GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (4-1, 3-0 PSAC West) 
vs. California (Pa.) Vulcans (4-2, 2-1 PSAC West)
Saturday, October 17, 2015 | 6:00 p.m.
George P. Miller Stadium @ Frank Cignetti Field | Indiana, Pa.

Watch: BackLight TV | backlighttv.com 
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com 
Live Stats: IUPathletics.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats

THE GAME
The Crimson Hawks bring a four-game win streak into the seventh annual Coal Bowl this Saturday as they host rival California (Pa.). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. from Frank Cignetti Field. IUP enters the matchup with a 4-1 record and is one of two teams in the PSAC West with a 3-0 divisional mark. The Crimson Hawks set a new season-high in scoring in last week's 47-10 win at Seton Hill. Cal is coming off of a 56-21 loss at Slippery Rock last weekend and is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the West. The Vulcans feature one of the nation's top passing offenses, averaging 307.3 yards and score nearly 30 points per game. 

The game will be broadcast on WQMU 92.5 FM with the voice of IUP Athletics, Jack Benedict, calling the action. You can also listen on u92radio.com and on the u92radio app on your smartphone. 

STORYLINES
• This will be the first time in the seven-year history of the Coal Bowl that the trophy game will be played under the lights. The latest kickoff time prior to this year came in 2012 (3:30 p.m.).
• The IUP defense will again have it's hands full with a top-flight passing offense as Cal QB James Harris averages 291 yards per game and is third in the PSAC with a 151.9 pass efficiency. 
• IUP has the the nation's fourth-ranked rushing offense at 316.4 yards per game. The Crimson Hawks have at least 226 yards in each game this year, including a season-high 383 yards against Edinboro. 
• With 1,582 rushing yards so far, IUP is on pace with its record -setting year of 2012 when the Crimson Hawks totaled 1,466 yards in the first five games and broke the season record with 259.3 yards per game.
• Cal is eighth in the PSAC in rushing defense, allowing 167 yards per game. The Vulcans gave up 297 to Slippery Rock last week and 255 to Bloomsburg in week two. 
• The Vulcans' return game is arguably one of the best in the PSAC, and is led by Aaron Terry, who averages 20.3 yards on seven punt returns, including a 97-yard touchdown.
• The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC with 13 interceptions, picking off opponents once every 14.5 passes. Harris has thrown eight interceptions on 182 attempts.
• Saturday marks the return of Errol Brewster, who played defensive end at IUP from 2010-12. Brewster has 17 tackles and three sacks for Cal this season. 
• IUP HC Curt Cignetti is 1-3 all-time against Cal, including a 21-13 defeat on the road last year. The Vulcans have outscored IUP during that time, 82-67. 

IUP AND CAL BATTLE IN THE SEVENTH ANNUAL COAL BOWL
Starting in 2009, Cal has dominated in the previous six matchups with five victories, including a 21-13 win last year. IUP's lone Coal Bowl win came in 2013, defeating the Vulcans 20-7 at George P. Miller Stadium. This year's 6 p.m. kickoff will be represent the first night game in Coal Bowl history. 

CIGNETTI vs. THE PSAC WEST
HC Curt Cignetti is 23-8 (.742) in his four-plus seasons against schools from the PSAC West, including a 6-1 mark in the Crimson Hawks' 2012 conference championship season. He is just 1-3 in his previous four meetings with Cal, with the lone victory coming at home in 2013 (20-7).    

IUP IS PSAC WEST's WINNINGEST TEAM SINCE 1986
Since 1986, IUP has the most overall wins and divisional wins of any team in the PSAC West. The program owns an overall record of 250-82-1 (.752) along with a conference record of 149-36-1 (.804) during that span. IUP also owns 15 divisional crowns in the last 29 seasons. Click on above PDF for more information.

THE DAWN OF A NEW OFFENSIVE ERA
2015 marks a new era for the IUP offense as the Crimson Hawks have switched to an up-tempo spread set. New OC Marty Higgins joined the coaching staff this summer from Upper Iowa University, bringing with him an offensive philosophy that averaged 34.5 points and 461 yards in 11 games last season. This is the first time since the 1970s that IUP is not running an "I" formation or pro set. The comparison below shows the Crimson Hawks' offensive numbers in 2014 and their 2015 averages under Higgins. Click on above PDF for more information.

NEW LOOK OFFENSE HAS PROVIDED MORE BIG PLAYS THIS YEAR 
IUP's new spread offense has provided excitement this season with 24 plays of 20 yards or more at the midway point. 18 of those plays have been rushes, while eight total have gone for touchdowns. IUP has five plays of 50-plus yards, including last week's 62-yard touchdown run by R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox). Last season, IUP averaged 3.5 plays of 20-plus yards each game and only had 10 rushes that covered that distance all season long. 

IUP RANKS FOURTH IN DIVISION II IN RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
The Crimson Hawks average 316.4 rushing yards per game, a mark that leads the PSAC and ranks fourth in the country. IUP has rushed for at least 226 yards in each game, including a 328-yard output last weekend at Seton Hill. Five players average at least 25 yards per game and three have rushed for at least 274 yards this year. The team has scored 16 rushing touchdowns and averages 6.3 yards per carry. Click on above PDF for more information.

IUP is 29-6 UNDER CURT CIGNETTI WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS
In his four-plus seasons as head coach, Cignetti has a 29-6 record when an IUP player rushes for at least 100 yards in a game. There are four players on the 2015 roster with 100-yard games to their credit: So. RB Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic) with six, So. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) with three, and R-So. RB Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) and R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) each with one. During the Cignetti era at IUP, De'Antwan "Rocket" Williams has the most 100-yard games with 12 while Harvie Tuck had 11. 

NINE DIFFERENT PLAYERS HAVE 100-YARD GAMES UNDER CIGNETTI; FOUR HAVE 200-YARD GAMES
With Williams' 205 yards at Seton Hill, Cignetti has how seen nine different players rush for 100 yards in a game since 2011. Four players have now rushed for 200 yards under Cignetti: Williams (205), Temple (234 vs. Edinboro), Tuck (four times in 2012) and De'Antwan Williams (one in 2013). 

CHRIS TEMPLE IS 12TH IN THE COUNTRY IN RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
Despite playing in three full games and just part of a fourth, So. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) has rushed for 518 yards and nine touchdowns, including 195 yards and a touchdown against Kutztown and 234 and six scores against Edinboro.
• Temple ranks No. 1 in the PSAC and No. 12 in the nation in rushing yards per game (129.5)
• Temple ranks No. 2 in the PSAC and No. 22 in the nation in rushing yards per carry (6.73)
• Temple is tied for No. 2 in the PSAC and tied for No. 10 in the nation in rushing touchdowns (9)
• On just 77 carries, Temple's 518 yards ranks No. 5 in the PSAC and No. 62 in the nation
• Temple's 67-yard touchdown run vs. Edinboro is the longest play from scrimmage for the Crimson Hawks and is the fifth longest rush in the PSAC this season
• Temple's 234 rushing yards against Edinboro is the seventh most in IUP single game history; It's also the second most by a PSAC player in a game this year
• Temple's six rushing touchdowns against the Fighting Scots set a new IUP record and tied former 
Shippensburg running back and current Green Bay Packers fullback John Kuhn for most in PSAC history
• Temple was named the PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Week after his game against Edinboro
• Since earning more playing time in his final three games of his freshman season, Temple is averaging 115.3 yards per game and 6.1 yards per carry. He's scored 10 touchdowns in those eight games. 
Click on above PDF for more information.

IUP IS 6-0 WHEN LISTA-BRINZA RUNS FOR 100-PLUS YARDS
Lista-Brinza was the main ball-carrier in the win at Mercyhurst with career-highs of 26 carries and 164 yards. It was his sixth career 100-yard game, and IUP is a perfect 6-0 in those games. This season Lista-Brinza is second on the team with 274 yards and ranks fifth in the PSAC with 91.3 yards per game. Click on above PDF for more information.

WILLIAMS BREAKS IUP QB RUSHING RECORD; IS SCHOOL'S FIRST TRUE DUAL THREAT QB IN YEARS
R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) broke out in a big way at Seton Hill, rushing for 205 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in IUP's 47-10 win. The yardage set a new PSAC record for rushing yards by a quarterback and is one of the top performances by a QB in Division II this year. 
• Williams ranks No. 6 in the PSAC and is tied for No. 61 in the country in rushing yards per game (87.6)
• Williams is No. 1 among PSAC QBs and No. 7 among Division II QBs in rushing yards per game
• Williams ranks No. 1 in the PSAC and No. 2 in Division II in rushing yards per carry (8.61)
• Three-star member of Temple's 2014 recruiting class out of Sto-Rox HS in McKees Rocks, Pa. 
• Finished HS career has the WPIAL's all-time leading passer with 8,509 yards and 102 touchdowns
• Also rushed for nearly 3,000 yards in HS career
• Fab 22 selection, WPIAL Co-Offensive Player of the Year, and the 2012 Big 7 Player of the Year 
• Over the last three games, Williams has totaled 696 yards, has completed 64 pct of his passes, and is averaging 11.5 yards per carry
Click on above PDF for more information.

PEGUES HAS CAUGHT A PASS IN 16 STRAIGHT GAMES
With one catch for 15 yards at Seton Hill, So. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) has extended his streak to 16 straight games with a reception. The streak dates back to his very first game as a true freshman in 2014. The Crimson Hawks' top receiving threat this year, Pegues leads the team with 26 receptions and 307 yards and had a 63-yard touchdown in the opener against Kutztown. 

IUP OFFENSIVE LINE FEATURES DEPTH, VERSATILITY
The IUP offensive line features talent and depth, with six regular players combining for 91 games played and 63 career starts. R-Sr. RT Jorge Vicioso (Passaic, N.J./Passaic) is the most experience with 28 games and 26 starts. Jr. LG Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) has played in 22 games with 19 starts, and has seen time at left tackle and right guard in addition to his regular left guard spot. Jr. Ed Bier (Philadelphia, Pa. /Archbishop Ryan) has played both the center and left guard spots. The group has given up just three sacks in five games this year and has helped the IUP rushing attack average 316.4 yards, fourth in the nation.

IUP HAS SCORED 14 DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS SINCE 2011; 40 SINCE 2003
Annually one of the PSAC's - and the nation's - strongest defenses, IUP has scored 14 total defensive touchdowns since 2011 and 40 since 2003. Despite playing one less game than most schools this year, the Crimson Hawks lead the nation with five defensive scores, including three at Mercyhurst. This year's total is already the most IUP has had in a single season since the start of 2003, eclipsing the previous high of four in 2010, 2009, 2007 and 2003. Click on above PDF for more information.

THE IUP DEFENSE HAS MORE TOUCHDOWNS THAN FOUR PSAC TEAMS HAVE RUSHING SCORES
Those five defensive scores in five games this season is more than four fellow PSAC schools and 22 Division II schools have rushing touchdowns. Edinboro has rushed for four scores this year, while Millersville has three and Lock Haven and Cheyney each have one. 

CRIMSON HAWKS PLAYING IN OPPONENT BACKFIELDS; 10 SACKS, 17 TFLs IN LAST TWO GAMES
The IUP defense has increased its pressure over the last two games, totaling 10.0 sacks and 17.0 tackles-for-loss against Edinboro and Seton Hill. 10 different Crimson Hawks have combined for those 10 sacks while 15 have helped make those 17 TFLs. Click on above PDF for more information.

KARON GIBSON MAKING SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO DEFENSIVE END
Sr. DE Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury) is second in the PSAC with 1.50 TFLs per game and leads IUP with a total of 7.5. He also leads the Crimson Hawks with 3.5 sacks and is second on the team with 30 total tackles. This is his first season as a full-time defensive end after starting all 11 games as IUP's nose guard last year. Click on above PDF for more information.

IUP DEFENSIVE LINE HAS SHOWCASED DEPTH; 10 CRIMSON HAWKS HAVE SEEN PLAYING TIME
The IUP defensive line rotates on a regular basis, with anywhere from eight to 10 players seeing action along the defensive front. The group has combined for 22.5 TFLs and 14.0 sacks on the season. The 14 sacks are 88 pct of the team's total of 16. 
• Gibson leads all players with 7.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks
• R-So. DE Matt Mowad (Easton, Pa. /Easton) had 3.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks despite injuries limiting his playing time
• True Fr. DEs Deandre Easterling (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) and CJ Odegbo (Detroit, Mich./Southfield) have combined for 4.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks

KEVIN CLARKE HAS SEVEN DOUBLE-FIGURE TACKLE GAMES
R-Jr. LB Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) had a season-high 14 total tackles - eight solo - against Lock Haven. It was his seventh career double-figure tackle game, with six coming in his last 16 games. A first team preseason All-American by D2Football.com, Clarke leads the Crimson Hawks with 39 total tackles in five games this season. Last  year he had five double-figure tackle games, including a career-high 21 against SRU. Click on above PDF for more information.

IUP LINEBACKERS AGAIN PROVIDE DEPTH IN 2015
The Crimson Hawks boast a seasoned linebacking corps in 2015. Three players - Clarke, Sr. Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills) and Jr. Myles Catlin (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Obama) - have combined for 84 games played and 37 starts. They have each produced during their time on the field, combining for 399 tackles and 37.5 TFLs. Click on above PDF for more information.

CRIMSON HAWKS LEAD PSAC, TIED FOR FOURTH IN NATION WITH 13 INTERCEPTIONS
In just five games, the IUP defense has picked off 13 passes, which leads the PSAC and is tied for fourth in Division II. Nine different players have gotten in the act with at least one, with four players grabbing away two passes this year. R-Sr. SS Eric Williams (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) picked off his first of the year last Saturday against Seton Hill while Fr. CB Mikale Makle (Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglas) had his first career interception over the weekend, returning it 59 yards. Click on above PDF for more information.

WATKINS ONE OF THE BEST AT BREAKING UP PASSES
R-So. CB Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School) leads the PSAC and is sixth in the nation averaging 2.20 passes defended per game. His total of 11 - nine passes broken up and two interceptions - is tied for first in the conference despite playing in just five games. He's defended at least one pass in every game this year, including four breakups against Lock Haven, and has his interceptions against Kutztown and Edinboro. 

PEGUES IS AN ALL-PURPOSE THREAT
Not only is Pegues coming on as a receiver, but he has been a threat in the return game since his arrival last year. This season he leads IUP with 550 all-purpose yards (110/game), totaling 307 receiving, 23 rushing, and 220 on returns. As a true freshman in 2014, Pegues led IUP with 1,466 all-purpose yards, putting up more than 200 in a game three times. Click on above PDF for more information.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
With a different recruiting style over the last two offseasons, the Crimson Hawks go into 2015 with a very young roster of 84 players. Included in those 84 are: 34 freshmen, 25 sophomores, 15 juniors, and 10 seniors/graduate students. 11 sophomores saw playing time as true freshmen last year, combining for 41 total starts during the season.