GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (3-1, 2-0 PSAC West) 
at Seton Hill Griffins (2-3, 1-1 PSAC West)
Saturday, October 10, 2015 | 3:00 p.m.
Offutt Field | Greensburg, Pa.

Watch: Westmoreland Sports Network | westmorelandsports.com
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com 
Live Stats: athletics.SetonHill.edu | Fan Stats | Media Stats

THE GAME
The Crimson Hawks take their three-game win streak on the road this Saturday as they head to Greensburg to face Seton Hill. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. IUP enters the week with a 3-1 record and is one of three teams in the PSAC West with a 2-0 divisional mark. The Crimson Hawks are coming off of last week's 42-21 win over Edinboro in which they piled up a season-high 383 rushing yards. Seton Hill is 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the division, boasting a high-flying passing offense that upset #14 Slippery Rock two weeks ago and nearly picked off California (Pa.) last week

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
• IUP has the the nation's third-ranked rushing offense at 313.5 yards per game. They've totaled at least 226 yards in each game this year, including a season -high 383 yards against Edinboro. 
• Seton Hill owns the nation's fifth-ranked passing offense (346.8 ypg) while IUP gives up nearly 270 yards through the air per game, 14th in the PSAC and 146th in Division II. 
• The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC with 11 interceptions, picking off opponents once every 13.8 passes. Seton Hill has thrown 10 interceptions this year on 251 total attempts. 
• On the other side, IUP's strong rushing attack will be matched up with a Seton Hill defense that gives up 220.6 yards per game on the ground and 5.4 yards per opponent carry. 
• With 1,254 rushing yards so far, IUP is on pace with its record -setting year of 2012 when the Crimson Hawks totaled 1,260 yards in the first four games and broke the season record with 259.3 yards per game.
• So. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) is coming off of a monster game with a career-high 234 rushing yards and a school record six rushing touchdowns against Edinboro. In his two full games this year, he has 429 of his 440 total rushing yards. 
• Last week was the first game that the IUP defense did not score a touchdown. The Crimson Hawks enter the weekend leading the nation with five defensive scores, all on interception returns. IUP had one in each of the first two games and had three at Mercyhurst. 
• IUP HC Curt Cignetti is 2-0 all-time against Seton Hill, including a 26-0 victory in Greensburg in 2013. The Crimson Hawks have outscored the Griffins 77-28 in those two games.

NOTEBOOK

CIGNETTI vs. THE PSAC WEST
HC Curt Cignetti is 22-8 (.733) 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 2-0 in his previous two meetings with Seton Hill after the Griffins joined the conference in 2013. IUP won last year 51-28 and defeated Seton Hill 26-0 in Greensburg in 2013.   

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 249-82-1 (.752) along with a conference record of 148-36-1 (.803). IUP also owns 16 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. 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 early this season with 18 plays of 20 yards or more. 15 of those plays have been rushes, while six total have gone for touchdowns. IUP has four plays of 50-plus yards, including last week's 67-yard touchdown run by So. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley). 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 THIRD IN DIVISION II IN RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
The Crimson Hawks averaged 313.5 rushing yards per game, a mark that leads the PSAC and ranks third in the country. IUP has rushed for at least 226 yards in each game, including a 383-yard output last weekedn against Edinboro. Four different players average more than 40 yards per game. The team has scored 13  rushing touchdowns and averages 6.4 yards per carry. Click on above PDF for more information.

IUP is 28-6 UNDER CURT CIGNETTI WHEN A RUNNING BACK REACHES 100 YARDS
In his four-plus seasons as head coach, Cignetti has a 28-6 record when an IUP running back rushes for at least 100 yards in a game. There are three running backs on the 2015 roster who have 100-yard games to their credit: So. Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic) with six, So. Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) with three, and R-So. Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) 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. 

EIGHT DIFFERENT BACKS HAVE 100-YARD GAMES UNDER CIGNETTI; THREE HAVE 200-YARD GAMES
With 109 yards by So. RB Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) against Lock Haven, Cignetti has how seen eight different running backs rush for 100 yards in a game since 2011. Even more proof of the depth at the position, six of those backs went over the century mark while listed as a backup on the depth chart. With 234 yards by So. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) against Edinboro, IUP has three backs who have gone for over 200 yards in a game under Cignetti: Tuck had four in 2012 and Williams had 1 in 2013. 

CHRIS TEMPLE IS SEVENTH IN THE COUNTRY IN RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
Despite playing in two full games and just part of a third, So. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) has rushed for 440 yards and seven 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. 7 in the nation in rushing yards per game (146.7)
• Temple ranks No. 1 in the PSAC and No. 3 in the nation in rushing yards per carry (8.80)
• Temple is tied for No. 3 in the PSAC and tied for No. 17 in the nation in rushing touchdowns (7)
• On just 50 carries, Temple's 440 yards ranks No. 5 in the PSAC and No. 64 in the nation
• Temple's 67-yard touchdown run vs. Edinboro is the longest play from scrimmage for the Crimson Hawks and is the fourth 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

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.

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE DEEP AT THE RUNNING BACK POSITION
Even with the change in offensive philosophy, the Crimson Hawks are still a running team at heart. Three different running backs have rushed for 100 yards in a game this year, including Temple (195 vs. Kutztown and 234 vs. Edinboro), Lista-Brinza (164 at Mercyhurst), and R-So. RB Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) (109 vs. Lock Haven). 

IUP IS ONE OF YOUNGEST TEAMS AT QB IN THE PSAC
The Crimson Hawks have one of the youngest quarterback units in the PSAC, with two true freshmen and a redshirt freshman listed among the four total players. R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) (four games, three starts) has seen the first playing time of his career and Gr. QB Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton) (three games, one start) saw his first 10 collegiate starts in 2014. Click on above PDF for more information.

WILLIAMS MOVES INTO STARTING ROLE, IS IUP'S FIRST TRUE DUAL THREAT QB IN YEARS
After splitting snaps - and starts - with Haslett in the first two games, Williams has moved into the starting role full-time for the Crimson Hawks, putting up 334 yards of total offense in the last two games. Williams has added another dimension to the IUP quarterback position with the ability to run, finishing with a season-high 94 yards on just six carries against Edinboro. 
• Four-year starting quarterback at Sto-Rox HS in McKees Rocks, Pa. 
• Three-star member of Temple's 2014 recruiting class
• 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 
Click on above PDF for more information.

PEGUES HAS 50 CATCHES IN LAST EIGHT GAMES; 15 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A CATCH
Pegues is IUP's top receiving threat, catching 25 passes for 292 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown from Williams in the opener. Since the stretch run of his true freshman season, Pegues has come on strong with 60 receptions for 694 yards and four touchdowns in eight games. He now has a streak of 15 consecutive games with a catch, dating back to his first career game last year. Click on above PDF for more information.

IUP OFFENSIVE LINE FEATURES DEPTH, VERSATILITY
The IUP offensive line features talent and depth, with six regular players combining for 87 games played and 59 career starts. The most experienced is R-Sr. RT Jorge Vicioso (Passaic, N.J./Passaic), who has played in 27 games with 25 starts. Jr. LG Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) has played in 21 games with 18 starts. He has seen time at his usual left guard spot, but has also played right guard and has practiced at left tackle. Jr. Ed Bier (Philadelphia, Pa. /Archbishop Ryan) has played both the center and left guard spots. The group has given up just one sack in four games this year and has helped the IUP rushing attack average 313.5 yards, third 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 last 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 four games this season is more than five fellow PSAC schools and 34 Division II schools have rushing touchdowns. Mercyhurst has rushed for three scores this year, while Edinboro and Millersville have two and Lock Haven and Cheyney have one each.

KEVIN CLARKE HAS SIX DOUBLE-FIGURE TACKLE GAMES
Clarke finished with 14 total tackles - eight solo - against Lock Haven three weeks ago. It was his seventh career double-figure tackle game, with six coming in his last 15 games. A first team preseason All-American by D2Football.com, Clarke leads the Crimson Hawks with 32 tackles in four 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 - Lane, Clarke and Jr. Myles Catlin (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Obama) - have combined for 81 games played and 35 starts. They have each produced during their time on the field, combining for 388 tackles and 37.5 TFLs. Click on above PDF for more information.

KARON GIBSON MAKING SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO DEFENSIVE END
Sr. DE Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury) enters this week leading IUP and second in the PSAC with 1.5 tackles-for-loss per game, totaling 6.5 on the season. He's also second on the team with 26 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. This is his first season as a full-time defensive end after starting all 11 games as IUP's nose guard last year.

CRIMSON HAWKS LEAD PSAC, TIED FOR FIFTH IN NATION WITH 11 INTERCEPTIONS
In just four games, the IUP defense has picked off 11 passes, which leads the PSAC and is tied for fifth in Division II. Seven different players have gotten in the act with at least one, with four players grabbing away two passes this year. 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 third in the nation averaging 2.50 passes defended per game. His total of 10 - eight passes broken up and two interceptions - is second in the conference despite playing in just four games. He broke up four passes against Lock Haven and had 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 501 (125.2/game), totaling 292 receiving, 23 rushing, and 186 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.