GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#11/11 IUP Crimson Hawks (7-1, 5-1 PSAC West)
vs. Mercyhurst Lakers (2-7, 1-5 PSAC West)
Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 1:00 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 11th-ranked Crimson Hawks return home this Saturday to host Mercyhurst in the PSAC West finale. Kickoff at George P. Miller Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Crimson Hawks are riding a three-game win streak while posting three straight 40-point outings, including last week's 48-3 win over Gannon in Erie. IUP has also put up more than 500 total yards in each of the last two weeks. Mercyhurst enters the weekend having lost each of its last four games, giving up 55 points in losses to Seton Hill and California in successive weeks. IUP is 7-1 on the season and 5-1 in the PSAC West, while Mercyhurst is 2-7 and 1-5. 

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 Mercyhurst offense and special teams features RB/RS Richie Sanders, who leads the PSAC with 202.9 all-purpose yards per game; Sanders averages 64 rushing yards with five touchdowns, has caught 19 passes, averages 26.6 yards per kickoff return, and has a 66-yard punt return for a score
• R-Fr. QB Dan Altavilla has 16 passing touchdowns and averages 205 passing yards per game for the Lakers
• Mercyhurst mustered just 173 total yards last week against Cal and has combined for only 159 rushing yards in the last three weeks
• IUP is used to getting out to fast starts, outscoring opponents 250-104 in the first half; Mercyhurst has been outscored in the first 30 minutes of games a combined 216-92
• IUP brings the third highest scoring offense in Division II into this weekend's matchup, averaging 49.6 points per game; Mercyhurst gives up 40.3 points per game, including 155 points over the last three games
• IUP leads all of Division II with a +2.25 (+18) turnover margin, grabbing 19 interceptions and six fumbles; Mercyhurst has thrown 9 interceptions and lost three of nine fumbles
• IUP ranks second in the country with a 59.6 3rd down conversion percentage (65-109); Mercyhurst is last in Division II, allowing opponents to convert 49 percent of their chances
• IUP is 3-0 at home this year and has an eight-game home win streak dating back to last year 
• IUP owns a 6-2 edge in a series that dates back to 2008; Mercyhurst's only two wins came in 2009 and 2010
• HC Curt Cignetti is 5-0 against Mercyhurst, defeating the Lakers by an average of nearly 24 points since in the last four games

NOTEBOOK

CRIMSON HAWKS RANKED 5TH IN NCAA SUPER REGION ONE RANKINGS
For the second straight week, IUP is ranked fifth in the NCAA Division II Super Region One rankings (Oct. 31) 10-team list. The top seven teams in each region advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs, with the top seed receiving a first round bye while teams 2-4 will host the opening round. Page seven has more details.

IUP SEEKING 17TH ALL-TIME PLAYOFF BERTH AND THIRD SINCE 2012
The Crimson Hawks are looking for their second straight NCAA Division II playoff berth and third under HC Curt Cignetti since 2012. IUP has been to 16 playoffs since 1987, which is seventh most in Division II history. IUP's 19 playoff wins are also tied for the seventh all-time. 

CRIMSON HAWKS MOVE UP TO #11 IN BOTH THE COACHES AND MEDIA POLLS
After improving to 7-1 on the season, IUP bumped up one spot to No. 11 in both the AFCA Coaches and D2Football Media polls. IUP's highest ranking in each poll has been No. 6 and No. 9, respectively. 

CURT CIGNETTI OWNS .750 WINNING PERCENTAGE vs. PSAC WEST SCHOOLS
HC Curt Cignetti is 31-10 (.756) in his six seasons against schools from the PSAC West, including a 6-1 mark in 2012 and 2015. He is 5-1 this year after last week's win over Gannon. Cignetti has a 5-0 career record against Mercyhurst, including last year's 35-14 road victory. 

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 are currently on pace to break or threaten several program records this season, and rank in the top six in Division II in scoring (third), rushing (fifth) and total offense (sixth). IUP has scored 42 or more points in seven of its eight games and has 585 yards or more of total offense three times. 

"SPLASH PLAYS" FOR OFFENSE INCREASING IN 2016
IUP has 53 plays of 20 yards or more through eight games, an average of 6.6 per game and one for every 11.1 overall plays. The Crimson Hawks have 12 plays of 50 yards or more, including three plays covering more than 70. R-So. QB Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) has been responsible for 36 of these splash plays (30 pass, six rush), while Jr. WR Allen Wright (McKeesport, Pa. /McKeesport Area) has nine, including five that have gone for touchdowns. 

IUP LEADS THE NATION IN TURNOVER MARGIN
The Crimson Hawks have used a ball control offense and a ball-hawking defense to lead Division II with a +2.25 (+18) turnover margin this year. IUP has given the ball up a total of seven times - a tally that leads the nation - while taking it away 25 times (19 interceptions, six fumbles) this season. The Crimson Hawks forced a season-high five turnovers last week at Gannon.

IUP is 39-8 UNDER CURT CIGNETTI WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS
Cignetti has a 39-8 record when an IUP player rushes for at least 100 yards in a game, including a 6-1 mark this year. 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 TIED FOR SECOND IN NATION WITH 35 RUSHING SCORES; FIFTH IN RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
IUP's 35 rushing touchdowns are tied for second in the country and are just nine away from tying the single season program record of 44 in 12 games last year. Williams leads the team with 12 scores, while Bullock and Jr. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) each have eight. IUP's 283.9 rushing yards per game ranks fifth, with the Crimson Hawks going for more than 250 yards four times this season.  

LENNY WILLIAMS LEADS THE CRIMSON HAWKS' HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE
R-So. QB Lenny Williams is proving to be one of the top quarterbacks in Division II, as the dual threat has thrown for 1,763 yards, rushed for 579 yards, and has 25 total touchdowns. His 292.8 total yards per game is fourth in the PSAC and 25th in Division II. He's currently on a five-game streak recording at least one passing and rushing touchdown, totaling three scores in each of the past four games. His 468-yard, six touchdown outing in the season opener against ESU resulted in a 257.58 passer efficiency, the 10th best by a quarterback in Division II this year.  

WILLIAMS LEADS THE NATION IN EFFICIENCY, YARDS PER ATTEMPT, AND YARDS PER COMPLETION
On the strength of five games with at least a 200 passer efficiency, Williams leads the entire country with a mark of 208.1 this season. He also leads Division II with 19.16 yards per completion and 13.06 yards per pass attempt, as he's taken advantage of the Crimson Hawks' big play potential. 18 of his 92 completions have gone for 30 yards or more, including seven of 50-plus. His 89-yard touchdown pass to Wright is the second longest pass play in IUP history and one of the longest in Division II this year. 

WILLIAMS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES
In addition to leading the nation in passer efficiency, yards per attempt and yards per completion, Williams also heads into this week near the top in three other offensive categories - Eighth in completion percentage (68.1), 16th in points responsible for per game (18.8), and 21st in rushing touchdowns (12). 

SAMIR BULLOCK LEADS ALL TRUE FRESHMEN IN RUSHING
Fr. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) has come on as IUP's top back, ranking third in the PSAC and 29th in Division II with 100.9 rushing yards per game. That average is also the most among true freshmen in the country. His 6.5 yards per carry average is second in the conference and 18th in the nation, busting seven runs for more than 20 yards.

BULLOCK ALSO RANKS 34TH IN DIVISION II IN ALL-PURPOSE YARDS
Bullock leads the Crimson Hawks in kickoff return yards and average and is one of the top all-purpose yardage threats in the nation. His 144.0 all-purpose yards per game ranks seventh in the PSAC and 34th in Division II, and he leads IUP with 1,152 all-purpose yards. 

CRIMSON HAWKS BOAST THREE-HEADED RUSHING THREAT
Over the last two games, IUP has rushed for a combined 695 yards and nine touchdowns on 128 carries. That output is due not only to Williams and Bullock, but the re-emergence of Jr. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley), who has 197 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries during that span. Bothered by injury for the first half of the season, Temple broke out with a 153-yard, two touchdown performance against Clarion, his seventh career 100-yard game. Last week, he became the 14th player in program history to hit the 2,000-yard mark, and has 2,020 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns for his career. 

WALT PEGUES HAS STREAK OF 29 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
With three catches last week at Gannon, Jr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) has now caught a pass in 29 straight games. He finished with 110 yards and a touchdown on those three receptions, his seventh career 100-yard receiving game, including his third this season. That streak began with his first career game in 2014, and for his career, Pegues has 127 receptions for 1,962 yards and 11 touchdowns in 29 games. 

PEGUES ALREADY AMONG PROGRAM'S ALL-TIME RECEIVERS
Last week, Pegues moved into fifth place in IUP history with 127 catches, passing Tony Trave (1984-87), who had 125. He's now 12 receptions back of Lewis Hicks (1996-98), who is fourth with 139, and 87 behind Jai Hill (1988-91), IUP's all-time leader with 214 catches.

CONVERTED CORNER ALLEN WRIGHT HAS BECOME HUGE OFFENSIVE PLAYMAKER
Jr. WR Allen Wright (McKeesport, Pa. /McKeesport Area) has played just five games at receiver since converting from cornerback in fall camp, but has been one of IUP's top playmakers. Wright is tied for the team-lead with four touchdown catches and is tied for second on the team with 454 receiving yards. Eight of his 18 catches have gone for 20-plus yards, including three of 68 or more. 

IUP BOASTS DEEP SET OF RECEIVERS, ALL WITH BIG PLAY ABILITY
The Crimson Hawks feature four receivers who have at least 18 receptions this year, led by Pegues' 28. Gr. Chris Wuestner (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) has caught 25, while Wright has 18 and R-Fr. JoJo Gause (Rochester, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) each have 18. The quartet has combined for 32 receptions of more than 20 yards, as each averages at least 16.5 yards per catch. Wright's 25.2 average would rank third in Division II, but he has not played in 75 pct. of IUP's games. 

ALL-AMERICAN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN ETHAN COOPER HAS MADE 33 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 33rd 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 IN ALL EIGHT GAMES
The Crimson Hawks have trotted out the same offensive line grouping in each of its eight games this season. The group - which which features three seniors, a sophomore, and a redshirt freshman - has combined for 123 games played and 91 starts, and has paved the way for 283.9 rushing yards per game.

THE IUP DEFENSE IS STEPPING UP AT THE RIGHT TIME
The IUP defense has stepped up over the last three weeks, giving up averages of 13.0 points and 305 total yards to Slippery Rock, Clarion, and Gannon. The Crimson Hawks have forced 12 turnovers during that three-game span, including a season-high five last week at Gannon. 

IUP LEADS PSAC, RANKS THIRD IN DIVISION II WITH 19 INTERCEPTIONS
Despite playing one game less than most of the country, the Crimson Hawks lead the league and are third in Division II with 19 interceptions in eight games this season. They've picked off at least two passes in each game, including a season-high three against Seton Hill, Clarion and Gannon. R-Jr. CB Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School) leads the team with four interceptions and Jr. FS Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) has three. 

IUP HAS SCORED 18 DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS SINCE 2011; 44 SINCE 2003
The IUP defense has scored 18 touchdowns in its last 61 games since 2011, 44 total since the start of 2003. The Crimson Hawks are 14-1 when they score a defensive touchdown, including a 3-0 mark this year. Not included in this total are special teams touchdowns, which IUP has had three of in the last 11 games. Last year's total of six defensive touchdowns 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. 

KEVIN CLARKE HAS RETURNED TO FORM, LEADS THE PSAC IN TACKLES PER GAME
R-Sr. LB Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) leads the PSAC and is tied for 17th in Division II with 10.5 tackles per game. Despite missing the first two games due to injury and playing in just five full contests, Clarke also leads the team with 63 total stops. He's had four double-digit tackle games this year, including a season-high 16 at Cal. He now has 11 for his career. 

DEANDRE EASTERLING LEADING DEFENSIVE LINE UNIT
So. DE Deandre Easterling (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) leads the team with 5.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks this season, also leading all linemen with 25 total tackles. The Crimson Hawks feature a deep group with 14 players that have seen time this season, and have combined for 28.0 TFLs and 12.0 sacks. 
• Fr. DE Dondrea Tillman (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) has shown potential in his first year with 19 tackles and 3.5 TFLs
• Primarily a backup on the interior, R-Jr. DT Jordan Diven (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) has earned three starts and is second on the team with 5.0 TFLs; He also had an intereption at Cal
• Jr. DT Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) has missed two games this year due to injury, but is still second among linemen with 22 total tackles, and has 4.5 TFLs and 2.0 sacks; He had an eight-yard interception return for a touchdown at ESU and broke up a pass at the line last week at Gannon

IUP AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS WITH SIX BLOCKED KICKS
The Crimson Hawks are tied for fifth in the nation with six total blocked kicks, as IUP special teams units have blocked two field goals, two punts, and two extra points through eight 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 and eighth in the nation with two blocked kicks.