Football | 9/10/2014 2:00:00 PM

Game Day Central
No. 20/22 IUP Crimson Hawks (1-0, 0-0 PSAC) 
at Kutztown (0-1, 0-0 PSAC)
Saturday, September 13, 2014 | 1:05 p.m.
University Field | Kutztown, Pa.

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Watch: KU Live! | ustream.tv
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Live Stats: KUBears.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats

PSAC Coverage
Week 2 Preview | Statistics | Week 1 Players of the Week 

Other Links
2014 IUP Schedule | Kutztown Directions and Visitor's Information

THE GAME
The Crimson Hawks hit the road for the first time in 2014 when they head East to face Kutztown at University Field on Saturday at 1:05 PM. IUP is coming off of a successful opening weekend, defeating visiting Saint Augustine's of the CIAA 41-19. The Golden Bears look to rebound after a loss on Saturday, losing a lead to fall 37-26 at Slippery Rock. 

The game will be broadcast on WQMU 92.5 FM with the voice of IUP Athletics, Jack Benedict, calling the action. 

RANKINGS
IUP enters the week ranked No. 20 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, the same ranking it held entering the season. The Crimson Hawks moved up one spot to No. 22 in the D2Football.com Media Poll. Kutztown is not ranked.

THE SERIES
This will be the 11th meeting between the two schools, with IUP having never lost, boasting a 9-0-1 record. The last meeting came on Nov. 7, 2009, with IUP winning 34-32 on a late field goal by Craig Burgess.
  
SAINT AUGUSTINE'S LEFTOVERS
• The 379 yards given up by the IUP defense in the opener was one more than Southern Connecticut's total of 378 a season ago. In the last 12 seasons (since 2003), IUP has given up 300 or more yards in its season opening game seven times.
• Sr. K Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) moved up to No. 3 on the school's all-time scoring chart with 251 points, passing RB Michael Mann. He's also now tied for 2nd with K John Sandstrom with 140 career extra points. 
• The 111 rushing yards by Fr. RB Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic) are believed to be the most by a true freshman RB at IUP in his 1st career game. 

IUP AGAINST THE PSAC EAST
Since 2006, IUP has an incredible 23-4 (.852) record against teams from the PSAC East. This includes a seven-game winning streak that dates back to the 34-7 win over West Chester to close out the 2011 season. IUP is 5-1 vs. Millersville, 4-0 vs. East Stroudsburg and Cheyney, and 3-0 vs. West Chester. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The Crimson Hawks are on the road again next week when they head out to Lock Haven to face the Bald Eagles. Kickoff is set for 12 PM. IUP returns home on Sept. 27, hosting Mercyhurst in its PSAC West opener.

FRESH MEAT
The Crimson Hawks debuted last week with 19 redshirt or true freshmen on their two-deep, including nine on the offensive side and eight on defense. A pair of true freshmen made their first career starts on Saturday, including RB Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic) on offense and FS Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) on defense. Both played big parts in IUP's win, with Lista-Brinza running for 111 yards and 2 TDs while Turner made 8 tackles and returned an interception 30 yards in the 4th quarter. 

Other first year players who made impacts were Fr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) (3 catches), Fr. DL Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) (5 tackles, 1.5 TFLs), R-Fr. DL Matthew Mowad (Easton, Pa. /Easton) (6 tackles), and Fr. WR Tristan Davis (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) (18.0 PR avg, & 47.0 KOR avg).

ABOUT KUTZTOWN
The Golden Bears came out strong in the opening 16:22 at Slippery Rock, taking a 20-0 lead over the defending PSAC West winners. SRU then responded with a 37-0 run over the final three quarters, putting up 493 yards of total offense for the comeback.

Kuztown looks to pass early and often, as QB Chad Barton finished 33-64 for 358 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. His favorite target was WR Nathan Hollander, who finished with 10 catches, but for just 48 yards. Fellow WRs Anthony Kelly and Kodi Reed were the deep threats, combining for 164 yards and 3 TDs. RB Darrell Scott got the most done on the ground, rushing for 31 yards on 8 carries. 

The defense allowed 297 passing yards and another 196 on the ground, including 5.9 yards per rush. But they also forced two fumbles, picked off a pass, and allowed SRU to convert just 3-18 3rd downs. LB Sam Dougan had 8 tackles, 2 TFLs and a forced fumble and LB Adam Goeringer produced a sack and the other forced fumble. 

K/P Andrew Deutsch finished 2-3 on extra points but missed both of his field goal tries from 25 and 28 yards. He also handled the punting chores, averaging 38.5 yards on 11 tries. Hollander and RB James Wah, Jr. returned kicks, averaging 24.3 and 27.0 yards, respectively, while each producing a long of over 30 yards. 

HASLETT UNDER CENTER
The Crimson Hawks entered fall camp with a three-way quarterback battle between Gr. Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton), R-Fr. Eddie Stockett (Dravosburg, Pa. /McKeesport) and R-So. Logan Weaver (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana). Haslett came out on top and was named the opening game 
starter prior to last weekend's game, despite not practicing with the team until fall camp. 

Haslett - the son of former IUP standout and current Washington Redskins defensive coordinator, Jim - transferred to IUP from Illinois this past summer. He had a successful opening game, going 14-20 for 176 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT, and finished the week with the 2nd highest passing efficiency in the PSAC at 183.4.  

Weaver will back up Haslett while Stockett is listed as the third string QB. 

DEEP STABLE OF BACKS
IUP totaled 181 yards on 38 total carries on Saturday, led by Lista-Brinza's 111 on 21 rushes; a performance thought to be one of the best ever by a true freshman running back in their first game at IUP. Two other backs saw action as well, with So. RB Izzy Green (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) carrying 7 times for 40 yards and a TD while So. RB Darian Bradley (Midland, Pa./Beaver) had 32 yards on 7 carries.  

The competition for carries throughout the fall will continue, with a host of other backs looking to get touches, including Jr. Jared Desensi (Beaver Falls, Pa./Riverside), R-Fr. Donte Harrell (Downingtown, Pa. /Francis Howell (MO)), Fr. Shannon Jackson (Fairview, Pa. /Fairview) and Fr. Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley).

RUNNING WITH THE HAWKS
The Crimson Hawks rely on their strong running game on offense, a category that they are strong year in and year out. See the game notes (PDF) link above for more.

HOLDING THAT LINE
IUP featured two returning starters on the offensive line in the opener, including Sr. Matt Sasson at center and R-Sr. Jorge Vicioso at right tackle. The two have combined 30 starts in their IUP careers.

R-Sr. Bruce Atkins (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) at right tackle and So. Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) at left guard each earned their 4th career starts, while R-So. Tony Morgante (Mountain Top, Pa. /Crestwood) started in his 2nd career game. All told, IUP linemen have 40 career starts under their belts, led by Sasson's 19. Three true freshmen, a sophomore and a redshirt junior are listed as the primary backups at those five starting spots. 

SPREADING THE WORTH
Haslett's 14 completions on Saturday were spread around to six different players, including three WRs, two RBs and a TE.

The top targets were R-Sr. WR Drew Carswell and Fr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central), each with 3 catches. Carswell gained 37 yards, including a 7-yard TD, and Pegues was used in a variety of positions, catching balls out split out wide and out of the backfield for 25 yards. He also recovered a fumble in the endzone for his 1st career TD. See the game notes (PDF) link above for more.

OUTSIDE EXPERIENCE
Just like the offensive line, IUP's group of wide receivers brings experience to the starting lineup. In addition to starters Carswell and R-Sr. WR Salath Williams (Harrisburg, Pa. /Bishop McDevitt), the Crimson Hawks also return R-Jr. Sean McVay and Gr. Trey Campman (Clearfield, Pa. /Clearfield). Together they have played in a combined 49 games with the Crimson Hawks with 63 receptions. 

Last year, Carswell was 2nd on the team with 24 catches for 394 yards and 2 TDs while McVay finished with 18 catches for 191 yards and 3 scores. Williams had 14 catches for 252 yards in 2012. 

HE'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL
He only caught 2 passes against Saint Augustine's, but R-Sr. TE Brock DeCicco (Jefferson Hills, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) has garnered a lot of attention and should be a big part of the offense moving forward. Here's some praise: Haslett has compared his starting TE to Rob Gronkowski of the NFL's New England Patriots. 

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
IUP boats a perennially stout defense under DC Paul Tortorella, as the Crimson Hawks have finished in the top 30 in Division II in total yards each of the past six years. See the game notes (PDF) link above for more.

PSAC ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
R-So. LB Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) had a career-high 13 total tackles while forcing 2 fumbles to earn PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week honors. It was Clarke's 2nd career start, stepping in for injured Sr. LB Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills). 

With Lane still shelved this week, Clarke will look to start his 3rd career game. 

TOP 'BACKERS
Looking to start the year were arguably the top linebacking duo in the PSAC in R-Sr. LB Alexander Berdahl (Ashburn, Va./Bishop O'Connell) and Lane, both former All-PSAC selections. The loss of Lane did little to hurt the reputation of the IUP linebacking unit, as Clarke stepped up with a big game against Saint Augustine's. 

Returning after playing in just 1 game due to injury in 2013, Berdahl made 8 tackles on the opener. Lane stepped in for Berdahl last season and finished 2nd on the team in tackles en route to being named 2nd team All-PSAC West. Clarke had 19 tackles last year playing primarily on special teams and as a backup to Lane. See the game notes (PDF) link above for more.

UPFRONT POTENTIAL
Led by several new faces, IUP's defensive line played strong last weekend, combining for 36 total tackles, 6 TFLs and 3 sacks. Jr. NG Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury) led the way with 7 tackles, 1.5 TFL and a sack, while R-Sr. DT Bryce Gilbert (Brookfield, Wis./Central) and R-Fr. DE Matthew Mowad (Easton, Pa. /Easton) each had 6 tackles. 

Bookending the line are R-Sr. DE Shane Meisner (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield ) and R-Jr. DE Jordan Batts (Homestead, Pa. /Jeannette). Meisner has started 24 games at IUP in two-plus seasons and has recorded 27.5 TFLs and 13.5 sacks. Batts earned his 1st career start on Saturday and has 38 career tackles with 11.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. Also adding depth to the line is R-Jr. DL Jeff Palmer (Cranberry Twp., Pa. /Seneca Valley), who can play multiple positions and has 46 tackles in 20 career games at IUP. 

SAFETY NET
IUP's starting safeties put together solid games, as R-So. SS Steve Franco (Tyrone, Pa. /Tyrone ) and Fr. FS Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) combined for 13 tackles and 2 turnovers in their first career starts. Moving over from QB in the spring, Franco made 5 tackles, including 3 solo, and recovered a fumble. Turner, seeing his 1st collegiate action, had 8 tackles and ran back a 4th quarter interception 30 yards.   

LOCKDOWN CORNERS
IUP boats experience at both corner spots with R-Sr. Jerell McFadden (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) and So. Justin Watkins, as they've combined for 43 games and 38 starts. Watkins was forced to sit out the opener with an injury, so Fr. CB Chris David (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills) stepped in his place. 

McFadden finished Saturday with 6 tackles, including 5 solo, and now has 33 career starts during his three-plus years at IUP. David stepped in and had 4 solo stops in his 1st career start. 

MOVING UP THE RECORD BOOKS
Sr. K Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) entered this season on pace to break three career IUP scoring records, including points scored, field goals made, and extra points made. He'll need 62 points, 11 field goals, and 16 extra points for the rest of the 2014 season to break each respective record. See the game notes (PDF) link above for more.

ROSTER CHANGES
Fr. TE/LS Noah Bertram (Allentown, Pa. /Emmaus) will wear No. 87 at Kutztown instead of his usual No. 88. 

GOOD RETURNS
The Crimson Hawks got a boost in the return game this past weekend with Pegues and fellow Fr. WR Tristan Davis (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne). Pegues returned 2 kickoffs for a 22.0 yard average while Davis had a 47 yard kickoff return and an 18 yard punt return. In addition to his return duties, Davis is listed as the backup to Carswell at WR and saw playing time at that spot last weekend. 

ODDS AND ENDS

ALL ONE BIG CONFERENCE
In a scheduling change by the PSAC this year, this game will count in the conference standings. The two East-West crossover matchups at the beginning of the season for each team will count in determining the two divisional winners heading into week 11.  

PSAC PRESEASON POLLS
For the third straight year, IUP was picked to win the PSAC West by the league's coaches at the conference's media day. See the game notes (PDF) link above for more.

IUP IN OPENERS
With Saturday's win, IUP is now 15-2 in season openers since 1998, boasting 9 consecutive wins. Those wins have come over Cheyney (2006-07), C.W. Post (2008), Southern Connecticut State (2009-10, 2012-13), East Stroudsburg (2011) and Saint Augustine's (2014).  

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Sr. PK Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) received preseason All-American honors by both the Beyond Sports Network (BSN) and by the Collegiate Development Football League (CDFL). Sr. DE Shane Meisner (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield ) was also selected by the CDFL. 

FRED MITCHELL WATCH LIST
Ullman is one of 36 kickers from the FCS, Division II, III, the NAIA and the NJCAA to land on the Fred Mitchell Watch List. The award honors kickers at each of those levels who excel on the football field and in the community. Ullman is one of 12 kickers from Division II.

WHO'S COMING BACK
The Crimson Hawks return just 10 starters from last year's team, but another 21 players who earned starts or played significantly. See the game notes (PDF) link above for more.

THE TRANSFERS
Highlighted by Haslett, Curt Cignetti has brought in six Division I transfers to add to an already talented team. Among them are Gr. TE Brock DeCicco (Jefferson Hills, Pa. /Thomas Jefferson) & Gr. DL Bryce Gilbert (Brookfield, Wis./Central) from Wisconsin, R-Fr. RB Donte Harrell (Downingtown, Pa. /Francis Howell (MO)) from Tennessee-Martin, R-So. DE Waylon Fink (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Salem) from Buffalo, Jr. DL Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury) from Delaware, along with Haslett.  

SUCCESS IN THE PSAC
The Crimson Hawks are one of the most successful teams in the PSAC, and the winningest in the West since Curt Cignetti took over in 2011. IUP is second to only Bloomsburg with 28 wins (the Huskies have 29). Both schools have won the last two conference championships. See the game notes (PDF) link above for more.

COACHING CONTINUITY
The 10 total coaches on the staff this season have combined to coach 83 seasons at IUP, with four coaches boasting at least 12 years of experience at the school. ST coordinator/DEs coach Bernie McQuown will enter his 28th year on the sidelines with IUP, tops amongst the staff. DC Paul Tortorella has coached 20 years while LBs coach Jim Smith has put in 15 years and OL coach Mike Campolo has logged 12. 

Cignetti and WRs coach Rod Rutherford each have three years while RBs coach Jim Chapin has two, and OC Tyler Haines has one. CBs coach Johnny Franco and DTs coach Bryant Haines are in their first years on staff. 

A FAMILY AFFAIR
The 2014 Crimson Hawks feature two pairs of brothers in OC Tyler Haines & DT coach Bryant Haines and CB coach Johnny Franco and R-So. SS Steve Franco (Tyrone, Pa. /Tyrone ). 

The elder Haines took over as the offensive playcaller and QBs coach last year while his younger brother joined the coaching staff this year. Johnny was a three-year starter in the Crimson Hawks' defensive backfield before Steve transferred to IUP from Akron in 2013. He began as a QB before moving to the defensive side this spring and hopes to fill his older brother's shoes in 2014.