KUTZTOWN, PA – The 20th-ranked Crimson Hawks gave up five turnovers and committed 11 penalties as IUP fell to Kutztown 44-7 on Saturday afternoon at University Field.
 
It was the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener for both teams, as they even their season records at 1-1, with the Crimson Hawks falling to 0-1 in the conference for the first time since 2011, head coach Curt Cignetti's first season.
 
The 37-point differential is the worst in the Cignetti era and the eight worth in program history. The 44 points is also the most given up by IUP since 2010.
 
The Crimson Hawks had a chance to get on the board in the opening quarter, but an illegal motion penalty wiped out a 37-yard touchdown pass from Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton) to Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central). It was the second of four IUP penalties in the first quarter alone.
 
IUP did down a 7-6 lead early in the second, answering a Kutztown touchdown with a 10-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a one yard scoring plunge by Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic). The touchdown was his third on the season.
 
However, the Golden Bears scored twice more, both touchdown passes from Chad Barton to Anthony Kelly, to take a 20-7 lead into halftime. Barton finished 27-for-42 for 316 yards and five touchdowns while Kelly caught six for 152 and four scores.
 
The Crimson Hawks ran 14 combined plays on three drives before Barton and Kelly hooked up for another touchdown with 4:10 left in the third quarter. The touchdown came after a missed fourth-and-one attempt by IUP at the Golden Bears 46 yard line.
 
IUP ran just 13 more plays the rest of the game while Kutztown piled on 17 more points to close out the victory.
 
Kutztown finished with an edge in nearly every statistical category, outgaining IUP 426 to 176 on the day. In addition to Barton's 316 passing yards, the Golden Bears added 110 on the ground and had 27 first downs to IUP's eight. The 11 IUP penalties totaled 106 yards while the five turnovers resulted in 34 Kutztown points. Haslett finished 10-for-32 for 98 yards and two interceptions. Izzy Green (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) was IUP's leading ground gainer, going 36 yards on his only carry.
 
The bright spot for the Crimson Hawks was Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin), who followed up his PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week honor with 19 total tackles against the Golden Bears. The 19 stops are believed to be one of the most single game totals in program history. Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) and Alexander Berdahl (Ashburn, Va./Bishop O'Connell) each had 11 tackles while Turner broke up three passes from his safety position.
 
The Crimson Hawks will try to get back on track next week when they head to Lock Haven (0-2, 0-1) to face the Bald Eagles. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.