GameDay Central
IUP Crimson Hawks (5-2, 2-2 PSAC West)
at Mercyhurst Lakes (4-3, 2-2 PSAC West)
Saturday, October 26, 2013 | 12:00 p.m.
Tullio Field | Erie, Pa.

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Watch: IUP-TV (CATV Ch. 20) | NMTVSports.com
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | U92radio.com
Live Stats: HurstAthletics.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats

PSAC Coverage
PSAC Week 8 Preview | PSAC Statistics

Other Links
2013 IUP Schedule | Ticket Information | Tailgating Information

THE GAME: Looking to bounce back from their first two-game losing streak since 2011, the Crimson Hawks travel to Erie to play Mercyhurst on Saturday. IUP lost a wild 36-30 game at home to Edinboro last weekend, its first loss to the Fighting Scots since 2009, and enter with a 5-2 record, 2-2 in the PSAC West. The Lakers are on a three-game winning streak, including a 51-21 upset victory over Gannon on Thursday. They enter the week with a 4-3 record, 2-2 in divisional play.

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 11:30 a.m. You can also listen to the action on the internet at u92radio.com. IUP-TV will have the live broadcast on local Comcast and webstreaming at NMTVSports.com.

HEAD COACH CURT CIGNETTI: IUP head coach Curt Cignetti (West Virginia, '82) enters his third season at the helm after leading the Crimson Hawks to a PSAC championship, a 12-2 record and a berth in the NCAA playoffs in 2012. Through his two-plus seasons, Cignetti has a record of 24-7, going 13-5 in PSAC West play and 2-1 in the NCAA playoffs. He has a record of 13-3 at home and 11-4 on the road. This is Cignetti's 31st 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).

THE SERIES: In a series that began in 2008 when the Lakers joined the PSAC, IUP holds a 3-2 advantage over Mercyhurst. The Crimson Hawks have wins in each of the last two meetings, including a 35-28 overtime victory in Erie in 2011.

NEXT GAME: The Crimson Hawks are back on the road next weekend when they travel to Clarion to face the Golden Eagles. This is IUP's oldest rivalry, with 83 meetings dating back to 1927. IUP holds a 57-23-3 overall lead in the series, including wins in each of the last two years: 45-0 in 2012 and 38-7 in 2011.

HAWK TALK

IN THE POLLS... For the first time since the 2012 preseason, the Crimson Hawks are not ranked in either national top 25 poll. IUP is still receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday.

REBOUNDING... Under Cignetti, the Crimson Hawks are 3-2 following losses, not including last year's season-ending defeat in the NCAA playoffs. In 2011, IUP
defeated Edinboro 19-0 the week after losing at SRU.

STILL SCORING... The IUP offense has scored 233 points, an average of 33.3 points per game which is 8th in the high-scoring PSAC. Through seven games a year ago, the Crimson Hawks had scored 255 points, an average of 36.4 points per game.

PASSING FANCY... Sr. WR Terrill Barnes (Gettysburg/Gettysburg) is on pace for one of the top receiving seasons in IUP history with 41 catches for 674 yards and 5 TDs. At his current rate, through an 11-game season, Barnes would finish with 64 catches (4th all-time) for 1,059 yards (5th) and 8 TDs.

PASSING FANCY TOO... At the pace he's on, Barnes would also finish in the top 10 in several IUP career
records. He currently has 103 receptions (7 away from top 10) for 1,764 yars (88 away) and 15 TDs (1 away).

HOMETOWN PRIDE... R-Fr. QB Logan Weaver (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana), who played his high school ball at local Indiana High, made his collegiate debut against Edinboro. Seeing time in two series, he finished 1-4 for 17 yards and an interception.

RETURN OF THE ROCKET... R-Sr. RB De'Antwan Williams (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge) ran for 129 yards against Edinboro, his first 100-yard game since Sept. 28 against Cal. It was just the third time he's hit the century mark this year after tallying six and rushing for 1325 yards a season ago.

EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT, AGAIN... The Crimson Hawks have given up 78 points and 1,086 total yards in the last two games, but still rank among the top defensive teams in the PSAC. IUP is ranked in the top five in the four major defensive categories, including: points/game (15.4 - 1st), total yards/game (309.7 - 3rd), passing yards/game (189.1 - 3rd) and rushing yards (120.6 - 4th).

TACKLE MASTER... R-Sr. LB Carl Fleming (Reisterstown, MD/Franklin) leads the Crimson Hawks in tackles with 65, despite playing in 6 of IUP's 7 games this year. He's registered double-digits in tackles four times, including 13 against Slippery Rock and 12 against Edinboro.

COVERING THE KICK... IUP leads the PSAC in kickoff coverage, averaging a net of 52.6 yards per kick. With the help of Jr. K Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall), IUP leads the conference with 19 touchbacks.

JUST FOR KICKS... Ullman is tied for fourth in the PSAC with 6 FGs in 7 attempts. He has the second longest kick in the conference this year, a 48-yarder in the season-opening win at Southern Connecticut. He's also 5-6 from beyond 40 yards this season.

COUNTDOWN TO 800... The game against Mercyhurst will be the 798th game in IUP history, with the 800th game coming at home against Gannon Nov. 9. In IUP's nearly 800 games, they hold a 518-256-23 record. The team sits at 16th in all-time victories in Division II, four games behinid Northwest Missouri State.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON...With three divisional games left in the year, 6 teams are still involved in the race for the PSAC West title. Slippery Rock, California and Gannon each have 3-1 marks while IUP is joined by Edinboro and Mercyhurst with 2-2 marks. Slippery Rock lost to Gannon and has yet to play Cal. After its game against Mercyhurst, IUP has Clarion and Gannon left on the schedule.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS

OFFENSE... The Lakers offense is fueled by its running game, the 2nd best in the PSAC with 240.4 yards/game. RBs Brandon Brown-Dukes and Allen Jones III lead the way, averaging 118.7 (4th in PSAC) and 87.0 yards (7th in PSAC), combining for 7.3 yards per carry and 13 TDs. R-Sr. QB Anthony Vendemia is one of the conference leaders in passing efficiency, throwing 10 TDs with a 58.4 completion pct. WR Jaquan Williams is his top target with 22 catches and 3 TDs

DEFENSE... In a high-scoring league, Mercyhurst boasts the 5th-best scoring defense, allowing 22.3 points per game. The Lakers have a playmaker in Jr. FS Colin Kimball, who has 4 interceptions for 144 yards and 2 TDs. He's added 37 tackles and 3.0 TFLs. So. LB Joe Dever has 4 of the Lakers 5 fumble recoveries and 2 of the team's near-league-low 13 sacks. Mercyhurst allows 137.0 rushing yards (7th in the PSAC) and 231.4 passing yards (10th in the PSAC) per game.

SPECIAL TEAMS... Sr. Steven Wakefield is one of the top kickers in the PSAC, converting 7-8 FGs and 33-34 PATs. Fr. Jordan Spangler handles the punting chores, averaging 38.8 yards per kick with 6 of his 25 downed inside the 20. Jr. Marcus Snipes is a dangerous returner, averaging 30.7 yards on 6 kickoff returns and 31.0 yards on his 2 punt returns.