GREENSBURG, Pa. – IUP redshirt freshman quarterback
Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) ran for 205 yards and had 362 total yards to lead the Crimson Hawks to a 47-10 win at Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon.
Williams 205 rushing yards came on 16 rushes, including a 62-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The rushing total is the most ever for an IUP quarterback and believed to be the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) record for rushing yards in a single game by a quarterback.
Eight of Williams' runs were 10 or more yards, including scampers of 23 and 39 yards, and the 62-yard touchdown in which he busted out of the pocket down the right sideline and broke several tackles, before cutting back across the field and crossing the goal line.
Four of Williams' carries came on third down scrambles that he converted into first downs. Three of those conversions came on drives that ended with IUP touchdowns.
Williams also finished 9-of-15 through the air for 157 passing yards and two touchdowns. His first passing score came at the beginning of the third quarter on a 15-yard back shoulder fade to redshirt freshman
Swahneek Brown (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg). He followed that up on the next possession when he found freshman
Isiah Mims (Frederick, Md./Oakdale) dragging across the field for a 36-yard catch and run up the left sideline.
The Crimson Hawks (4-1, 3-0 PSAC West) finished with 485 yards of total offense, including 328 yards on the ground. Sophomore running back
Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) finished with 78 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while redshirt freshman
Shannon Jackson (Fairview, Pa. /Fairview) added 36 yards and a score.
Redshirt freshman
Jordan Brown (Chambersburg, Pa. /Chambersburg Area) caught a team-high three passes for 43 yards in his first game after missing the last three due to injury. Sophomore
Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) caught a pass for 15 yards, extending his streak to 16 straight games with a reception.
The IUP defense also came up with a big performance, limiting the fifth-ranked passing offense in the nation to 73 yards below its average while adding five sacks and two interceptions. The Crimson Hawks' defensive unit allowed just three Seton Hill (2-4, 1-2) offensive points, with the Griffins only touchdown coming on a kickoff return.
Seton Hill quarterback Christian Strong, who entered the game completing 60 percent of his passes, was limited to 16-of-36 passing for 272 yards. He was picked off by senior safety
Eric Williams (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) and freshman cornerback
Mikale Makle (Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglas).
Makle's first career interception came towards the end of the third quarter, making the pick on the sideline and racing 59 yards before getting pushed out just seven yards shy of the Crimson Hawks' sixth defensive touchdown of the year.
Six different players combined for five sacks, with sophomore
Jordan Diven (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) getting 1.5. Senior
Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury) and
Jeff Palmer (Cranberry Twp., Pa. /Seneca Valley) each had one, while sophomore
Justin Weldon (Easton, Pa. /Easton Area) and freshmen
CJ Odegbo (Detroit, Mich./Southfield) and
Deandre Easterling (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) all tallying a half sack.
Juniors
Steve Franco (Tyrone, Pa. /Tyrone ) and
Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) led IUP with seven tackles apiece while Williams had five tackles, a tackle-for-loss, and broke up three passes in addition to his first interception of the year.
IUP led just 10-0 at halftime, getting a one-yard touchdown run by Temple and a 32-yard field goal from
Ryan Stewart (Indiana, Pa./Indiana). The Crimson Hawks broke out for 30 points in the third quarter, with the two passing touchdowns and Williams' long run in addition to a three-yard score by Temple and a 39-yard field goal by Stewart. Jackson added a four-yard touchdown run in the final quarter.
Seton Hill's offense did not generate any points until putting together a late drive in the fourth, getting a 34-yard field goal with 1:19 remaining in the game.
The Crimson Hawks had the advantage in time of possession with 33:48, including 17:36 in the second half. IUP also converted 8-of-13 third downs and was a perfect 5-for-5 in red zone scoring.
IUP returns home next weekend to host rival California (Pa.) in the seventh annual Coal Bowl. Kickoff at Frank Cignetti Field is set for 6 p.m.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.
