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THE GAME: IUP returns home for the first time in three weeks to host PSAC West rival Slippery Rock on Saturday at George P. Miller Stadium on Homecoming. The Crimson Hawks rebounded with a 41-7 win over Millersville last weekend while The Rock has suffered a pair of tough defeats the last two weeks to Mercyhurst and Kutztown.

ON THE AIR: The game will air live on WQMU-FM 92.5 with Jack Benedict serving as the play-by-play announcer and John Flickinger at his side as the color analyst. The two will be joined by sideline reporter Greg Drahuschak. The pregame show begins at 1:30 p.m. IUP-TV will again be back to webstream the game live on NMTVSports.com. WIUP-FM 90.1 will also have the call with Kyle Pillar on the play-by-play along with Vincent Paparella and Tim Quigley adding the color.

HEAD COACH CURT CIGNETTI: Curt Cignetti (West Virginia, '82) begins his second season at the helm after leading the Crimson Hawks to a 7-3 overall record (5-2 PSAC West) in 2011. This is Cignetti's 30th year of coaching, with previous stops at Alabama (07-10), NC State (00-06), Pittsburgh (83-84, 93-99) Temple (89-92), Rice (86-88) and Davidson (85). Two of his most notable pupils have been WR Julio Jones at Alabama and QB Philip Rivers at NC State.

THE SERIES: IUP owns the all-time series lead with Slippery Rock 44-34-2, but are coming off of a 20-6 road loss in 2011. It's been fairly even in recent years, with each squad winning 3 of the last 6 matchups, while IUP has averaged 16.7 points and Slippery Rock 15.8 points.

IN THE TOP 25: IUP has bounced around the AFCA top 25 coaches poll since entering at No. 23 in Week 2. The Crimson Hawks have reached as high as 14 and are currently No. 22 for the second straight week. They're also ranked No. 23 in the D2Football.com media poll.

NEXT GAME: The Crimson Hawks are back on the road next week as they head up I-79 to face Edinboro. IUP has won 4 of the last 6 meetings, shutting out the Fighting Scots in each of the last two years (18-0 in 2010, 19-0 in 2011). IUP also owns the all-time series 54-21-4. 

HAWK TALK

GROUND AND POUND... The IUP running game is one of the best in Division II, averaging 293.2 yards per game, 8th in the nation. Led by Sr. RB Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary), the Crimson Hawks have gone over 300 yards in a game 3 times, average 5.7 yards per carry and have scored 18 TDs on the ground.

TUCK'S TRUCKIN'... Tuck continues to prove he's one of the best runners in Division II, ranking 4th in the nation with a 152.4 yards per game average. He had his best game of the year against No. 6 California, running 43 times for 256 yards, both career-highs, adding 2 TDs. He's gone for 200 yards twice this season and debuted with a 185-yard effort in the season-opener.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS... Tuck continues to chip away at the IUP career rushing charts as he now has 3,443 yards, 4th all-time. He's currently 180 yards behind Aamir Dew (1999-2001) for 3rd place.

SOMETHING SPECIAL IS BREWING... Jr. WR Pat Brewer (Coatesville/Coatesville) is IUP's big play threat on offense, averaging 17.2 yards on a team-leading 16 catches with 3 TDs. He's also been a bolt of lightning on special teams, averaging 48.6 yards on 5 kickoff returns with 2 more scores. In all, Brewer is averaging 24.7 yards on his 21 touches, scoring a TD every 4.2 times he touches the ball.

OUT OF THE BOX... After seeing limited action in the first 4 games, Jr. QB Mike Box (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) made his first start against Millersville, going 15-24 for 278 yards and TD. He earned the promotion after his performance in the 4th quarter against California, entering the game and finishing 5-7 for 90 yards and a TD.

CONTROLLING THE CLOCK... The IUP offensive line has proteced its QBs extremely well, allowing just 4 sacks in the first 5 games. That ratio is tied with 6 other teams for 19th in the country, as Box and Pat Smith (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) have been sacked once for every 25.5 drop backs.

BEST DEFENSE IN THE NATION?... IUP boasts arguably the top defense in the nation so far this year, ranking near the top of Division II in several categories including scoring defense (1st - 7.80 ppg); rushing defense (2nd - 37.75 ypg); and total defense (3rd - 211.60 ypg).

IUP is also 1st in the nation in first downs allowed (10.60/game), 6th in third down efficiency (17/65; 26.15%), and 24th in tackles for loss (8.60/game).

SUFFOCATING... That IUP run defense has been practically suffocating this season, allowing an average of 37.75 rushing yards per game. Opponents have run for over 50 yards in a game just once, and are averaging just 1.4 per carry.

LET ME CLEAR MY THROAT... Jr. LB Carl Fleming (Reisterstown, MD/Franklin) has announced his presence as one of the dominant forces on superb IUP defense, leading the team with 27 total tackles, including 13 solo stops on the year. He's added 4.5 TFL and has broken up a pass.

THE MEISNER BROS... Sr. DE Greg Meisner (Greensburg/Hempfield ) (Kentucky) and his brother So. DE Shane Meisner (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield ) (Rutgers) both transfered to IUP this year and have helped the Crimson Hawks wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Each of them have 19 total tackles and have combined for 13.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 2 batted balls, 3 FF's and a FR.

WINNING THE BATTLE... One reason for IUP's success is winning the turnover battle, as the Crimson Hawks are tied for 10th in the nation with a turnover margin of +7. The defense has forced 14 in 5 games, recovering 10 fumbles, while the offense has given it iup just 7 times.

THE RETURN POLICY... Although not your most viewed stat, IUP ranked 1st in the nation in punt return defense, allowing -17 yards (-2.43/game). Out of the Crimson Hawks 17 punts, 7 have been returned while 4 have been kicked out of bounds, 3 fair caught, and 3 others went for touchbacks.

THE 500 WIN CLUB... IUP became just the 17th school in NCAA Division II history with 500 all-time wins when it defeated Lock Haven 56-6 on Nov. 5 last year. The Crimson Hawks have a record of 505-253-23 (.661) in 83-plus seasons.

SCOUTING THE ROCK

OFFENSE... The Slippery Rock offense has been consistently high-scoring through five games this year, averaging 39.0 points per game thus far. The Rock boasts a balanced spread look that puts up nearly 400 yards (198 rush, 196 pass) per game. The production runs though the QB position, which has had some big games from both Jared Buck (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) and Nigel Barksdale. Together they've combined to complete 59 pct. of their passes for 916 yards and 10 TDs, running for 351 yards and 7 scores. Buck did not play last week due to injury while Barksdale's status for this week is uncertain. RB Akeem Satterfield averages 92 yards on the ground while LaQuinn Stephens-Howling leads the team with 20 receptions.

DEFENSE... The offense has scored a ton of points but the Slippery Rock defense has also given up quite a few at nearly 400 yards and 35 points per game. Most of that damage was done during the Week 2 55-35 loss to Shippensburg. Even though they're giving up 287 yards through the air, The Rock defense has a few ballhawks with Isaiah Colmen and Anthony Saunders combing for 5 of the team's 9 interceptions this year. DE Jeff Thompson and LB Quindell Dean can make plays in the backfield with 3.5 and 3.0 sacks, respectively.

SPECIAL TEAMS... Jaimire Dutrieulle averages 31.1 yards on 17 kickoff returns, including a 92-yard TD. Kurt Brackman handles the kicking chores, connecting on 2-3 FGs and 25-26 XPs this year while James McCombie has a 42.8 average on 25 punts.