GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (6-2, 5-1 PSAC West) 
vs. Gannon Golden Knights (6-3, 3-3 PSAC West)
Saturday, November 7, 2015 | 1:00 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
Live Updates: Twitter.com | @IUPfootball

THE GAME
The Crimson Hawks return to Indiana for their last regular season home game as they host Gannon on Senior Day this Saturday. 10 players will be honored prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff from Frank Cignetti Field. With a postseason berth in its sights, IUP looks to continue the momentum gained from a 28-14 win at Clarion against another strong PSAC West opponent in Gannon this weekend. The Golden Knights have had a roller coaster season with a pair of three-game win streaks sandwiched around two straight losses to Clarion and Slippery Rock. Gannon comes into this matchup after a 42-21 home loss to California (Pa.) 

10 players are set to play in their final home regular season game, including Jordan Batts (Homestead, Pa. /Jeannette), Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury), Chase Haslett (Clayton, Mo./Clayton), Conor Jackson (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township), Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills), Sean McVay (Miami, Fla./Miramar), Jeff Palmer (Cranberry Twp., Pa. /Seneca Valley), Jorge Vicioso (Passaic, N.J./Passaic), Brian Wahl-Schwartz (Cranberry Twp., Pa. /Seneca Valley) and Eric Williams (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury). 

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
• Another week, another strong offense that hopes to challenge the IUP defense. Gannon averages nearly 35 points and 436 yards per game and has scored 40 points four times.
• Gannon QB Liam Nadler has been a mainstay with 41 starts, 10,803 passing yards and 78 touchdowns in four seasons. He's a question mark this week after getting hurt in the second quarter against Cal.
• RB Brock Jones ranks fourth in rushing (107.9) and seventh in total yards (141.3) in the PSAC, but will face an IUP defense that allowed just 88 total yards to Clarion RB Delrece Williams. 
• The QB duo of Nadler and backup Zach Phillips threw four interceptions in 49 attempts last week against Cal. IUP is second in the PSAC with 16 interceptions, picking off a pass once every 18.4 opponent pass attempts. 
• With 2,492 rushing yards so far, (311.5 per game). IUP is ahead of its record-setting pace of 2012 when the Crimson Hawks totaled 2,417 yards in the first eight games and broke the school's season record with 259.3 yards per game.
• Gannon gave up a season-worst 241 rushing yards to Cal last week and allowed 172 rushing yards to pass-heavy Seton Hill the week before. IUP is the top rushing team in the PSAC, rushing for 300 yards five times this season. 
• Phillips showed the ability to run, with 67 rushing yards last week. IUP has done well against mobile quarterbacks, limiting SRU's Dante Nania, Edinboro's Jake Sisson, and Kutztown's Chad Barton to a combined 18 rushing yards. Those players each have 200 rushing yards this season. 
• IUP HC Curt Cignetti lost to Gannon last year for the first time in his career, as the Golden Knights avenged a 55-20 loss to the Crimson Hawks from 2013. 

NOTEBOOK

CRIMSON HAWKS MOVE UP TO No. 6 IN THIS WEEK'S REGIONAL RANKINGS
IUP moved up three spots to No. 6 in this week's Super Region One rankings, which were released by the NCAA on Monday. The top seven teams from each region advance to postseason play, with the top overall seed to receive a bye. Teams will have two more weeks to position themselves as the final playoff bracket will be revealed on Sunday, Nov. 15. See page seven for more details. 

CIGNETTI vs. THE PSAC WEST
HC Curt Cignetti is 25-9 (.735) 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 3-1 all-time against Gannon, including three straight wins from 2011 to 2013. The Golden Knights had their first win over IUP since 2010 when they won 31-21 in Erie last season.

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 252-83-1 (.751) along with a conference record of 151-37-1 (.802) 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. 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.

IUP's OFFENSE IS ON A RECORD-SETTING PACE
The Crimson Hawks are averaging 467.6 yards per game this year, on pace to break the record of 445.2 set in 1991 (5,787 yards in 13 games). IUP had a season-high 550 total yards against #15 Slippery Rock and has seven games of 400-plus yards this season. 

NEW LOOK OFFENSE HAS 43 PLAYS OF 20 YARDS OR MORE THIS YEAR
IUP's new spread offense has provided excitement this season with 43 plays of 20 yards or more after eight games. 27 of those have been rushes with 13 total 20-yard plays going for touchdowns. R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) has 29 total plays of 20 yards or more (16 pass, 13 rush), including nine against Slippery Rock two weeks ago. See page 12 for more information.

IUP RANKS FIFTH IN DIVISION II IN RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
The IUP running game rebounded last week with 336 yards on a season-high 59 rushes against Clarion. The Crimson Hawks still lead the PSAC and rank fifth in the country with 311.5 rushing yards per game. IUP has rushed for more than 300 yards in five of its eight games, including 388 against Cal and 383 against Edinboro, two of the top eight single game team performances in program history. 

IUP is 31-7 UNDER CURT CIGNETTI WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS
In his four-plus seasons as head coach, Cignetti has a 31-7 record when an IUP player rushes for at least 100 yards in a game. There are five 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 four and R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) with four and R-So. RB Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) and R-Fr. RB Shannon Jackson (Fairview, Pa. /Fairview) one each. During the Cignetti era at IUP, De'Antwan "Rocket" Williams had the most 100-yard games with 12 while Harvie Tuck had 11. 

10 DIFFERENT PLAYERS HAVE 100-YARD GAMES UNDER CIGNETTI; FOUR HAVE 200-YARD GAMES
With Jackson's 167 yards at Clarion last week, Cignetti has how seen 10 different players rush for 100 yards in a game since 2011. Four players have rushed for 200 yards under Cignetti: Williams (205), Temple (255 and 234), Tuck (four times in 2012) and De'Antwan Williams (once in 2013).

CHRIS TEMPLE IS SIXTH IN THE COUNTRY IN RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
Despite playing in just five full games and part of a sixth, So. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) has rushed for 827 yards and 15 touchdowns, highlighted by a 234-yard, six-touchdown performance against Edinboro. 
• Temple ranks No. 1 in the PSAC and No. 6 in the nation in rushing yards per game (137.8)
• Temple ranks No. 1 in the PSAC and No. 3 in the nation in points per game (15.0)
• Temple is tied for No. 1 in the PSAC and is tied for No. 6 in the nation in rushing touchdowns (15)
• His 15 rushing touchdowns are four away from tying Michael Mann (1993) for IUP's season record (19)
• Temple ranks No. 6 in the PSAC in rushing yards per carry (6.31)
• Temple ranks No. 6 in the PSAC and No. 50 in the nation in rushing yards (827)
• If IUP can secure a playoff game, Temple would be on pace to rush for 1,240 yards this year, which would be the 14th time in school history a back has rushed for 1,200 yards in a season
• Temple has two of the eight single game rushing performances in IUP history - 255 yards against Cal is sixth all-time and 234 yards against Edinboro is the eighth most
• Temple's 255 and 234-yard performances are the most and third most, respectively, by a PSAC player in a game this season
• Temple's 67-yard touchdown run vs. Edinboro is the longest play from scrimmage for the Crimson Hawks and is the ninth longest rush in the PSAC this season
• 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
Click on above PDF for more information.

LENNY WILLIAMS IS THE CRIMSON HAWKS' TOTAL OFFENSE LEADER
R-Fr. QB Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) leads IUP with 1,970 total yards this year, including 1,123 passing and 847 rushing. He's on a tear over his last four games, averaging 328.0 yards per game and 9.6 yards per play.
• Williams ranks No. 5 in the PSAC and is tied for No. 42 in the country in rushing yards per game (105.9) 
• Williams is No. 1 among PSAC QBs and No. 4 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 - 10 rush/game (8.92)
• Williams ranks No. 2 in the PSAC in yards per play (8.11; 243 plays, 1,970 yards)
• Williams' 504 total yards against Slippery Rock broke an IUP record and is the 11th highest total by a Division II player - and second highest in the PSAC - this season (616, Matt Soltes, ESU)
• Williams' season-high 364 passing yards against Slippery Rock is tied for the ninth highest total in IUP single game history; He also had season-highs of 22 completions and 33 attempts
• Williams' 205 rushing yards against Seton Hill broke a PSAC single game record for a QB
• Williams has 29 plays of more than 20 yards (16 pass, 13 rush); He has five plays of at least 45 yards
• 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
Click on above PDF for more information.

WALT PEGUES HAD ONE OF IUP's BEST RECEIVING DAYS
So. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) had a huge game against Slippery Rock with 14 receptions for 233 yards, both career-highs. He also reeled in a 50-yard touchdown in the opening quarter. The yardage and receptions totals were both among the best ever by an IUP player, ranking third and tied for third, respectively. Click on above PDF for more information.

PEGUES EXTENDS STREAK TO 19 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
With six catches last week at Clarion, Pegues extended his personal streak of 19 consecutive games with a catch. It 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 47 receptions and 605 yards and has 92 catches for 1,212 yards and six touchdowns in his career. 

IUP OFFENSIVE LINE FEATURES DEPTH, VERSATILITY
The IUP offensive line features six regular players combining for 106 games played and 76 career starts. 
• R-Sr. RT Jorge Vicioso (Passaic, N.J./Passaic) is the most experienced with 31 games and has made 29 consecutive starts
• Jr. LG Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) has played in 25 games with 22 starts, and has seen time at left tackle and right guard in addition to his regular left guard spot
• Jr. RG Tony Morgante (Mountain Top, Pa. /Crestwood) and R-Fr. C Kidus Woldyes are two of four linemen who have started all eight games this season
• True Fr. Joe Peterson (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) is has made three straight starts at left tackle
• Jr. Ed Bier (Philadelphia, Pa. /Archbishop Ryan) has played both the center and left guard spots
• The group has given up seven sacks and has helped IUP rush for 311.5 yards, fifth 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 are tied for third in Division II 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.

CRIMSON HAWKS PLAYING IN OPPONENT BACKFIELDS; 16 SACKS, 40 TFLs IN LAST FIVE GAMES
The IUP defense has increased its pressure over the last five games, totaling 16.0 sacks and 40.0 tackles-for-loss. The defensive line has been getting it done, with nine players combining for 23.5 TFLs and 13.5 sacks during that span. The four sacks at Clarion last week were all made by defensive linemen, who were also a big part of holding the Golden Eagles to a season-low 35 rushing yards. Click on above PDF for more information.

CRIMSON HAWKS' DEFENSE IS 17TH IN NATION IN OPPONENT THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS
The IUP defense is third in the PSAC and 17th in the country, allowing opponents to convert just 29.9 percent of their third down chances. The Crimson Hawks were at their best against Cal (2-14) and Clarion (3-14) and have given up a total of just 14 third down conversions on 51 attempts in the last three games.

IUP DEFENSIVE LINE HAS SHOWCASED DEPTH; 11 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 35.5 TFLs and 19.0 sacks on the season. The 19 sacks are 86 pct of the team's total of 22. 
• Sr. DE Karon Gibson (Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury) leads all players with 7.5 TFLs and is second with 3.5 TFLs
• True Fr. DE Deandre Easterling (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) leads the team with 4.0 sacks and is second with 7.0 TFLs
• So. DT Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) started at defensive end against Clarion and tallied a career-high 12 tackles
• Battling through injuries R-Sr.. DE Jordan Batts (Homestead, Pa. /Jeannette) has 2.5 sacks over his last four games
• R-So. DT Jordan Diven (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) has responded to increased playing time recently, getting a career-high eight tackles at Slippery Rock
• R-So. DE Matt Mowad (Easton, Pa. /Easton) had 3.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks despite starting just three games due to injury

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE SECOND IN PSAC, TIED FOR 10TH IN NATION WITH 16 INTERCEPTIONS
In just eight games, the IUP defense has picked off 16 passes, which is second in the PSAC and is tied for 10th in Division II. True Fr. CB Mikale Makle (Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglas) leads the way with three picks, tallying one in three straight games against Seton Hill, Cal and Slippery Rock. 10 different players have at least one, with five players grabbing away two or more 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 tied for fourth in the nation averaging 2.0 passes defended per game. His total of 16 - 14 passes broken up and two interceptions - also leads the conference despite playing in just eight games. Watkins is within striking distance of the PSAC single season record of 20 that is held by Shippensburg's Deon Harrison (2000) and Slippery Rock's Admire Carter (2014). He's defended at least one pass in seven of eight games this year, including four breakups against Lock Haven.

IUP LINEBACKERS AGAIN PROVIDE DEPTH IN 2015
The Crimson Hawks boast a seasoned linebacking corps, with the top four players on the two deep combining for 101 games played and 43 starts. R-Jr. Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) leads IUP with 54 tackles this year, giving him an even 200 for his career. R-Sr. Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills), who is one of five current IUP players on the roster during the 2012 PSAC Championship season, has played in 36 career games with 159 tackles. Jr. Myles Catlin (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Obama) - have and classmate Nick Dubowski (Erie, Pa. /Cathedral Prep) - who is in his first year on defense after moving over from fullback - have added depth this year, combining for 28 tackles. Click on above PDF for more information.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: COMBINED 38 FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES SEE PLAYING TIME
A total of 60 players on the current roster have seen playing time this year, with the sophomores (22) and freshmen (16) accounting for the most. Those two classes have also combined for 86 of the 176 total starts this season. IUP's top five rushers, top three receivers, and five of its current starting defensive players all have either freshman or sophomore eligibility. Click on above PDF for more information.

IUP AT HOME IN MILLER STADIUM
Since 1986, IUP has a 141-31-1 (.818) overall record at George P. Miller Stadium. In those 29-plus seasons, IUP posted a perfect 7-0 home record six times and had 25 consecutive wins between 1989 and 1992. 11 times IUP has hosted an NCAA playoff game at Miller Stadium, boasting a 9-2 mark in those games.