GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#5 IUP Crimson Hawks (10-1, 6-1 PSAC West) 
at #1 California Vulcans (10-0, 7-0 PSAC West)
Saturday, November 26, 2016 | 1:00 p.m.
Adamson Stadium | California, Pa.

Watch: CALU-TV | CalVulcans.com/watch
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com 
Listen: Smartphone | U92 Sports App
Live Stats: NCAA.com | GameCenter
Live Updates: Twitter.com | @IUPfootball

THE GAME
The 11th-ranked Crimson Hawks continue their postseason run as they face rival California (Pa.) in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. Kickoff at Cal's Adamson Stadium is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday. IUP enters as the fifth seed in Super Region One, and is coming off of a dominant 62-13 win at fourth seed Fairmont State last weekend, improving to 10-1 on the year. Cal earned the top seed in the region and a first round bye with a perfect 10-0 mark. This weekend is a rematch of the de facto PSAC West championship game, a contest won by the Vulcans 31-28 on October 8 in California. 

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
• Today's game is a rematch of the 8th annual Coal Bowl back on October 8, a game won by the Vulcans 31-28 in Adamson Stadium
• This will be the first time these teams have played each other in the NCAA playoffs; IUP is making its 17th appearance in the playoffs, third since 2012, and Cal is making its sixth all-time, first since 2011
• This will be IUP's fourth ranked opponent of the year, falling to then-#15 Cal in October, before defeating #16 Slippery Rock the following week and #18 Fairmont State last week
• Jr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) will start on Saturday after not seeing the field in IUP's first game against Cal; Jr. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) and Fr. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) will also be at full strength after injuries during the first meeting
• This will be the third start behind center for So. QB Mike Pietropola (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro); He played the fourth quarter in the first meeting afte ran injury to QB Lenny Williams
• This is a matchup of two of the top scoring offenses in the nation: Cal - 52.1 (first), and IUP - 48.4 (fourth); However, both team's lowest point totals of the season came in their meeting on October 8
• IUP faces another top-ranked rush defense in Cal, which ranks sixth in the country allowing 81.3 yards per game; IUP ran for 235 yards on 40 carries in the first meeting
• Cal has 37 sacks this year, including 9.5 from Jordan Lardani; IUP has given up just 13 in 11 games this season
• IUP HC Curt Cignetti's playoff record stands at 4-2 after last week's win; He is 2-4 against Cal, both wins coming at home
• IUP is 25-10 under Cignetti in road games, including a 3-2 record when traveling for NCAA playoff games

NOTEBOOK

IUP IS MAKING IT'S 17TH ALL-TIME PLAYOFF APPEARANCE
2016 marks the 17th NCAA Division II playoff appearance for IUP, including it's second straight and third under HC Curt Cignetti. The Crimson Hawks advanced to the second round of last year's expanded (seven teams) playoff, and were Super Region One Finalists back in 2012. IUP has six appearances in the national semifinals (1989-91, 1993-94, 99) and played for the national championship in 1990 and 1993. 

CRIMSON HAWKS RANK #11 IN COACHES, #10 IN MEDIA POLLS HEADING INTO PLAYOFFS
IUP heads into the postseason ranked 11th in the AFCA Coaches, and 10th in the D2Football.com Media Polls. It's the first time since 2012 that the Crimson Hawks are ranked in both polls at the conclusion of the regular season. IUP's highest ranking in each poll this year is No. 6 (coaches) and No. 9 (media). 

IUP IS TOP 10 ALL-TIME IN DIVISION II PLAYOFF APPEARANCES AND WINS
The 17 all-time playoff appearances for IUP is tied for sixth all-time in Division II, while the program's 20 all-time playoff victories are seventh in Division II history. IUP's 20-16 playoff record has mainly come under two coaches - Cignetti has won four while his father, Frank Cignetti, guided the then-Indians to a 15-13 record in 13 playoff appearances.

CURT CIGNETTI IS 5-2 IN NCAA PLAYOFF AND PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Cignetti has an 8-9 overall record against top 25 teams, but is 5-2 against ranked opponents in the NCAA playoffs or in the PSAC Championship game. IUP is 6-3 under Cignetti in games when the Crimson Hawks are also ranked, including a 2-1 mark this year against #15 Cal, #16 Slippery Rock and #18 Fairmont State.

CRIMSON HAWKS OFFENSE IS ON AN HISTORICAL PACE
The IUP offense has shown dramatic improvement in year two of its spread system. The Crimson Hawks have already broken the program's rushing touchdown mark of 44, and are on pace to break or threaten several more records. IUP ranks in the top 11 in Division II in three major offensive categories - scoring (fourth), rushing (fourth) and total offense (11th) - has scored 42 or more points in nine of its 11 games, and has 500 yards or more of total offense five times. 

"SPLASH PLAYS" A BIG PART OF IUP's OFFENSE IN 2016
IUP has 69 plays of 20 yards or more through 11 games, an average of 6.3 per game and one for every 11.2 plays. The Crimson Hawks have 17 plays of 50 yards or more, with nine of those coming in the last five games. Jr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) has 15 20-yard receptions and Jr. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) has eight 20-yard rushes. 

IUP TIED FOR DIVISION II LEAD TURNOVER MARGIN
The Crimson Hawks have used a ball control offense and a ball-hawking defense to tie for the Division II lead with a +2.27 (+25) turnover margin. IUP forced a season-high six turnovers last week at Fairmont State and has taken it away a total of 35 times (24 interceptions, 11 fumbles) this season. 

IUP is 42-8 UNDER CURT CIGNETTI WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS
Cignetti has a 42-8 record when an IUP player rushes for at least 100 yards in a game, including a 9-1 mark this year. Fr. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) leads the team with five 100-yard games 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 7-0 when at least two players top the 100-yard mark. 

IUP RANKS FOURTH IN NATION IN RUSHING, SECOND IN RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
The Crimson Hawks boast one of the top running games in the country, as they rank fourth in Division II with 287.0 rushing yards per game and second with a second-record 47 rushing touchdowns. IUP has rushed for more than 250 yards in a game six times this season, including 372 last week at Fairmont State.

MIKE PIETROPOLA NOW 2-0 AS A STARTING QUARTERBACK
So. QB Mike Pietropola (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) has led IUP to wins in each of his two starts filling in for injured R-So. Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox), including last week's 62-13 win at Fairmont State. He's gone 14-24 for 214 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception through the air, adding 120 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries (13.3 avg) on the ground. This will be the second time the Vulcans see him this year, as he entered for an injured Williams in the fourth quarter and nearly led a game-tying final drive. 

BEFORE INJURY, LENNY WILLIAMS WAS ONE OF THE TOP PLAYERS IN DIVISION II
Williams was putting together a special season for the Crimson Hawks, as he threw for 1,832 yards and 14 touchdowns, adding 594 yards and 12 rushing scores in nine games. He currently leads Division II in passing efficiency (214.0), yards per attempt (13.47), and yards per completion (19.70), ranks seventh in completion percentage (68.4), and 21st in points responsible for per game (17.3). He had a streak of five straight games with a passing and rushing score, and his 468-yard, six touchdown outing against ESU resulted in a 257.58 passer efficiency, the 10th best by a quarterback in Division II this year. Williams is a Harlon Hill nominee for the second straight season.

CHRIS TEMPLE AVERAGING 127 YARDS ON THE GROUND OVER LAST 5 GAMES
After missing a game and parts of several others to start the season, Jr. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) has regained his 2015 form. Temple is averaging 127.6 yards with 12 touchdowns over the last five weeks, including four 100-yard games. In each of the last two games - Bloomsburg and Fairmont State - Temple did all of his work in the first half. He's averaging 7.0 yards per carry during that span, with seven rushes of more than 20 yards.  

SAMIR BULLOCK HAS FIVE 100-YARD GAMES, LEADS IUP IN RUSHING
Despite a recent dropoff with the emergence of Temple, Fr. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) leads IUP with 943 rushing yards. His 85.7 yards per game is second among all true freshmen in the country. Bullock has five 100-yard games, including a season-high 162 against Seton Hill, and eight touchdowns. He has eight rushes of more than 20 yards, including IUP's longest run of the year, a 63-yarder at East Stroudsburg. 

WALT PEGUES HAS STREAK OF 32 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
With six catches last week against Fairmont State, Jr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) extended his streak to 32 straight games with a reception. For the season, he leads IUP with 41 receptions, 929 yards, and eight touchdowns. His 22.7 yards per catch ranks 11th in Division II, and he has four 100-yard receiving games. 

PEGUES ALREADY AMONG PROGRAM'S ALL-TIME RECEIVERS
Pegues has climbed several spots in the IUP record books in recent weeks, moving up to third in career receiving yards (2,289) and fourth in receptions (140). He enters this week 13 behind Ken Witter (2005-08) for third in all-time catches, and is just 71 yards away from hitting the 1,000-yard mark for the first time.

IUP BOASTS BIG PLAY RECEIVING CORPS; STARTING GROUP AVERAGES 20 YARDS PER CATCH
The Crimson Hawks feature a group of four starting receivers who combined have 2,222 receiving yards and average over 20 yards per catch. The big play wideouts have 18 touchdown this season and have caught 37 passes that have gone for at least 20 yards, including seven of 68 or more. 

ETHAN COOPER A NOMINEE FOR THE GENE UPSHAW DIVISION II LINEMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sr. OL Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) is one of the top linemen in the country, as he was recently announced as a nominee for the Mainheim Touchdown Club's Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. Cooper has made 36 consecutive starts dating back to 2014, including 23 at left guard. He's a two-time first team All-PSAC West pick and was a third team All-American last year. Cooper earned preseason All-American hype this year from The Sporting News and D2Football.com. 

IUP BOASTS ONE OF THE TOP OFFENSIVE LINES IN THE COUNRY; SAME LINEUP FOR ALL 11 GAMES
The Crimson Hawks have trotted out the same offensive line grouping in each of its 11 games this season. The group - which which features three seniors, a sophomore, and a redshirt freshman - is arguably the best in the conference, with four players earning All-PSAC West recognition. They've combined for 138 games played and 106 starts, and has paved the way for 287.0 rushing yards per game.

IUP LEADS PSAC, RANKS THIRD IN DIVISION II WITH 24 INTERCEPTIONS
The IUP defense has been ball hawks all year, leading the PSAC and ranking third in Division II with 24 interceptions in 11 games this season. They've picked off at least two passes in a game 10 times, including a season-high three against Seton Hill, Clarion and Gannon. R-Jr. CB Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School) leads the team and is tied for third in the country with seven interceptions

IUP HAS SCORED FIVE DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS THIS YEAR, 20 SINCE 2011
The IUP defense has five touchdowns this season - three interception, two fumble - and has 20 touchdowns since the start of 2011. The Crimson Hawks are 16-1 when they score a defensive touchdown in the last six years, including 5-0 this year. Not included in this total are special teams touchdowns, which the Crimson Hawks have two of this season, and four in the last 15 games.

KEVIN CLARKE LEADS THE PSAC, NINTH IN DIVISION II IN TACKLES PER GAME
R-Sr. LB Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) has put together another outstanding year, as the former preseason All-American leads the PSAC and is ninth in Division II with 11.1 tackles per game. Last week, he hit 100 for the season for the second time in his career, bringing his total to 320. He has six double-figure tackle games in the last eight weeks, including a season-high 16 at Cal on Oct. 8. 

CRIMSON HAWKS FEATURE SEVERAL PLAYMAKERS ALONG THE DEFENSIVE FRONT
The Crimson Hawks feature a deep defensive line group that boasts 14 players who have seen time this season. They've combined for 36.0 TFLs and 16.0 sacks. 
• Jr. DT Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) remains a dominat force in the middle, as he leads all linemen with 31 tackles and has 6.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks despite missing four games with an injury; He also had an eight-yard interception return for a touchdown at East Stroudsburg
• Originally slated as a backup in the interior, R-Jr. DT Jordan Diven (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) has earned six starts and leads the team with 7.0 TFLs; He's added 3.0 sacks and picked off a pass at Cal
• So. DE Deandre Easterling (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) earned first team All-PSAC West honors thisi year with a team-high 4.5 sacks

IUP TIED FOR SECOND IN DIVISION II WITH EIGHT BLOCKED KICKS
The Crimson Hawks are one of the best teams in the nation in getting to the opposing kicker, tied for second in Division II with eight total blocked kicks. IUP special teams units have blocked three field goals, three punts, and two extra points through 11 games, and have scored on four 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. 

RYAN STEWART OWNS IUP SINGLE SEASON EXTRA POINT RECORD; 2ND AMONG KICKERS IN SCORING
Last week, Sr. K Ryan Stewart (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) broke the IUP single season record of 64 extra points, extending the mark to 71 by the end of the game. He's tied for the national lead with those 71 made PATs, and his 86 points scored are second in the conference and 14th in Division II among kickers.