ERIE, Pa. – The IUP defense returned three of its four interceptions for touchdowns and limited Mercyhurst to just six rushing yards as the Crimson Hawks defeated the Lakers 35-14 on Saturday afternoon at Tullio Field.
The Crimson Hawks received interception returns from sophomore safety
Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) (seven yards), senior linebacker
Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Woodland Hills) (80 yards), and junior safety
Steve Franco (Tyrone, Pa. /Tyrone ) (50 yards). The final pick was Franco's second of the game and came with 3:25 left in the fourth quarter to slam the door shut on a possible Mercyhurst comeback.
The loss for Mercyhurst was its first since Sept. 27, 2014, as IUP ended the Lakers' 10-game win streak. That loss last September also came to the Crimson Hawks as IUP won 41-7 in Indiana.
It was the opening game on the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division schedule for both teams, with IUP improving to 2-1 overall on the year while Mercyhurst fell to 3-1.
The Crimson Hawks allowed just eight rushing yards on 10 carries to former All-PSAC West running back Brandon Brown-Dukes. The Lakers were forced to pass on nearly all of their 61 plays, going 26-of-47 for 357 yards and two scores. They also tossed four interceptions, with Franco picking off two of those.
The IUP offense was led by sophomore running back
Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic), who received a bulk of the work with 26 carries for a career-high 164 yards and a touchdown. The Crimson Hawks ran for 226 yards on the day, with sophomore
Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) gaining 25 yards and redshirt freshman
Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) finishing with 23.
Williams quarterbacked an efficient passing game, finishing 14-of-23 for 127 yards and a touchdown as he played the entire game behind the center. Sophomore
Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) was the main target with five receptions for 40 yards.
The Crimson Hawks took the opening kick and used 5:56 of the clock, driving 70 yards in 15 plays before ultimately turning it over on fourth down at the Mercyhurst one. Two plays later, Turner made up for the turnover on downs as he picked of Lakers' quarterback Brendan Boylan at their own seven yard line and took it in for the score.
IUP's second drive began with a 51-yard run by Lista-Brinza, and ended three plays later when Williams found sophomore tight end
CJ Jackson (Gibsonia, Pa. /Pine-Richland) for a six-yard touchdown.
The game settled down, as neither team scored for a combined six consecutive drives until Boylan found John Matarazzo for a three-yard touchdown with 2:19 left before the half. Mercyhurst took the opening possession of the third quarter and drove all the way to the IUP 25, looking to tie the game before Lane picked off Boylan's pass at the 20 and raced untouched 80 yards for a touchdown.
It was the second consecutive game that Lane has returned an interception for a score, taking one back 19 yards last week against Lock Haven. It was also his third career defensive touchdown.
The Crimson Hawks forced Mercyhurst into a three-and-out on the ensuing drive and followed that up with an eight-play, 74-yard drive, capped by a 13-yard touchdown by Lista-Brinza with 6:50 left in the third.
Mercyhurst added a touchdown on its next drive to cut the lead to 14 entering the fourth quarter, but IUP buckled down with both of Franco's interceptions to go along with a 13-play drive to help milk the clock.
The Crimson Hawks now have nine interceptions in three games this year, with five of those returned for touchdowns. IUP had three picks all of last season.
The six rushing yards was the lowest given up by the Crimson Hawks since allowing negative eight to Clarion on Nov. 1, 2014.
IUP continues with PSAC West play next weekend, welcoming Edinboro to George P. Miller Stadium for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.
