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THE MATCHUP
IUP moved to 2-1 in the PSAC West after last week's dramatic come-from-behind 35-28 overtime win at Mercyhurst. Something will have to give this weekend as the Crimson Hawks, who have the 2nd best rushing defense in the conference will square off against Clarion's third-ranked rushing offense. The Golden Eagles registered their first win of the year last Saturday, a 54-6 victory over Lock Haven.

THE HEAD COACHES
IUP head coach Curt Cignetti (West Virginia '82) begins his first season at the helm of the Crimson Hawks as he looks to bring the program back to national prominence.

The oldest son of legendary IUP head coach Frank Cignetti (1986-2005), he brings with him a wealth of Division I experience, serving as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2007-10 under Nick Saban at Alabama. He's also served as the recruiting coordinator at NC State and has spent time at Temple, Rice and Davidson.

Jay Foster is in his sixth season as the Golden Eagles head coach after serving a defensive assistant for Slippery Rock for 18 seasons. Foster was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year in 2009 after leading the Golden Eagles to a 6-1 record in conference play. As a player, Foster was an all-conference defensive back at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire.

THE SERIES
IUP leads the all-time series with Clarion 55-23-3, but the Golden Eagles have taken each of the past two meetings, including a 21-14 win last year and a 30-28 win back in 2009. Prior to that, IUP had won eight straight dating back to 2001.

LAST TIME OUT
The Crimson Hawks moved to 3-2, 2-1 in the PSAC West last Saturday after So. QB Pat Smith (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) engineered several late drives to lead IUP to a 35-28 come-from-behind overtime victory over Mercyhurst. Smith came in for injured starter So. QB Mike Box (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) late in the third quarter while the Crimson Hawks trailed 21-10. Smith led the Crimson Hawks on three scoring drives in the fourth quarter, including one that ended in a game-tying 18-yard field goal by R-Fr. K Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) as time expired in regulation.

So. RB Teddy Blakeman (Penn Hills/Penn Hills)'s five yard touchdown run and a strong defensive stand by the IUP defense sealed the Crimson Hawks win in the first overtime. Jr. RB Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) finished with 99 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, while Smith was 7-11 for 104 yards and a touchdown. Box was 9-15 for 96 yards before getting hurt.

CHASING 500
The IUP football program now has 497 total wins, just three shy of 500. If the Crimson Hawks defeat Clarion and Gannon in their next two games, it could even more fire to a bitter rivalry matchup with Cal on October 29.

OUT OF THE BOX
So. QB Mike Box (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) was on his way to a solid performance in his first game starting under center for IUP until a knee injury in the third quarter knocked him out of the game. Box was 9-15 for 96 yards but did have an interception.

PAT ON THE RUN
In addition to Smith's clutch passing performance on Saturday, he also rushed for 34 yards including a 17-yard gallop that set up a touchdown and two runs for over 10 yards to set up the game-tying field goal on the final drive of regulation.

TUCK EVERLASTING
Jr. RB Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) is 1st in the PSAC and 10th in Division II this season with 122 yards per game on the ground in five contests, carrying the ball 139 times for a 4.4 average. Tuck's streak of seven straight games with at least 100 yards on the ground came to end Saturday, as Tuck finished with 99 yards and two scores.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Tuck continued his climb to the top of the IUP career rushing yards chart, leaping two spots to 7th all-time with 2,284 in his two-plus seasons. Tuck is now just 281 yards away from breaking into the top five. Michael Mann (1990-93) is IUP's 1st overall with 4,805 career yards.

HERE'S JOHNNY
Sr. FS Johnny Franco (Altoona/Tyrone) has been a stalwart in the defensive backfield all season, combining crunching hits and excellent pass defense. Franco has 2 interceptions and 3rd in the PSAC in pass breakups with 8.

BRING THE “D”
The Crimson Hawks are 2nd in the PSAC and 10th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 82.4 yards per game on the ground. The defense will be tested against the 3rd best running attack in the PSAC in Clarion. IUP is 5th in the PSAC in both total defense and scoring defense, allowing just 16.2 points per game.

GETTING TO THE QB
Sr. DE Stephen Meadows (Spotsylvania/James Monroe) leads the team in sacks this season with 3.0, while So. DT Akeem Smith (Philadelphia/Frankford) has 2.0, including a sack and forced fumble late in Saturday's win.

THE LINEBACKERS
Sr. LB Mark Jackson (Canton, OH/McKinley) and So. LB Alex Berdahl have been wreaking havoc in the middle of the IUP defense, combining for 63 tackles this season. Berdahl has a team-high 33 tackles, while Jackson has a sack, interception and 2 forced fumbles.

HOLDING THE LINE
The IUP offensive line has helped lead the Crimson Hawks to the 4th best rushing offense in the PSAC, averaging 185.4 yards per game this year. The Crimson Hawks have worn out opposing defenses this season, dominanting time-of-possession in every game. IUP ranks second in the PSAC in that category, holding the ball for 33:06 per game.

NOT TAKEN FOR GRANTED
A “large” part of the IUP special teams success in 2011 is thanks to 6'7” 250-pound Sr. P Grant Shallock, who is 10th in the nation and 2nd in the PSAC in net punt yardage at 42.1 yards per kick. He's had 6 punts of 50+ yards on the year, including a long of 55.

BRETT'S BIG LEG
R-Fr. K Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) has been a model of consistency this season, kicking his way to the 4th best field goal percentage in the PSAC at 85.7%. Ullman has three field goals of at least 30 yards, including a 46-yarder in the Crimson Hawks rain-soaked victory over Edinboro.