Box Score

GREENSBURG, PA – Despite five turnovers and just 286 total yards, eighth-ranked IUP posted a 26-0 win over Seton Hill in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West opener on Saturday night at Offutt Field.

The Crimson Hawks went into the half with a slim 2-0 lead, gaining their only points when a blocked punt by Terrell Holloway (Penn Hills/Penn Hills) early in the second quarter bounced out of the end zone.

Three of IUP's turnovers came in the first half as the Seton Hill defense picked off quarterback Mike Box (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) on three occasions. The first came midway through the opening quarter when Box was rolling to his right and was picked off by Chase Parker on IUP's 37-yard line. The Crimson Hawks' defense responded as Shane Meisner (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield ) sacked quarterback Nick Halfhill on fourth down to retain possession.

A 22-yard pass from Box to tight end Tyler Dummermuth (New Philadelphia, OH/New Philadelphia) on the next drive gave IUP a first-and-goal at the Griffins' six-yard line. However, Box was intercepted on the very next play as his pass at the goal line was batted around and eventually fell into the arms of Ricardo Housen.

Holloway's block came after the Griffins' ensuing drive as Seton Hill punted out of its own end zone.

The Crimson Hawks would not get past their own 37-yard line the rest of the quarter to head into the break with only two points.

Seton Hill advanced its opening drive of the third quarter into IUP territory, but a tackle by Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) on a third-and-one play forced the Griffins to punt the ball away. They would get it back, however, when a fumble by De'Antwan Williams (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge) at IUP's 31-yard line gave Seton Hill good field position.

Backed against a wall, the IUP defense again came up with a big stop, forcing a 42-yard field goal that sailed wide right.

Running back Erik Finklea (Cincinnati, OH/Woodward) gave IUP its first touchdown of the game as he ran in from nine yards out with 4:39 to go in the third. The scoring run followed a 27-yard hookup from Box to receiver Drew Carswell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Sto-Rox). The extra point by Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) made the score 9-0.

It didn't take long for the Crimson Hawks to extend their lead as linebacker Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills) picked off a Halfhill pass on the first play of Seton Hill's next possession and raced 39 yards for a touchdown.

After another Seton Hill three-and-out, Finklea added a second score, this one a 21-yard run as IUP took a 23-0 lead. Ullman added a 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.

The IUP defense allowed just 115 total yards to the Griffins, tallying six sacks and 12 tackles-for-loss. Leading the way was Shane Meisner (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield ), who had eight tackles and two sacks. Ali Muhammad (Kingston, Pa. /Wyoming Valley West) also registered two sacks while Marco Pecora (Johnstown/Richland) added another. Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) had a team-high 13 tackles and Eric Williams (Yardley/Pennsbury) added eight and snagged an interception.

Halfhill finished 14-of-25 for just 86 yards through the air and the Griffins rushed for just 29 yards.

Finklea finished with 76 yards on 13 carries while Williams had 50 yards on 16 rushes. Box finished 11-of-22 through the air with 146 yards. Terrill Barnes (Gettysburg/Gettysburg) had three of those catches while Carswell, Sean McVay (Miami, Fla./Miramar) and Pat Brewer (Coatesville/Coatesville) each had two.

The win improves the Crimson Hawks to 3-0 on the year as Seton Hill drops to 0-3. It was the Griffins first ever PSAC West contest after moving to the conference this past summer.

IUP returns home next week to host rival California (3-0, 1-0) in the fifth annual Coal Bowl. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from George P. Miller Stadium.