Game Day Central
IUP Crimson Hawks (2-1, 1-1 PSAC) 
vs. Mercyhurst Lakers (0-3, 0-2 PSAC)
Saturday, September 27, 2014 | 4:00 p.m.
Frank Cignetti Field @ George P. Miller Stadium | Indiana, Pa.

Watch: Innova TV Networks | innovatvnetworks.com
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Live Stats: IUPAthletics.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats

THE GAME
The Crimson Hawks will go for two wins in a row when they return home to host Mercyhurst on Saturday at Frank Cignetti Field @ George P. Miller Stadium. It is IUP's annual Hall of Fame Game, as 19 members of the 2014 class will be honored during halftime of the 4 p.m. PSAC West opener. IUP is coming off of a 21-16 win at Lock Haven, narrowly escaping an upset. The Lakers enter the weekend without a win in three games, however, two of their losses have come to PSAC East powerhouses Bloomsburg (38-22) and West Chester (38-14). 

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

RANKINGS
The Crimson Hawks dropped out of both the AFCA Coaches Poll and the D2Football.com Media Poll after their loss at Kutztown. Mercyhurst is also unranked. 

THE SERIES
This will be the seventh meeting in the series, with IUP holding a 4-2 overall record. Six of those meetings have come since 2008, the year the Lakers joined the PSAC. IUP has won three straight, outscoring Mercyhurst by an average of 15.7 points in those games. 
  
LOCK HAVEN LEFTOVERS
• The 21-16 win over Lock Haven was the narrowest IUP win in the series since the 28-23 victory in 2005. 
• The 371 total yards by the Crimson Hawks are the most they've put up in the three games this season. Conversely, the 268 yards they allowed to the Bald Eagles is the lowest the IUP has given up so far. 
• Gr. QB Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton) completed 14-20 passes for 176 yards against Lock Haven, the exact same total he had in IUP's win against Saint Augustine's. He tossed 2 TDs in that game, while only throwing 1 against the Bald Eagles. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The Crimson Hawks are back on the road next week when they head to Edinboro to battle the Fighting Scots. IUP will look to get revenge after a 36-30 home defeat to them on a rainy Saturday in 2013. IUP is 55-22-4 all-time in the series. 

PLAYING FROM BEHIND
With one loss on the season, the Crimson Hawks are already one game back of the lead in the PSAC West. Slippery Rock, Clarion and Gannon are currently in three-way tie for 1st place in the division with a 2-0 record in conference play. 

In a scheduling change by the PSAC this year, 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.  

AGAINST THE PSAC WEST 
IUP has perennially been the best team in the PSAC West, boasting a 141-32-1 (.813) record against division foes since 1986. The Crimson Hawks are 16-5 in the West in three years under HC Curt Cignetti, including a 6-1 season in 2012. 

DIVISION OPENERS
IUP is 29-2 in its last 31 PSAC West openers, dating back to 1983. The only two losses during that time were to Slippery Rock (20-6 in 2011) and Mercyhurst (20-16 in 2009). The Crimson Hawks defeated Seton Hill 26-0 in their first divisional game of 2013. 

ABOUT MERCYHURST
It's been a tough start to the season for the Lakers, who were picked 4th in the PSAC West preseason poll. Mercyhurst owns an 0-3 record, with two of those losses coming to a pair of the best schools in the conference - West Chester and Bloomsburg. 

The Lakers are at the bottom of the PSAC in several offensive categories, averaging just 257 yards of total offense, 79 rushing yards and 19 points per game. A former All-PSAC selection, RB Brandon Brown-Dukes has struggled, rushing for 199 yards and a TD, while averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. QB Brendan Boylan has seen the majority of the snaps the last two games, going 27-52 for 299 yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs. The main targets have been R.J. Miller and Jaquan Williams, as the pair's 276 receiving yards are 52 pct. of the Lakers' total. 

The Lakers' defense is in the middle of the road in the PSAC, giving up 359 yards and 34 points per game. They've produced just 2 sacks, but have forced 4 turnovers, including a 43-yard fumble return for a TD. DB Colin Kimball leads the team with 22 tackles and has 2 TFLs and an interception.

The Mercyhurst special teams has 2 blocked kicks this year, tipping a West Chester field goal and coming up with a punt block against Bentley. Kimball also produces in the punt return game, averaging 13.6 yards with a 61-yard TD. Jordan Spangler leads the PSAC and is 13th in Division II with a 43.5 yard punting average. 

FRESHMEN TAKING CENTER STAGE
IUP's consistantly strong running game heads into this week led by a pair of true freshmen in RBs Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic) and Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley). Lista-Brinza has started each game this season and leads the team with 253 rushing yards and 5 TDs. The relatively small (5-9, 185) back has a pair of 100-yard, 2-TD games against Saint Augustine's and Lock Haven, carrying the ball 21 and 25 times, respectively.

Temple has seen action as the primary backup in each of the last 2 games, totaling 29 yards on 8 carries at Kutztown before putting up 74 yards on 16 carries at Lock Haven. A bigger (5-11, 225) back, he has a pair of 15-yard runs. 

(POTENTIALLY) DEEP STABLE OF BACKS
In addition to Lista-Brinza and Temple, the Crimson Hawks also have So. RBs Izzy Green (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) and Darian Bradley (Midland, Pa./Beaver), who both have seen carries this year. Green has 76 yards and a TD on just 8 carries while Bradley has added 32 yards and 3 receptions. 

TAKING THE SNAPS
After a long camp battle, Gr. QB Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton) won the job and has started all 3 games under center for IUP. His production has been up and down thus far, throwing for 3 TDs in the opener, but not another until the 2nd half last week at Lock Haven. He was also picked off 3 times in the loss at Kutztown.

He's boasted a high completion percentage in both of IUP's wins, going a combined 28-40 (70 pct.) with 352 yards against Saint Augustine's and Lock Haven. 

R-Fr. QB Eddie Stockett (Dravosburg, Pa. /McKeesport) was elevated to the primary backup spot last week and could receiving playing time.  

HOLDING THAT LINE
The IUP offensive line features two players who started a majority of the games last year, including Sr. Matt Sasson at center and R-Sr. Jorge Vicioso (Passaic, N.J./Passaic) at right tackle. The two have combined 34 starts in their IUP careers.

The Crimson Hawks made a change on the offensive line last week, inserting Fr. Dan Charmo (Hamilton, Va./Loundon Valley) at right guard for his first career start. Joining him are R-Sr. Bruce Atkins (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) at right tackle and So. Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) at left guard. That trio has combined for 13 career starts, including 6 each by Atkins and Cooper. In addition, R-So. OL Tony Morgante (Mountain Top, Pa. /Crestwood) has 3 career starts, with two coming in the first two games this season. 

All told, IUP linemen have 50 career starts under their belts, led by Sasson's 21. Two sophomores, a pair of freshmen and a junior are listed as the primary backups at those five starting spots. 

CONVERTING IN THE RED ZONE
The Crimson Hawks are one of only 12 teams in Division II with a perfect red zone conversion rate, scoring on all 10 chances so far this year. In fact, all of IUP's scores have come in the red zone, with the longest TD being a 16-yard run by Lista-Brinza in the opening quarter at Lock Haven. IUP has 6 rushing and 4 passing TDs this year. 

3RD DOWN? NO PROBLEM
Despite the Crimson Hawks' lack of scoring this season (23 ppg - 12th in PSAC), they've been very successful on 3rd downs, leading the league and ranking 5th in the nation with a 57.9 conversion rate. IUP has converted 22-38 3rd down tries this year, including a 10-14 day at Lock Haven. 

SPREADING THE WORTH
Haslett's 38 completions this year have been spread around to eight different players, including five WRs, two RBs and a TE.

The top targets are R-Sr. WR Drew Carswell and Fr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central), with 12 and 10 catches, respectively. Carswell had the biggest game of his career a week ago, catching 6 passes for 103 yards and a TD. He has recorded at least 3 catches in each game and has IUP's two longest pass plays of the year - 44 and 23 yards.

The IUP coaching staff works to get Pegues the ball in different ways, as he's line up in a variety of positions in the Crimson Hawks' first 3 games. He had season-highs of 5 catches for 44 yards last week. 

FRESH EXTERIOR
IUP has youth on the outside in Pegues and Fr. WR Tristan Davis (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne), who has seen snaps as the backup to Carswell on the outside. Both rookies are small (Pegues - 5-10, 160; Davis 5-9, 151) and quick, and should see more touches as the season goes on.     

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. Below are the points per game (PPG), rushing yards (RYds) and total yards (TYds) given up by IUP and its Division II ranking each year. 

LOADS OF TACKLES
R-So. LB Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) has put up some big numbers in 3 games this year, as he is 2nd in the PSAC and tied for 10th in Division II with 40 total tackles. He posted 13 stops while forcing 2 fumbles in the opener, en route to being named the PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week, and then followed that up with 19 tackles against Kutztown. The 19 tackles are the 4th highest total in a Division II game this year. 

TOP 'BACKERS
Clarke has received starts in each of the first 3 games because of an injury to Sr. LB Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills). The original starting duo of Lane and R-Sr. LB Alexander Berdahl (Ashburn, Va./Bishop O'Connell) was considered one of the best in the PSAC, but the addition of Clarke makes them even more dangerous.

Berdahl returned to the starting lineup this year aftern missing all but 1 game in 2013 due to injury. So far this year he's 4th on the team with 19 total tackles. Lane himself saw his first playing time of the year at Lock Haven because of an injury, coming away with 5 total tackles, including 4 solo. Clarke had 19 tackles last year playing primarily on special teams and as a backup to Lane.

UPFRONT POTENTIAL
Led by several new faces, IUP's defensive line has shown depth, with 8 players combining for 84 total tackles, 16 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. The leading tackler so far is Jr. NG Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury), who has 18 stops to go along with 3 TFLs and 2 sacks. R-Jr. DL Jeff Palmer (Cranberry Twp., Pa. /Seneca Valley), has 13 tackles this year and is versitile, earning starts at both tackle and end.  

R-Sr. DE Shane Meisner (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield ) has seen teams avoid his side as he's only recorded 11 tackls and 2 TFLs this year. The other starter, Gr. DT Bryce Gilbert (Brookfield, Wis./Central), has added 13 tackles on the year. 

A pair of freshmen have added to the talent on the line, with R-Fr. DE Matthew Mowad and Fr. DT Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) receiving playing time as key reserves. Mowad has 12 tackles and 4 TFLs while Averette has recorded 11 stops and 3 TFLs. 

SAFETY NET
Fr. FS Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) has put up some good statistics to open up his collegiate career, as he goes into this week 2nd on the team with 24 tackles while breaking up 4 passes and intercepting another. His interception came against Saint Augustine's and against Kutztown he finished with 11 tackles and broke up 3 passes.

After moving over from QB in the spring, R-So. SS Steve Franco (Tyrone, Pa. /Tyrone ) has made 11 tackles and has recovered a fumble. 

CORNERING THE MARKET
R-Sr. CB Jerell McFadden (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) is the most experienced player on the IUP roster and quite possibly has the most starts of any defensive back in the PSAC. The All-PSAC performer has 35 career starts, including 24 in a row. 

For his career, McFadden has 202 total tackles, 4 interceptions and 19 more passes broken up. 

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 58 points, 11 field goals, and 12 extra points for the rest of the 2014 season to break each respective record. 

GOOD RETURNS
The Crimson Hawks have received a boost in the return game this year from a pair of new faces in Pegues and Davis. Pegues has returned 6 kickoffs for a 21.3 average, including a 43-yarder at Lock Haven. Davis boasts a 25.3 KOR average with a long of 47, and also had an 18-yard punt return earlier this season. 

ODDS AND ENDS

IUP AGAINST THE PSAC EAST
Since 2006, IUP has an incredible 24-5 (.828) record against teams from the PSAC East. This includes a seven-game winning streak that dated back to the 34-7 win over West Chester in 2011 and ended last week. IUP is 5-1 vs. Millersville, 4-0 vs. East Stroudsburg and Cheyney, and 3-0 vs. West Chester. 

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.

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.

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.

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. Here's the breakdown:

IUP IN OPENERS
With last 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).
 
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.