Junior football player Steve Franco was named an IUP Athlete of the Week for the week ending Sunday, Sept. 27. Franco earns IUP’s weekly honor on the heels of his Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Defensive Athlete of the Week award he received on Sunday. The safety was a big part of the Crimson Hawks’ 35-14 win over previously undefeated Mercyhurst on Saturday, picking off two passes and returning one for a touchdown.
Both of his interceptions came in the fourth quarter with IUP holding a 28-14 lead on the Lakers. His first came with just over 13 minutes left in the game and the Crimson Hawks backed up to their own 25-yard line, intercepting Mercyhurst quarterback Brendan Boylan on the eight-yard line and taking it back 17 yards.
On Mercyhurst's next possession with just under four minutes to play, Franco jumped in front of a Boylan pass at midfield, escaped a few defenders, and ran untouched down the sideline for a 50-yard score.
