GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#6/9 IUP Crimson Hawks (4-0, 2-0 PSAC West)
at #15/16 California (Pa.) Vulcans (4-0, 2-0 PSAC West)
Saturday, October 8, 2016 | 7:00 p.m.
Adamson Stadium | California, Pa.

Watch: CALU-TV | CalUVulcans.com/watch
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen: Smart phone | U92 Sports App
Live Stats: CalUVulcans.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUPfootball

THE GAME
The 6th-ranked Crimson Hawks face their biggest test of the season as they face 15th-ranked California (Pa.) in the eighth annual Coal Bowl. The Vulcans will host this year's version, which will kickoff at 7 p.m. at Adamson Stadium. Both teams enter this weekend with 4-0 records and tied atop the PSAC West with 2-0 league marks. IUP is coming off of a 47-39 comeback home victory over Seton Hill last Saturday, scoring 19 unanswered points to end the game. The Vulcans dominated then-9th-ranked Slippery Rock 52-26, handing SRU its first loss of the year.

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
• This is the first Coal Bowl since 2012 that both teams enter ranked in the top 25; That year, No. 6 Cal defeated No. 14 IUP 26-24 on a late field goal
• It is the second straight prime time kickoff in Coal Bowl history, with IUP defeating Cal 20-15 at Miller Stadium last year
• Saturday's game features the top two scoring teams in Division II - the Vulcans average 62.8 points while IUP scores 57.8 per game; Although, the average score of the last six meetings between these two teams is:
Cal 19, IUP 17
• The Vulcans have scored eight times with their defense or special teams this season, including three interception returns, three fumble returns, a safety, and a kickoff return
• This matchup also features the top two efficient quarterbacks in Division II - IUP's Lenny Williams leads the nation with a 221.3 passer efficiency and Cal's Michael Keir is second with a 200.4 passer efficiency
• IUP rushed for 388 yards in last year's meeting; RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) ran for a career-high 255 yards and QB Lenny Williams had 134
• Cal leads the PSAC in scoring defense (11.5 ppg), total defense (234.8 ypg) and rushing defense (52.0 ypg), but two of their opponents have the worst offenses in the league (Millersville, Cheyney)
• IUP's 231 points in its first four games are the most in a four-game stretch in program history
• IUP HC Curt Cignetti is 2-3 against Cal, with the two wins coming in the last three years
• Cal HC Gary Dunn has the Vulcans off to their first 4-0 start since the 2012 season

NOTEBOOK

CRIMSON HAWKS A TOP 10 TEAM IN BOTH THE COACHES AND MEDIA POLLS
For the second straight week, IUP is ranked in the top 10 of both the AFCA Coaches and D2Football.com Media polls. The Crimson Hawks moved up two spots to No. 6 in the AFCA poll and are now ranked No. 9 by the D2Football.com poll. IUP opened the season at Nos. 8 and 15 in those polls, respectively. 

IUP AND CAL BATTLE IN THE EIGHTH ANNUAL COAL BOWL
Beginning in 2009, this year will be the eighth installment of the yearly trophy game between rivals IUP and California. The Vulcans have won five of the previous seven Coal Bowl games, but IUP has taken two of the past three, including home wins in 2013 (20-7) and 2015 (20-15). The closest Coal Bowl came with both teams ranked in 2012 - #6 Cal defeated #14 IUP 26-24 at Adamson Stadium.

CURT CIGNETTI OWNS .757 WINNING PERCENTAGE vs. PSAC WEST SCHOOLS
HC Curt Cignetti is 28-9 (.757) in his six seasons against schools from the PSAC West, including a 6-1 mark in 2012 and 2015. He is 2-0 this year. Cignetti is 2-3 against the Vulcans, winning the Coal Bowl in 2013 and 2015, both at Miller Stadium. 

CURT CIGNETTI IS 6-8 AGAINST RANKED TEAMS; 4-2 WHEN IUP IS ALSO RANKED
Cignetti has a 6-8 record against top 25 teams, but is 4-2 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 OUT TO AN HISTORICAL START
The IUP offense is off to its best start - ever. Through four games, IUP has scored 231 points, the most in the first four games in program history. In fact, its the best four-game stretch of any IUP team in its illustrious history. Currently, the Crimson Hawks rank in the top five in Division II in three of the four major offensive statistical categories - second in total offense (562.0), second in scoring (57.8) and fifth in rushing (323.0). The Crimson Hawks are also third in passing efficiency (203.8) and 24th in passing offense (287.7). 

THE BIG PLAYS LOOK TO CONTINUE IN 2016
The Crimson Hawks have 28 plays of 20 yards or more through four games this season, including eight last week against Seton Hill. R-So. QB Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) has been responsible for 17 of those long plays, all passing, including a 72-yard scoring toss to Jr. Allen Wright (McKeesport, Pa. /McKeesport Area), the longest IUP offensive play since 2008. 

IUP is 36-7 UNDER CURT CIGNETTI WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS
In his five-plus seasons as head coach, Cignetti has a 36-7 record when an IUP player rushes for at least 100 yards in a game. Fr. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) has reached the century mark three times this year, rushing for a season-high 162 yards last week against Seton Hill. Bullock is one of five players on the current roster to have a 100-yard game, and one of 11 players during the Cignetti era to go over the century mark. Cignetti is also 6-0 when two players top the 100-yard mark, with four of those wins coming last year. 

LENNY WILLIAMS CONTINUING WHERE HE LEFT OFF AFTER STANDOUT FRESHMAN YEAR
R-So. QB Lenny Williams had his best collegiate game against East Stroudsburg, totaling 468 yards and six touchdowns in the 31-point victory. His passing totals of 380 yards and three touchdowns were both career-highs, and his 468 total yards is the second most in program history to his own 504 yards last year at Slippery Rock. Williams had a breakout year in his first season with the Crimson Hawks in 2015, earning top freshman honors in both Super Region One and the PSAC West, and earned second team all-league honors at quarterback. His all-around playmaking abilities made him one of 38 nominees for the 2015 Harlon Hill Trophy, given annually to the Division II Football Player of the Year. 

WILLIAMS LEADS THE NATION IN COMPLETION PERCENTAGE, PASSING EFFICIENCY
Through four games, Williams leads all of Division II with a 74.3 completion percentage and a 221.3 passing efficiency. He's completed 52-of-70 passes for 950 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. His output against ESU, according to passer efficiency, is the fourth best outing by a Division II quarterback this season and a new IUP single game record. He's played in 11.5 of IUP's 16 quarters this season, seeing his first full game against Seton Hill. 

WILLIAMS IS ALSO 16TH IN DIVISION II IN POINTS RESPONSIBLE FOR PER GAME
Williams has accounted for 13 touchdowns - seven passing, six rushing - in the first four games of his 2016 season. That averages out to 19.5 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 THREE GAMES
IUP is fifth in the nation with 293.5 rushing yards per game, and has used eight different ball carriers in the first four games to reach that average. Bullock is the Crimson Hawks leader with 475 yards, seven touchdowns and a 7.5 yards per carry average. Williams is second with 224 yards. 

SAMIR BULLOCK RANKS 15TH IN THE COUNTRY IN RUSHING
Bullock has come on as IUP's top back, ranking second in the PSAC and 15th in Division II with 118.8 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 sixth in the nation. Over his last two games, Bullock is averaging 157.5 yards, has scored five touchdowns, and has four runs of 20 yards or more.

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 joined Jr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) as one of the top all-purpose threats in the conference, and the nation. Bullock ranks fourth in Division II with 189.5 total yards per game, including a season-high 289 against Seton Hill.

WALT PEGUES RANKS THIRD 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 third in the PSAC and 24th 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 seventh in the league, fourth in the division. 

PEGUES EXTENDS STREAK TO 27 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
With two receptions in limited time last week, Pegues extended his consecutive games with a catch streak to 27 straight. 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.

NEWCOMER CHRIS WUESTNER DEVELOPING INTO A THREAT IN THE PASS GAME
Despite joining the team 10 days before the opener, Gr. WR Chris Wuestner (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) is second on the team with 15 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns. He has a pair of 100-yard receiving games, catching eight for 169 at Cheyney and five for 143 against Seton Hill. He's also made an impact on special teams, picking up a blocked punt and returning it 12 yards for a touchdown. 

ALL-AMERICAN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN ETHAN COOPER MAKES POSITION CHANGE  
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 29th 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 FOUR 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 four games. The group - which features three seniors, a sophomore, and a redshirt freshman - have helped pave the way for 293.5 rushing yards per game, and have allowed just five 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 two of in the last seven 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 four games this year. Despite playing just three games, Fr. DE Dondrea Tillman (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) leads all linemen with 14 tackles, adding 2.5 TFLs and a sack despite not registering a start. 
• Altogether, IUP linemen have combined for 88 tackles, 14.5 TFLs and 5.5 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 started each of the last two games for IUP; He's tied for the team-lead with 3.5 TFLs and is first overall with 2.0 sacks
• Jr. CJ Odegbo (Detroit, Mich./Southfield) has posted 12 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 last week's comeback win
• Jr. NT Justin Weldon (Easton, Pa. /Easton Area) moved into the starting lineup and has 21 career games under his belt; He had a season-high three tackles against ESU
• Jr. DT Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) highlights the group as a returning all-region and All-PSAC performer who has 88 tackles and 16.5 TFLs in 25 career games; He scored his first career touchdown on an eight-year interception return at ESU

KEVIN CLARKE MARKED HIS RETURN IN A BIG WAY AGAINST SETON HILL
After seeing limited time in his return to the lineup against Edinboro, R-Sr. LB Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) broke out with 13 tackles in the win over Seton Hill. Clarke also made the game-clinching play, picking off a pass with under a minute to play at the IUP 36 yard line. He now has eight career double-digit tackle games. 

TAKHI TURNER NAMED PSAC WEST DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AFTER BIG PERFORMANCE
Jr. FS Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) earned PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week honors after recording a career-high 14 tackles with 2.0 TFLs, an interception and pass breakup against Seton Hill. He also played a role in IUP's blocked PAT returned for two points. Turner leads IUP with 28 total tackles this season.

IUP LEADS PSAC, TIED FOR 14TH IN DIVISION II WITH 9 INTERCEPTIONS
Despite playing one game less than most of the country, the Crimson Hawks lead the league and are tied for 14th in Division II with nine interceptions this season. They've picked off at least two passes in each game this year, with a season-high three coming in last week's win over 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 IUP special teams units have combined for five blocked kicks - two field goals, two punts, one extra point - through four games in 2016. 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. The most exciting, and important, block came on that PAT last week against Seton Hill.

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 16 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.