Box Score

MILLERSVILLE, PA - In his first start of the year, Mike Box (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) threw for 278 yards while Pat Brewer (Coatesville/Coatesville) scored on a reception and kickoff return as 22nd-ranked IUP had an easy time on Saturday with a 41-7 victory over Millersville at Biemesderfer Stadium. 

The win for the Crimson Hawks gives them a 4-1 record on the season as they rebound from their loss at sixth-ranked California last Saturday.

IUP outgained the Marauders 552-142 on the day, racking up 346 yards through the air and 206 yards on the ground. One of the top defenses in all of Division II, the Crimson Hawks gave up 55 passing yards and 87 rushing yards to the Marauders, who had 11 first downs all day, including five by penalty.

The Crimson Hawks scored on each of their first two drives, with Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) banging in touchdown runs from one-yard out each time to help give IUP a 14-0 lead 10 minutes into the game.

In the meantime, the defense gave up 14 yards on 12 plays to Millersville, forcing a pair of punts. 

Both scoring drives featured a good mix of the run and the pass, with De'Antwan Williams (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge) running four times for 41 yards and Box completing a 35-yard pass to tight end Jon Sharp (Pittsburgh/Plum) to help set up the second score.

After a couple of stalled drives for both teams, Millersville quarterback Sean Quarterman tried to get something going when he bolted 52 yards all the way down to the IUP 26-yard line to set up a great scoring opportunity for the Marauders. 

They would go backwards, however, as a personal foul penalty and a tackle in the backfield by Shane Meiser helped push Millersville out of field goal range and forced a punt.

Taking over at their own 11-yard line, the Crimson Hawks would not suffer a similar fate, as Box hooked up with receiver Terrill Barnes (Gettysburg/Gettysburg) on the sixth play of the drive for a 67-yard touchdown pass, making it a 21-0 game at the 5:22 mark in the second quarter.

Later in the half, a fumble by Tuck gave Millersville the ball at the IUP 22-yard line, an opportunity the Marauders would not squander. A 20-yard pass from Quarterman to Mike Jones put the ball at the one-yard line, where Quarterman would sneak it in the following play to make it a 21-7 game heading into the half. 

It didn't take many game minutes for IUP to get back to a three-touchdown lead, as Brewer took the opening kickoff of the third quarter 92 yards to paydirt. The return is Brewer's second touchdown on a kickoff of the season, also scoring on the opening kick of the third quarter against Lock Haven.

A Marvase Byrd (McKeesport/McKeesport) interception later in the quarter gave IUP the ball with great field position and after a pair of 24-yard passes by Box - first to Salath Williams (Harrisburg, Pa. /Bishop McDevitt) and then to Anthony Meriwether (Brook Park, OH/Midpark) - Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) connected on a 23-yard field goal to give IUP a 31-7 lead.

Later in the third, Ullman connected on a 22-yarder to make it 34-7 and in the fourth quarter, backup Pat Smith (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) threw a 41-yard touchdown to Brewer, the final score of the game.

For Millersville (1-4), Quarterman finished 5-of-18 for 55 yards, throwing two interceptions and getting sacked five times by the IUP defense. He was also the leading rusher for the Marauders, netting 35 yards on 16 carries.

The negative for IUP came on penalties, committing 14 totaling 152 yards on the day. Those penalty yards by the Crimson Hawks were 10 more than the total offense number for Millersville.

Box finished 15-of-24 for 278 yards and a score while Smith went 3-of-4 for 68 yards and a touchdown in relief. Brewer and Barnes both went over 100 yards receiving, with Brewer catching seven passes for 117 and Barnes adding four catches for 104 yards. 

Montay Green (Pittsburgh/Fox Chapel) led the Crimson Hawks on the ground with 91 yards on 12 carries while Williams had 13 carries for 85 yards. Tuck finished with 41 yards and those two touchdowns on 12 carries.

Defensively, Meisner had six total tackes, including three behind the line and a pair of sacks. Alexander Berdahl (Ashburn, Va./Bishop O'Connell) and Jordan Batts (Homestead, Pa. /Jeannette) also tallied a sack while Carl Fleming (Reisterstown, MD/Franklin) led the team with nine tackles. Marvens Toussaint (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Port Charlotte) had the other Crimson Hawks interception, racing 54 yards to help set up Ullman's second field goal of the third quarter.

The Crimson Hawks are back at home next weekend as they host rival Slippery Rock on Homecoming. Kickoff is 2:00 p.m. on Saturday from George P. Miller Stadium.