Final Stats

Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) rushed for 98 yards, Craig Burgess (Medina, Ohio/Highland) kicked three field goals and the IUP defense forced four turnovers and flirted with a shutout until midway through the fourth quarter in a 16-6 victory over Southern Connecticut State in the season opener for both teams Saturday at Miller Stadium.

The win completed a sweep of the home-and-home series the past two years for the Crimson Hawks over the Owls and kept IUP undefeated in six all-time meetings in the series.

The Crimson Hawks picked off Owl quarterback Kevin Lynch three times, broke up seven passes and continually forced him to release throws early in the face of a relentless pass rush. Redshirt freshman Mike Scott (Frankford, Pa./North Catholic), who was moved from wide receiver to free safety early in fall camp, broke up four passes, intercepted one and recovered a fumble in his college debut.

Mark Jackson (Canton, OH/McKinley), who tied Jeff Vaughn (Canton, Ohio/McKinley) for the team lead in tackles with nine, and Mike Katch (Lansdale/North Penn) also grabbed interceptions while Katch and Carl Thornton (Beaver Falls/Beaver Falls) sacked Lynch. Southern Connecticut State managed to outgain IUP by a 290-266 margin but 92 of its yards came on its only scoring drive that culminated with a two-yard run by Rashaad Slowley that cut the IUP lead to 13-6 with 7:20 remaining in the game.

The Crimson Hawks then wrapped up the win on their ensuing possession, marching 52 yards including a 23-yard completion from Pat Smith (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) to Nate Morrow (Homer City, Pa./Homer-Center). Burgess finished the drive by hitting his third field goal of the game from 29 yards out to make it a 10-point lead with just 1:56 left.

Tuck led a 151-yard ground game for IUP in his first game as the starting tailback. He rose to No. 1 on the depth chart in the spring when Tobias Robinson (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest), the ninth-leading rusher in school history with 2,179 yards, was moved to cornerback to sure up that position.

Pat Smith (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg), who edged out Bo Napoleon (Carson, Calif./Carson) for the starting quarterback job just days before the opener, was on the field for all but one series and completed 11 of 21 passes for 111 yards. Morrow led the IUP receivers from his tight end position with three catches for 39 yards.

Lynch did manage to complete 17 of 36 passes for 184 yards. John Wiechman carried 10 times for 75 yards and Slowley added 36 yards on 12 attempts.

IUP scored first with 2:41 left in the first quarter when Burgess hit a 28-yard field goal. A 22-yard punt by Chris Hazelton and a nine-yard return by Cory Lanterman (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro) set the Crimson Hawks up at the Owl 34, and Roy-al Edwards covered the distance on just one play, an end around run that made it 10-0 with 11 seconds remaining in the opening period.

A short punt by IUP's Jared Kaufmann (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) gave Southern Connecticut State the ball at the Crimson Hawk 24 early in the second quarter, but Katch grabbed an interception to thwart the scoring threat. Owl kicker Eric LaVorgna was wide left on a 49-yard field goal attempt as the first half ended to keep the shutout intact.

Southern Connecticut State reached the IUP 20 on its first possession of the second half but a holding penalty forced a 3rd and 18 and two plays netted only six yards to end the drive. An interception by Scott gave IUP the ball at the Owl 23, and the Crimson Hawks took advantage despite losing five yards on the possession when Burgess hit a career-long 45-yard field goal that made it 13-0 just four seconds into the fourth quarter.

The three field goals increased the All-American candidate's total to a school-record 34 in 44 attempts, and his extra point on the Edwards' touchdown run was his 92nd in a row and 109th make in 110 career attempts.

After a three-and-out possession that included a sack by Katch, the Owls finally got their offense on track with their long touchdown drive which included a flea flicker play that resulted in a 44-yard completion from Lynch to Willie Epps. Southern Connecticut State also converted on fourth down on a two-yard pass to Jerome Cunningham that gave the Owls a first and goal at the three before Slowley scored two plays later.

IUP hits the road next week for the first of two straight trips vs. PSAC East opponents. The Crimson Hawks take on East Stroudsburg next Saturday followed by a trip to Bloomsburg on September 18. Southern Connecticut State will look for its first win of the season Saturday in its home opener vs. West Liberty.