Box Score

INDIANA, PA – The Crimson Hawks racked up 658 total yards in IUP's dominating 55-20 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) victory over Gannon on Senior Day at Frank Cignetti Field.

IUP finished with 378 yards through the air and another 280 on the ground, averaging 9.5 yards per play with 27 first downs and 32:12 time of possession.

The 378 passing yards all came from the right arm of quarterback Mike Box (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill), who finished 21-of-25 with four touchdowns and one interception. The yardage total was the most by an IUP quarterback since Brian Eyerman threw for 407 against Saginaw Valley State back in 2001.

It was also the first 300-yard passing day for an IUP quarterback since Andrew Krewatch finished with 313 against Gannon back in 2008. That was also the last time an IUP quarterback threw for four touchdowns in a single game.

The completions, yardage and touchdown marks were all career-highs for Box.

Box's favorite target was Terrill Barnes (Gettysburg/Gettysburg), who finished with eight receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. He entered IUP's single season top 10 in both categories during the game with 57 catches for 928 yards, needing the exact totals to break in.

The rushing game was also strong, with Erik Finklea (Cincinnati, OH/Woodward) posting his first career 100-yard rushing day with 174 on just 12 carries, including an 81-yard touchdown. His career day could have been even better, but a 79-yard touchdown run was called back in the first half on a holding penalty. He also caught three passes for 50 yards.

De'Antwan Williams (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge) rushed for three touchdowns, extending his season output to 15. He also ran for 73 yards on 19 carries and caught three passes for another 40 yards.  

The passing game led off the scoring as Box connected with Pat Brewer (Coatesville/Coatesville) for a 37-yard touchdown just 2:25 into the game. It was Brewer's only catch of the game, while he also had a 47-yard kickoff return.

After Gannon answered with a score, Williams gave IUP the lead for good with a one-yard touchdown run with less than five minutes to go in the opening quarter.

IUP scored twice more in the second, including a 16-yard pass from Box to Barnes and a 23-yard run by Williams. The Golden Knights added another score as the Crimson Hawks led 28-14 at halftime. The Barnes score came on a 14-play, 93-yard drive that started after Eric Williams (Yardley/Pennsbury) picked off his sixth pass of the season.

The Crimson Hawks scored three times in the third, including Finklea's 81-yard jaunt. Box also found a wide open Edwards for a 31-yard score earlier in the quarter while Williams followed that with another one-yard touchdown run.

Gannon added their final score in the fourth, only to have the extra point blocked by Akeem Smith (Philadelphia/Frankford). IUP bookended the scoring with another Box-to-Edwards connection as the Crimson Hawks put the finishing touches on their offensive explosion.

IUP improves to 8-2 overall with the win, 5-2 in the PSAC West. Gannon falls to 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the division. Prior to the game, IUP honored 19 seniors as they played in their final home regular season game for the Crimson Hawks. 

Drew Carswell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Sto-Rox) caught four passes for 58 yards while Edwards finished with two receptions, both for scores, and 42 yards.

Williams had a team-high 11 tackles, including six solo, and his interception. Carl Fleming (Reisterstown, MD/Franklin) also picked off a pass that led to a score and had seven tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage. Jerell McFadden (Manassas, Va./Osbourn), Jeff Palmer (Cranberry Twp., Pa. /Seneca Valley) and Shane Meisner (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield ) all had six tackles.

Gannon finished with 336 total yards, including 196 through the air. Quarterback Liam Nadler finished 21-of-37 with a touchdown and those two interceptions, adding 60 yards and a score on the ground. Jansen Jones ran for 75 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

The Crimson Hawks will wrap up their regular season next Saturday when they travel to Shippensburg to take on the Red Raiders. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.