds!”

A group of Kutztown Bears fans were also tailgating after making the five-hour drive from Eastern Pennsylvania. Tom Moyer said the group of Kutztown alums have been going to Bears games together for years.

“We’ve got a good group of people we met our freshman year, we’ve made close friends and we now travel games, follow our kids around and support them,” Moyer said.

Fans of both teams were just happy it’s that time of year again, and so was Assumption Head Coach Andy McKenzie.

“This training camp was pretty unique, I think,” McKenzie said. “It was a really, really hot summer so we got tested by the heat and when those bits of adversity show up, you’ve got to find out who is going to push through it,”

“With the support of our fans and this home environment we have here today, we’re really excited about the energy we have,” he continued.

The Greyhounds’ game-winning field goal came with 5:47 left in the first quarter. Heading into the game, Kutztown was No. 13 in the NCAA Division II rankings.