INDIANA, Pa. – IUP sophomore
Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) ran for a career-high 234 yards and set a new school record with six touchdowns as the Crimson Hawks defeated Edinboro 42-21 on Homecoming this Saturday afternoon.
Temple's six touchdowns broke the previous record of five, which was held by former IUP greats Larry Monsilovich and James Suber. It also tied former Shippensburg and current Green Bay Packers running back John Kuhn for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) record.
His new career-high came on 28 carries as he averaged 8.4 yards per carry. He tallied runs of 67, 41, 28, and 22 yards on the afternoon. Three of his touchdown runs came in the first quarter alone as IUP built a 21-0 lead after just 15 minutes of play.
Temple scored once in the second quarter before adding two more in the third, with his last being the 67-yard burst with 1:30 to play in the quarter.
Altogether, the Crimson Hawks rushed for a season-high 383 yards on the afternoon. Redshirt freshman quarterback
Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) also had a big day on the ground, rushing six times for a season-high 94 yards, including a 39-yard scramble.
The Crimson Hawks improved to 3-1 overall on the season and a perfect 2-0 in the PSAC Western Division. Edinboro falls to 0-5 and 0-2.
IUP finished with 492 yards and limited Edinboro to 225 on the afternoon, with just 78 on the ground. The Crimson Hawks picked off two passes and recovered an Edinboro fumble, which led to IUP's second score of the first quarter.
For the first time all season, the Crimson Hawks did not score a defensive touchdown, instead relying on the running of Temple.
Temple's first score came from 22 yards out on a drive that lasted just 1:49. On Edinboro's first play from scrimmage, quarterback Jake Sisson fumbled, with junior linebacker
Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) recovering to give the Crimson Hawks great field position at the Edinboro 29-yard line. Three plays later, Temple scored from six yards out. He would score again on two of IUP's next three drives to give the Crimson Hawks a 28-0 lead with 10:32 to go in the first half.
The Fighting Scots put together a 12-play, 77-yard drive right before halftime, but redshirt sophomore
Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School) broke up a fourth-and-goal pass in the end zone as time expired to keep Edinboro off the board.
Edinboro scored its first touchdown with an 88-yard interception return at the beginning of the third quarter, but IUP responded with a one-yard score by Temple, followed by his career-long run of 67 yards to give the Crimson Hawks a 42-14 lead at the end of the third. The Fighting Scots added their final touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Clarke finished with six total tackles, including two tackles-for-loss, a sack and that fumble recovery. Senior
Jordan Batts (Homestead, Pa. /Jeannette), sophomore
Matt Mowad (Easton, Pa. /Easton) and freshman
Deandre Easterling (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) each had solo sacks, while seniors
Eric Williams (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) and
Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury) combined for another.
Watkins and sophomore
Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) each had interceptions, bringing IUP's total to a conference-leading 11 in just four games.
Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) finished 9-of-12 through the air for 90 yards and an interception. Sophomore
Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) caught a game-high seven passes for 88 yards, extending his consecutive games with a catch streak to 15 to begin his career.
The Crimson Hawks hit the road next week, traveling to Greensburg to face Seton Hill and its dangerous passing attack. Kickoff next Saturday is set for 3 p.m.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.
