GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#13/13 IUP Crimson Hawks (4-1, 2-1 PSAC West)
vs. #16/22 Slippery Rock "The Rock" (5-1, 2-1 PSAC West)
Saturday, October 15, 2016 | 2:00 p.m.
Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium | Indiana, Pa.

Watch: IUP-TV | youtube.com
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen (smartphone): U92 Sports App
Live Stats: IUPAthletics.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUPfootball

THE GAME
The 13th-ranked Crimson Hawks return to Indiana to host rival and 16th-ranked Slippery Rock for IUP Homecoming 2016. Kickoff at Miller Stadium on Saturday is set for 2 p.m. IUP is coming off of its first defeat of the season, running out of time in a 31-28 loss at 15th-ranked California on Saturday night. The Crimson Hawks, now 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC West, hope to not fall in another rivalry game, as The Rock enters this week coming off of a 37-25 win over Mercyhurst, as they improved to 5-1 and 2-1. Slippery Rock's one loss this year also came to Cal, dropping a 52-26 decision to the Vulcans two weeks ago. 

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
• The big question for IUP is 'Who will start at quarterback?' R-So. Lenny Williams was injured in the fourth quarter against Cal, with So. Mike Pietropola (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) finishing the game under center
• Overall, both teams enter this weekend with injury issues and questions all along their respective two-deeps with plenty of game-time decisions to be made
• IUP is 10-2 in its last 12 Homecoming games dating back to 2004; The Crimson Hawks have hosted rival Slippery Rock twice for Homecoming, winning 33-16 in 2012 and 23-16 (2 OT) in 2008
• IUP has faced back-to-back ranked opponents twice in the last six seasons, both instances coming in the NCAA playoffs
• This is the only Division II matchup that features a game with two ranked opponents
• The Crimson Hawks are outscoring opponents 96-65 in the second half of games this year; Meanwhile, SRU has been outscored a combined 98-94 in the final 30 minutes of games
• Slippery Rock has turned the ball over 10 times (five interceptions, five fumbles) and has given up 52 points off of those turnovers
• IUP has lost three straight to The Rock dating back to 2013; It's the longest losing streak for IUP in the series since 1997-99
• IUP is 16-9 against Slippery Rock in Miller Stadium dating back to 1965, and just 5-3 vs. its rival since 2000; SRU won the 2014 match 31-21
• IUP HC Curt Cignetti is 1-4 against Slippery Rock, including that 33-16 win in 2012; That was the last time that IUP held a national ranking when facing SRU

NOTEBOOK

CRIMSON HAWKS LOSE GROUND IN BOTH THE COACHES AND MEDIA POLLS
After last week's loss, the Crimson Hawks dropped to No. 13 in both the AFCA Coaches and D2Football.com Media polls. IUP was ranked No. 6 by the coaches and No. 9 by the media heading into the week. 

CURT CIGNETTI OWNS .737 WINNING PERCENTAGE vs. PSAC WEST SCHOOLS
HC Curt Cignetti is 28-10 (.737) in his six seasons against schools from the PSAC West, including a 6-1 mark in 2012 and 2015. He is 2-1 this year after last week's loss to Cal. Cignetti is 1-4 against Slippery Rock, with the win coming at home in 2012 (33-16). 

CIGNETTI IS 8-4 IN GAMES FOLLOWING A LOSS
Since 2011, Cignetti and IUP are 8-4 in games following a regular season loss. Back-to-back losses have happened four times - 2011 (Bloomsburg & Slippery Rock); 2013 (Slippery Rock & Edinboro); and twice in 2014 (California & Slippery Rock, Gannon & West Chester). The Crimson Hawks have face ranked opponents in successive weeks twice in the last six years, going 3-1 against Shippensburg, Shepherd, New Haven and Winston-Salem State in 2012, and 1-1 against Charleston and Shepherd last year. 

CIGNETTI IS 6-9 AGAINST RANKED TEAMS; 4-3 WHEN IUP IS ALSO RANKED
Cignetti has a 6-9 record against top 25 teams, but is 4-3 in those games when the Crimson Hawks are also ranked. IUP went 1-2 last year against ranked opponents, all on the road, with the two losses coming by a combined total of five points. 

CRIMSON HAWKS OFFENSE IS ON AN HISTORICAL PACE
Despite a slight drop off in some statistical categories over the last two games, the IUP offense is currently on pace to break or threaten several program records this season. The Crimson Hawks have already set school records for most points over stretches of two, three, four and five games, and with nearly 52 points per game, are well ahead of the record pace (38.7). IUP's average of 532.0 yards of total offense is fourth in the nation and is well ahead of the record of 445.2 from 1991. 

"SPLASH PLAYS" FOR OFFENSE INCREASING IN 2016
IUP has 37 plays of 20 yards or more through five games, an average of 7.4 per game. Last year at this time the Crimson Hawks were averaging 4.58 per game and finished with 55 in 12 games. R-So. QB Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) has been responsible for 23 splash plays, with IUP totaling 22 passing and 15 rushing. Williams' 72-yard scoring toss to Jr. WR Allen Wright (McKeesport, Pa. /McKeesport Area) at ESU is the longest IUP offensive play since 2008. 

IUP is 36-8 UNDER CURT CIGNETTI WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS
Cignetti has a 36-8 record when an IUP player rushes for at least 100 yards in a game, including 3-1 this year.  Fr. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) has three 100-yard outings this year and is one of five players on the current roster - and 11 players during the Cignetti era -  to go over the century mark in a game. Cignetti is also 6-0 when two players top the 100-yard mark, with four of those wins coming last year. 

LENNY WILLIAMS AMOUNG NATIONAL LEADERS IN PASS EFFICIENCY, COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
Heading into this week, R-So. QB Lenny Williams ranks second in Division II with a 193.4 passing efficiency and eighth with a 68.1 completion percentage. His passer efficiency of 257.58 against ESU is the sixth best outing by a Division II quarterback this season and a new IUP single game record. This year, Williams has completed 64-of-94 passes for 1,112 yards - 222.4 per game - with eight touchdowns and just one interception. That one pick came last week, as he went 74 passes to open the season without an interception. 

WILLIAMS USES BIG PLAYS IN THE PASS GAME, AVERAGES OVER 17 YARDS PER COMPLETION
The signal caller ranks among the nation's elite in downfield passing, as Williams heads into this week second in Division II averaging 11.83 yards per attempt and fifth with 17.38 yards per completion. Both of those numbers lead the PSAC. 12 of his 64 completions have gone for 31 yards or more, including four of 45-plus yards. 

WILLIAMS IS ALSO 16TH IN DIVISION II IN POINTS RESPONSIBLE FOR PER GAME
Williams has accounted for 16 touchdowns - eight passing, eight rushing - in the first five games of his 2016 season. That averages out to 19.2 points responsible for per game, which ranks 16th in Division II. Last year, Williams totaled 21 touchdowns - nine passing, 12 rushing - in 12 games. 

CRIMSON HAWKS HAVE USED A BEVY OF BALL CARRIERS THROUGH FIVE GAMES
IUP is sixth in the nation with 281.8 rushing yards per game, and has used 10 different ball carriers in the first five games to reach that average. Fr. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) is the Crimson Hawks leader with 508 yard with a 7.5 yards per carry average and seven touchdowns. Williams is second with 347 yards. 

SAMIR BULLOCK IS NATION'S TOP TRUE FRESHMAN RUSHER
Bullock has come on as IUP's top back, ranking fifth in the PSAC and 33rd in Division II with 101.6 rushing yards per game. That average is also the most among true freshmen in the country. His 7.5 yards per carry average is also ninth in the nation, busting six runs for more than 20 yards. In the two-game stretch against Edinboro and Seton Hill, Bullock averaged 157.5 yards per game with five touchdowns.

BULLOCK ALSO AMONG NATION'S TOP ALL-PURPOSE THREATS
In addition to his running back duties, Bullock has also seen time returning kicks as he's become one of the top all-purpose threats in the conference and in Division II. Bullock ranks fifth in the PSAC and 15th in the country with 165.6 total yards per game, including games of 289 yards against Seton Hill and 239 yards at East Stroudsburg. 

WALT PEGUES RANKS SECOND IN THE PSAC IN RECEIVING YARDS PER GAME
A former all-region honoree as a kick returner, Pegues has turned into a dominant receiver, as he ranks second in the PSAC and 21st in Division II with 104.8 receiving yards per game, despite playing in just two full games. Totaling 23 receptions for 419 yards and three touchdowns, his 5.8 receptions per game is fifth in the league, third in the division. 

PEGUES STREAK STILL AT 27 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
Sidelined with an injury at California, Pegues' streak of 27 straight games with a reception remained intact. That stretch began with his first career game in 2014. For his career, Pegues has 125 receptions for 1,779 yards and 10 touchdowns in 27 games.

COMPLIMENTARY RECEIVING CORPS SHOWING DEPTH AND VERSATILITY
Aside from Pegues, the Crimson Hawks have featured a trio of receivers who have flashed big play excitement and given the team depth at the position. Gr. Chris Wuestner (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) is second on the team with 18 catches and 367 yards, adding two touchdowns. R-Fr. JoJo Gause (Rochester, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) has caught 13 balls for 213 yards, and is tied with Pegues for the team-lead with three touchdowns. Jr. Allen Wright (McKeesport, Pa. /McKeesport Area) has played in only two games at the position, but has nine catches for 183 yards and a score, including a seven-catch, 97-yard game at Cal. Combined, the three average 19.5 yards per catch.  

ALL-AMERICAN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN ETHAN COOPER HAS MADE 30 STRAIGHT STARTS
Sr. OL Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) started the season opener as IUP's right tackle, a change from his usual spot at left guard. An All-American pick last season, he made his 30th consecutive start last week, which includes 23 straight games at left guard. He's earned preseason All-American hype this year from The Sporting News and D2Football.com. 

EXPERIENCED OFFENSIVE LINE HAS SEEN SAME LINEUP FOR FIRST FIVE GAMES
After some minor reshuffling in fall camp, an IUP offensive line with two new starters this year has had the same lineup in the first five games. The group - which features three seniors, a sophomore, and a redshirt freshman - have paved the way for 281.3 rushing yards per game, and have allowed just seven sacks.

IUP HAS SCORED 16 DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS SINCE 2011; 42 SINCE 2003
Annually one of the PSAC's - and the nation's - strongest defenses, IUP has scored 16 total defensive touchdowns since 2011 and 42 since 2003. IUP didn't wait long to get its first of 2016, with Jr. DT Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) returning an interception eight yards for a second quarter score at ESU. Since 2011, the Crimson Hawks are 13-1 in games when they return an interception or a fumble for a touchdown, with the only loss coming in the 2015 season opener to Kutztown (34-33). Not included in this total are special teams touchdowns, which IUP has had three of in the last eight games. Last year's total of six was 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. 

THE IUP DEFENSIVE LINE FIGHTS THROUGH INJURIES WITH DEPTH
The Crimson Hawks feature a defensive front that has seen 14 players see time this season as a result of blowouts and injuries in the first five games this year. Despite missing the first game, Fr. DE Dondrea Tillman (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) leads all linemen with 15 tackles, adding 3.0 TFLs and 1.5 sacks despite not registering a start. 
• Altogether, IUP linemen have combined for 109 tackles, 15.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks.
• In his first full year at end after making the switch from linebacker last year, R-So. Diamond Jones (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) has 13 total tackles and 2.0 TFLs
• R-Jr. DT Jordan Diven (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) has filled in with two starts this year; He leads the team with 3.5 TFLs and 2.0 sacks, and had an interception last week at Cal
• Jr. CJ Odegbo (Detroit, Mich./Southfield) has posted 13 tackles and leads all linemen with 10 solo stops; He also blocked a Seton Hill PAT attempt that was returned for two points and swung the momentum in the comeback win
• Jr. NT Justin Weldon (Easton, Pa. /Easton Area) moved into the starting lineup and has 22 career games under his belt; He had a season-high four tackles against Cal
• Jr. DT Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) returned to the lineup at Cal after missing the previous two weeks; In limited time, he has 10 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, a sack and an eight-yard interception returned for a touchdown

KEVIN CLARKE HAS RETURNED TO FORM AFTER MISSING START OF THE SEASON
After seeing limited time in his return to the lineup against Edinboro, R-Sr. LB Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) has broken out with 29 tackles over this last two games, including 16 last week at Cal. Clarke also made the game-clinching play, picking off a pass with under a minute to play in the comeback win over Seton Hill. He now has nine career double-digit tackle games. 

IUP LEADS PSAC, TIED FOR 13TH IN DIVISION II WITH 11 INTERCEPTIONS
Despite playing one game less than most of the country, the Crimson Hawks lead the league and are tied for 13th in Division II with 11 interceptions this season. They've picked off at least two passes in each game this year, with a season-high three coming against Seton Hill. All three of those came in the fourth quarter and on successive SHU possessions. Last year, IUP finished eighth with 22 interceptions in 12 games, six returned for touchdowns. 

IUP AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS WITH FIVE BLOCKED KICKS
The Crimson Hawks are third in the nation with five total blocked kicks, as IUP special teams units blocking two field goals, two punts, and one extra point through five games. The Crimson Hawks have scored on three of those, including a 95-yard blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Jr. DB Eric Doe (Darby, Pa. /Academy Prep), the fifth longest play in IUP history. R-Sr. DL Mason Tortorice (Elizabeth, Pa. /Elizabeth Forward) is tied for first in the PSAC with two blocked kicks. 

RYAN STEWART RANKS THIRD IN PSAC, 13TH IN NATION IN SCORING BY A KICKER
Sr. K Ryan Stewart (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) has rebounded well from an up-and-down first season at IUP in 2015, as he ranks third in the conference and 13th in Division II in scoring by a kicker with 8.2 points per game. His 35 extra points made are second in the PSAC, as he's on pace to threaten the IUP all-time record of 64 in a season.

MIKE PIETROPOLA SEES TIME ON SPECIAL TEAMS, AT QUARTERBACK
So. QB Mike Pietropola (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) has proven his value at several positions in his 17 career games, seeing time on the kickoff team, as a holder, punt returner, and in the defensive backfield as a true freshman in 2015. After converting to wide receiver this spring, he was forced to move back to quarterback - his original position - for fall camp.