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THE MATCHUP
IUP is back to .500 after last week's 19-0 upset victory over then-No. 18 Edinboro at George P. Miller Stadium on Homecoming. The Crimson Hawks defense is one of the best statisically in the PSAC and will face a formidable opponent in Mercyhurst, which averages 31.0 points per game offensively. The Lakers are coming off of a 30-27 loss to Gannon last week, a game in which they led 20-10 in the third quarter.

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.

Marty Schaetzle (Bucknell '83) enters his 10th year at Mercyhurst in 2011, a season after the best-ever in the program's 30-year history. The owner of a 42-57 record entering this season, Schaetzle led the Lakers to a 10-3 mark last year, going 6-1 in the PSAC West and a berth into the NCAA postseason for the first time in their history.

THE SERIES
This will be the fourth matchup all-time between the two schools, every one after Mercyhurst moved from the GLIAC to the PSAC back in 2008. After winning the first game 42-10, IUP has dropped each of the last two by a combined total of five points (20-16 in 2009; 28-27 in 2010).

LAST TIME OUT
The Crimson Hawks put an end to their two-game losing streak with a solid performance in a 19-0 upset win over visiting No. 18 Edinboro last Saturday on Homecoming. The IUP defense came up huge, forcing 5 turnovers, including 3 fumbles, giving up just 115 total yards to one of the PSAC's top scoring offenses.

With the help of 216 yards on the ground, the IUP offense controlled the clock, keeping the ball for a total of 36:19. The passing game contributed a big play, as So. QB Mike Box (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) found Sr. TE Jon Ditto (Monroeville/Gateway) on a 56-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in the third quarter.

OUT OF THE BOX
So. QB Mike Box (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) didn't need many passes in his second career game at IUP to make a difference, completing 3-4 for 73 yards and 2 TDs, including a 56-yarder to Sr. TE Jon Ditto (Monroeville/Gateway). He entered in the second quarter after an injury to So. QB Pat Smith (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg), and on his first full drive tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to So. WR Pat Brewer (Coatesville/Coatesville) with less than :30 left before halftime.

Box has appeared in two games this year, going 8-16 for 156 yards, two TDs and three INTs.

TUCK EVERLASTING
Jr. RB Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) is 1st in the PSAC and 9th in Division II this season with 127.8 yards per game on the ground in four contests, carrying the ball 111 times for a 4.6 average. Dating back to last season, Tuck has hit the 100-yard mark in rushing nine of the last 11 games, including each of the past seven. Over that seven-game streak he's averaged 135.4 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
During last week's win over Edinboro, Tuck entered IUP's top 10 in career rushing yards, leaping three spots to 9th all-time with 2,185 in his two-plus seasons. He's now 51 yards shy of 8th place and 70 yards away from 7th. Michael Mann (1990-93) is IUP's 1st overall with 4,805 career yards.

BRING THE “D”
The Crimson Hawks are 2nd in the PSAC and 15th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 83.8 yards per game on the ground, including 76 yards to Bloomsburg, one of the top rushing teams in the nation. Overall, IUP is 4th in the PSAC in total defense and 3rd in scoring defense, allowing just 13.2 points per game.

PSAC WEST DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sr. SS Andre Henderson (Erie/Strong Vincent) was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on Monday after leading IUP's charge against Edinboro on Saturday. Henderson totaled 8 tackles and had a hand in 2 turnovers, a fumble recovery and a second quarter interception that led to the game's first touchdown.

MAKING HIS MARK
Sr. LB Mark Jackson (Canton, OH/McKinley), who moved from safety in spring ball, has been the top linebacker for IUP this season, totaling 22 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception. Becoming more comfortable in his new position, Jackson has increased his production in each game, getting 5 tackles with a forced fumble and recovery against Edinboro.

RUN STUFFERS
Two players that have led the charge on defense have been Jr. DL Carl Thornton (Beaver Falls/Beaver Falls) and So. LB Alex Berdahl. They're the top two tacklers on the team, with Berdahl posting 27 and Thornton adding 24. Berdahl has at least 5 tackles in every game, including 9 against Slippery Rock, and has added an interception. Thornton posted a career-high 11 tackles against The Rock, and has 3.5 TFLs and a fumble recovery.

THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
IUP defensive backs are three of the top five leading tacklers for the team so far in 2011, with Sr. FS Johnny Franco (Altoona/Tyrone) tied for 2nd on the team with 24 stops and Sr. SS Andre Henderson (Erie/Strong Vincent) and So. CB Jerrell McFadden adding 23 apiece. They've also each picked off a pass and have combined to break up 7 more.

HOLDING THE LINE
The IUP offensive line has helped lead the Crimson Hawks to the 3rd best rushing offense in the PSAC, averaging 185.0 yards per game so far this year. The Crimson Hawks have twice rushed for more than 200 yards, including 253 on 51 carries in the season-opening win over ESU.

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 4th in the nation and 1st in the PSAC in net punt yardage, going for 43.6 yards per kick. He's had 6 punts of 50+ yards on the year, including a long of 55.