Final Stats

IUP scored 23 unanswered points after falling behind in the first quarter, and the Crimson Hawks used a balanced offensive attack in a 23-17 win over East Stroudsburg in a PSAC crossover game Saturday at Eiler-Martin Stadium in East Stroudsburg.

The win makes the Crimson Hawks 2-0 for the fifth time in as many seasons under head coach Lou Tepper and ninth time in the past 11 years overall. East Stroudsburg, ranked No. 25 in the American Football Coaches Association poll, dropped to 1-1. The win was the third in a row for IUP over East Stroudsburg and seventh straight for the Crimson Hawks vs. a PSAC East opponent.

Pat Smith (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) completed 14 of 18 passes for 196 yards before leaving the game with a hand injury. Bo Napoleon (Carson, Calif./Carson) relieved Smith and threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Nate Morrow (Homer City, Pa./Homer-Center) with 9:22 left in the game to give IUP a 23-10 lead and enabled the Crimson Hawks to survive a Warrior touchdown in the final minute.

IUP had a total of 424 yards of total offense, including 215 through the air and 209 on the ground. Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) carried 20 times for 89 yards and Teddy Blakeman (Penn Hills/Penn Hills) gained 46 yards on only six carries in his first college game.

Mychal Skinner (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) had game highs of seven catches for 128 yards and moved into ninth place in school history with 112 career receptions, eclipsing Hall of Famer Len Pesotini and LeRon McCoy. Skinner also increased his career receiving yardage total to 1,841, just 11 shy of Paul Kovell for ninth in the IUP record book.

East Stroudsburg jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before the Crimson Hawks took control of the game. Tuck went in from one-yard out with 13:14 left in the second quarter, and Craig Burgess (Medina, Ohio/Highland) kicked field goals of 31 and 19 yards, the latter coming with one second left before halftime to give IUP a 13-10 lead at the break.

The first field goal drive was highlighted by a 38-yard completion from Smith to Skinner while a 46-yard hookup between the same duo keyed the march that ended with Burgess' second field goal.

Burgess added to the lead with a 21-yard field goal late in the third quarter on a drive that featured a 42-yard run by Tuck and a 28-yard scamper by Blakeman. IUP had a first and goal at the East Stroudsburg four before settling for the 3-pointer by Burgess that gave him three in a game for the second straight week and extended his school career record to 37.

Mike Scott (Frankford, Pa./North Catholic) grabbed his second interception of the season on the first play of the fourth quarter, and his 30-yard return set up the Crimson Hawks at the Warrior 31. Eight running plays, including six for 20 yards by James Johnson (Philadelphia/Glen Mills), moved the ball to the seven, and the Napoleon-to-Morrow connection gave IUP a more comfortable 13-point lead.

IUP held a strong East Stroudsburg offense which scored 57 points in its season opener last week to just 292 yards with only 180 achieved after the first quarter. Mike Katch (Lansdale/North Penn) led the Crimson Hawks with 11 tackles followed by Jeff Vaughn (Canton, Ohio/McKinley) with 10. Carl Thornton (Beaver Falls/Beaver Falls) had a sack for the second straight week and freshman Errol Brewster (Harlem, NY/Springbrook (MD)) also had a quarterback takedown.

The Crimson Hawks are back on the road next Saturday for another PSAC crossover game at Bloomsburg. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.