INDIANA, Pa. – The eighth-ranked Crimson Hawks outscored Seton Hill 19-6 in the second half, using three key interceptions in the fourth quarter, to come out with a 47-39 come-from-behind victory over the upset-minded Griffins on Saturday evening at George P. Miller Stadium.
 
The interceptions came from junior corner Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School), junior safety Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.), and senior linebacker Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin), all in succession on Seton Hill's final three possessions of the game. Clarke's came at the IUP 36-yard line with 33 seconds to play in the game, sealing the victory for the Crimson Hawks.
 
IUP stays perfect on the season, improving to 4-0 and 2-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. It was the second straight loss for Seton Hill, which falls to 3-2 and 0-2.
 
The Crimson Hawks found themselves down 33-28 at halftime after a nine-yard rushing score by redshirt sophomore quarterback Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) with 2:07 remaining in the quarter.
 
Seton Hill kept its momentum going in the third, as the Griffins scored on their first possession – a 42-yard pass play to take a 39-28 lead with 10:20 to play in the quarter.
 
That's when the Crimson Hawks swung that momentum back to their side.
 
UPDATED: The Griffins extra point was blocked by junior defensive end CJ Odegbo (Detroit, Mich./Southfield), and deflected towards Seton Hill's sideline, which was to the defense's right side. With several players converging toward the ball, IUP's Watkins picked up the ball, but was swarmed and tossed the ball to Turner at the 25-yard line on the sideline. He reversed course, heading back across the field toward the Crimson Hawks' bench, and when met with resistance around the 35-yard line, turned around and flipped the ball to Franco.
 
Franco continued his momentum toward the IUP bench, tip-toeing the sideline and weaving in and out of defenders before getting wrapped up at the Seton Hill two-yard line. He didn't give up, however, and lunged across the goal line for two points.
 
The IUP defense would not allow a single score the rest of the game, coming up with several stops in the third quarter to slow down the Griffins. The Crimson Hawks' special teams made another big play toward the end of the quarter, as redshirt senior Mason Tortorice (Elizabeth, Pa. /Elizabeth Forward) blocked a punt to give IUP the ball at the Griffins' 22.
 
The block was the second of the year for Tortorice, and with the blocked extra points earlier in the quarter, the fifth overall for the Crimson Hawks this year.
 
The change of field position led to a 29-yard field goal by senior Ryan Stewart (Indiana, Pa./Indiana), cutting Seton Hill's lead to 39-33 with 3:57 to play in the third.
 
On Seton Hill's ensuing drive, the Griffins advanced deep into IUP territory before Watkins made the first of those three straight picks, giving the Crimson Hawks the ball at their own eight. Nine plays and 92 yards later, freshman Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) barreled into the end zone from one yard out and the Crimson Hawks took a 40-39 lead.
 
Bullock tallied a new season-high for the second straight week, rushing for 162 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carriers. He also returned six kickoffs for 127 yards, totaling 289 all-purpose.
 
Turner's interception came at the IUP 33 with 6:07 remaining, and eventually led to a Williams to Chris Wuestner (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) 37-yard touchdown pass with 2:22 on the clock.
 
With Seton Hill driving again, Clarke made the final big play of the night, picking off the Griffins' Christian Strong and returning it 19 yards.
 
Turner finished with a career-high 14 tackles, making two stops behind the line of scrimmage, intercepting that pass and breaking up another. Clarke made 13 tackles, with one-for-loss, and that interception.
 
Franco had five tackles and broke up three passes, while Watkins broke up two additional passes to go along with his pick. Altogether, the Crimson Hawks broke up nine of 41 pass attempts on the night.
 
The IUP defense did give up 536 yards of total offense to Seton Hill, with Strong finishing 20-of-41 for 328 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Khalil Howard ran 31 times for 170 yards, as the usually pass heavy Griffins went for a more balanced attack on Saturday.
 
The Crimson Hawks built a 21-10 lead in the second quarter, but Howard and Strong led a second quarter surge for the Griffins that saw them score 23 straight points to take a 33-21 with 5:23 to play in the half.
 
Bullock scored IUP's first two touchdowns, while redshirt junior Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) added a three-yard score in the second. The Crimson Hawks ran for 205 yards and five touchdowns, and totaling 416 yards of total offense.
 
Williams finished 11-of-19 for 211 yards and a touchdown through the air, adding 35 yards and another score on the ground. His favorite target was Wuestner, who caught five passes for 143 yards and that late score. Junior wideout Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) did not see much time due to injury, but did catch two passes for 24 yards to extend his streak to 27 straight games with a reception.
 
The Crimson Hawks will face the first true test of the year next week when they hit the road to face rival California (Pa.) in the eighth annual Coal Bowl. The Vulcans entered the week ranked 24th in the nation before defeating previously unbeaten Slippery Rock 52-26 to improve to 4-0 on the year. Cal defeated Seton Hill 59-17 last weekend.
 
Kickoff at Cal is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.