GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#9/13 IUP Crimson Hawks (1-0, 0-0 PSAC West)
at Cheyney Wolves (1-1, 0-0 PSAC East)
Saturday, September 17, 2016 | 1:00 p.m.
O'Shields Stevenson Stadium | Cheyney, Pa.

Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUPfootball

THE GAME
The 9th-ranked Crimson Hawks continue with their season-opening road trip as they head back out East to face Cheyney on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from O'Shields Stevenson Stadium. IUP is coming off of its best offensive performance in program history, totaling 789 yards in a 73-42 win at East Stroudsburg last Saturday night. The yardage total is the second best in conference history, while the 73 points are third most in school history. Cheyney lost to California (Pa.) 79-3 last weekend, but ended its 43-game losing streak with a 21-20 win over rival Lincoln to open 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
• Today's game marks the 500th for celebrated IUP play-by-play man Jack Benedict, who has been calling games since 1969; He's called 359 IUP wins, 16 NCAA playoff appearances, including national title appearances in 1990 and 1993, and has seen several of the best football players in program history
• After the offensive explosion (73 points) last week against ESU, the question is what the Crimson Hawks can do this week as an encore. Cheyney has lost 44 of its last 45 games, and gave up 79 points to California (Pa.) last Saturday
• Backup junior running backs Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) and Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic) are slated to return this week, giving IUP a full complement of six backs who could see playing time; Four were used last week to rush for a combined 233 yards
• Lost in the offensive output from a week ago were the 42 points that the IUP defense gave up at ESU; The Crimson Hawks will look to rebound from allowing 497 yards (309 pass, 188 rush) of total offense and 23 first downs to the Warriors
• This is IUP's third trip to Cheyney, winning the first two matchups in 2006 and 2012 by a combined score of 89-6
• IUP HC Curt Cignetti is 3-0 against Cheyney, outscoring the Wolves by a combined 167-0; the last CU touchdown in this series came four meetings ago in 2007, an 80-14 IUP victory
• Cignetti is 12-4 all-time against PSAC East teams, including a three-game win streak that dates back to a 38-13 victory over Lock  Haven in 2015

NOTEBOOK

LAST WEEK WAS THE BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE IN PROGRAM HISTORY
IUP had arguably the best offensive performance in program history in last weekend's 73-42 victory at East Stroudsburg. The Crimson Hawks put up 789 yards in total offense, the second most in PSAC history, and tied a school record with 35 first downs. IUP's 73 points are third most in school history, behind 80 against Cheyney in 2007, and 75 against Northwood in 1968. More points could have been scored, with IUP taking a knee on ESU's two-yard line in the final minute of play. The Crimson Hawks rushed for 395 yards and passed for 394. 

IUP IN SEASON OPENERS
IUP improved to 50-33-3 all-time in season openers with last week's win at East Stroudsburg. The Crimson Hawks had a recent streak of nine consecutive wins from 2006-2014 and have won 16 of the last 19 to start the season. 

CIGNETTI IN SEASON OPENERS
IUP HC Curt Cignetti is now 5-1 in season openers with the Crimson Hawks, outscoring opponents by an average score of 39.6-27.3 in wins over East Stroudsburg (2011, 2016), Southern Connecticut State (2012, 2013) and Saint Augustine's (2014). In his 34-year coaching career, Cignetti is 24-10 in season openers, going 19-9 as an assistant at Pitt, Davidson, Rice, Temple, NC State and Alabama from 1983-2010. 

IUP vs. THE PSAC EAST
Since 2006, IUP is 25-7 (.781) against teams from the PSAC East, including wins in each of its last three cross-divisional games - Lock Haven 38-13 (2015), Cheyney 62-0 (2015), ESU (73-42). IUP is 5-0 against Cheyney since 2006. 

CRIMSON HAWKS ENTERING YEAR 2 OF THE SPREAD OFFENSE
If the season-opener was any indication, the Crimson Hawks will have a big year offensively in the second year of the spread offense, which was brought in by OC Marty Higgins in 2015. IUP averaged 35.8 points per game last season, and broke the single season program record by averaging 293.6 rushing yards per game, a mark that ranked fifth in the country. 

THE BIG PLAYS LOOK TO CONTINUE IN 2016
Last year's new offense provided plenty of excitement, with 58 total plays of 20 yards or more in 12 games (4.83 per game). The Crimson Hawks got off to a good start of trying to better that output in the opener, totaling 11 plays of 20-plus yards against East Stroudsburg. Five different players had big rushing plays, while R-So. QB Lenny Williams found three different receivers on his six 20-plus yard passing plays. Three plays went for more than 50 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Jr. WR Allen Wright (McKeesport, Pa. /McKeesport Area), the longest IUP play since 2008. 

IUP is 34-7 UNDER CURT CIGNETTI WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS
In his five-plus seasons as head coach, Cignetti has a 34-7 record when an IUP player rushes for at least 100 yards in a game, with Fr. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) going for 104 yards against East Stroudsburg. 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 strongest 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' 2015 highlights
• No. 1 among PSAC quarterbacks and No. 2 among Division II QBs with 102.3 rushing yards per game
• No. 4 in the PSAC with 102.3 in rushing yards per game and No. 3 with 1,229 rushing yards
• No. 1 in the PSAC and No. 2 in Division II with 7.8 rushing yards per carry
• No. 2 in the PSAC with 7.63 yards per play
• Broke IUP single game record with 504 total yards at Slippery Rock (Oct. 24)
• Set PSAC single game for rushing yards by a quarterback with 205 at Seton Hill (Oct. 10)
• 364 passing yards at Slippery Rock is ninth most in single game IUP history
• Set IUP playoff single game record with five total touchdowns at Charleston (Nov. 21)
• Four rushing touchdowns and 24 points vs. Charleston tied IUP playoff record
• Had 39 plays of 20 yards or more (22 passing, 17 rushing)
• Responsible for six touchdowns of more than 45 yards: 
    64 (run), 63 (pass), 62 (run), 54 (pass), 50 (pass), 45 (run)
• Came off bench to total 215 yards (163 pass, 52 rush) in career debut vs. Kutztown (Sept. 12)
• Had six 100-yard rushing games, including a streak of five (averaged 150.6 yards during span)
• 2,778 total yards is the third most in IUP single season history (Andrew Krewatch, 3,049 in 2007)
• First PSAC quarterback ever to rush for 1,000 yards in a season

CHRIS TEMPLE WAS ONE OF THE TOP RUSHERS & SCORERS IN DIVISION II LAST SEASON
Despite playing in just nine full games and part of a 10th, Jr. RB Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) was one of five players from the PSAC to reach 1,000 yards, ranking second on the team with 1,212. He led the Crimson Hawks with 17 touchdowns, the fourth-highest total in program history.  
• No. 3 in the PSAC and No. 14 in the nation in rushing yards per game (121.2)
• No. 3 in the PSAC in points per game (10.2)
• Tied for No. 2 in the PSAC and is tied for No. 14 in the nation in rushing touchdowns (17)
• His 17 rushing touchdowns were two away from tying Michael Mann (1993) for IUP's season record
• No. 5 in the PSAC and No. 24 in the nation in rushing yards (1,212)
• Temple has two of the eight single game rushing performances in IUP history - 255 yards against Cal is sixth all-time and 234 yards against Edinboro is the eighth most
• Temple's 255 and 234-yard performances were the second and fourth most, respectively, by a PSAC player in a game last season
• Temple's 67-yard touchdown run vs. Edinboro was the longest play from scrimmage for IUP and the ninth longest rush in the PSAC last season
• Temple's six rushing touchdowns against the Fighting Scots set a new IUP record and tied former 
Shippensburg running back and current New Orleans Saints fullback John Kuhn for most in PSAC history 

CRIMSON HAWKS AGAIN BOAST DEEP STABLE OF RUNNING BACKS
The Crimson Hawks will again look to have the deepest running back group in the PSAC in 2016. In addition to Temple, Jr. RBs Luigi Lista-Brinza (McKees Rocks, Pa. /Central Catholic) and Drew Harris (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) also return after combining for 661 yards and seven touchdowns rushing last year. Both sat out game one with injuries, so true freshman RBs Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) and Malik Anderson (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) stepped in. Bullock ran for 104 yards on 10 carries, including a 63-yard touchdown, while Anderson totaled 37 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. 

MIKE PIETROPOLA COULD BE MOST VERSATILE CRIMSON HAWK
So. QB Mike Pietropola (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) played much of the fourth quarter on Saturday, finishing with 56 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries while completing a pass for 14 yards. Although he's a backup QB, he has shown the ability and willingness to contribute in several other ways. 
• Came to IUP in the fall of 2015 as a QB, but earned spots on the kickoff team and as the holder
• Also time in the defensive backfield and on the kick return team late in season
• Finished with 11 total tackles and 39 yards on two kickoff returns
• Made switch to receiver in spring practice before moving back to quarterback for fall camp due to a lack of depth at the position

WALT PEGUES EXTENDS STREAK TO 24 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
Jr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) enters Saturday's game at Cheyney with a streak of 24 consecutive games with a reception, a stretch that began with her first career game in 2014. For his career, Pegues has 114 receptions for 1,555 yards and eight touchdowns. 

PEGUES HAS A KNACK FOR PUTTING UP BIG NUMBERS
Even though he just began his junior season, Pegues has established the potential for big numbers any time he takes the field. In the season opener at East Stroudsburg, Pegues caught 12 passes for 195 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown in the third quarter. His best career performance came last year at Slippery Rock, catching 14 passes for 233 yards, with both marks ranking third in single game IUP history. As a true freshman, Pegues caught 13 passes for 193 yards and a score against Gannon.

PEGUES AND BULLOCK ARE TWO ALL-PURPOSE THREATS FOR THE CRIMSON HAWKS
Pegues has also flashed his talents in the return game and carrying the ball out of the backfield, leading the team in all-purpose yards each of his first two seasons and entered this season with 2,885 yards. In addition to his 195 receiving yards at ESU, he added 21 on the ground and 11 on punt returns for 227 all-purpose yards. He was still eclipsed by Bullock, who totaled 239 yards (104 rush, 130 return, five receiving) against the Warriors. 

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 26th consecutive start last week, which included 23 straight games at left guard and two at right guard. He's earned preseason All-American hype this year from The Sporting News and D2Football.com. 

EXPERIENCED OFFENSIVE LINE HAS SOME RESHUFFLING IN 2016
Including Cooper's move, IUP had three new starters along the offensive line. R-Fr. Jeff Arnold (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear) moved into the starting center position while Sr. Ed Bier (Philadelphia, Pa. /Archbishop Ryan) took over Cooper's spot at left guard. Bier has played in 22 career games, including two starts at the end of the 2015 season at center. So. Joe Peterson (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) returned at left tackle, where he started the last seven games last season, and R-Sr. Tony Morgante (Mountain Top, Pa. /Crestwood) returned at right guard after starting 12 games there a season ago. 

THE IUP DEFENSE RETURNED TO THE TOP IN 2015
Coming off a down year in 2014, the IUP defense returned to its historically dominant form last season, finishing 11th in the nation in points allowed (17.8), 13th in rushing yards allowed (104.3) and 20th in total defense (312.4). The Crimson Hawks were also fifth in Division II with red zone defense (62.2 pct), ninth in sacks per game (3.33), ninth in opponents third down conversion rate (29.4 pct). 

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. In 12 games last season, the Crimson Hawks scored six defensive touchdowns, including three at Mercyhurst. Not included in that total was a special teams touchdown, a 34-yard blocked punt return for a score against Cheyney. Last year's total 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 LEADS A TALENTED LINEBACKING CREW
R-Sr. Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) returns for his third year as a starting linebacker in 2015. The two-time All-PSAC West pick and former preseason All-American has 220 career tackles in 33 games played (24 starts). He'll be joined by Sr. Myles Catlin (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Obama), who has 33 career games under his belt with five starts. Clarke sat out week one with an injury, with Fr. Nick Amendola (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) stepping in to post three tackles. Also appearing on the two-deep this year is Fr. Damon Lloyd (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll). 

AVERETTE, MOWAD HIGHLIGHT DEEP DEFENSIVE LINE 
The Crimson Hawks feature a defensive front that includes experienced playmakers, led by juniors Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) and Matt Mowad (Easton, Pa. /Easton). 11 different players saw time along the line last season, as DC Paul Tortorella keeps a steady rotation.
• Averette earned all-region and All-PSAC West honors in 2015 with 7.0 TFLs and 3.5 sacks; he has played in 24 career games with 13 starts
• Mowad played in just eight games last year due to injury, but has 15.0 TFLs and 7.0 sacks in 20 career games
• Jr. Justin Weldon (Easton, Pa. /Easton Area) moved into the starting nose guard spot; He's played in 18 career games
• R-So. Diamond Jones (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) was a special teams demon last year (two blocked kicks), and started the playoff game at Shepherd at defensive end
• So. Deandre Easterling (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga) tied for the team lead with 5.0 sacks and was second with 9.5 TFLs, playing in all 12 games as a reserve in 2015
• Jr. CJ Odegbo (Detroit, Mich./Southfield) played in 11 games last year at end, finishing with 4.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks
• So. Dyllon Scott (Reading, Pa./Exeter Twp.) has his redshirt taken off at the end of the season, playing in five games and starting twice, tallying 3.0 sacks against Cheyney
• R-Jr. Jordan Diven (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) played in nine games with two starts last year, tallying 19 tackles and 3.5 TFLs

JAY WATKINS RANKED AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN PASS BREAKUPS
R-Jr. CB Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School) returned from an injury last year to finish tied for sixth in Division II with 1.7 passes defensed per game. Earning all-region and all-conference recognition, he finished second in the PSAC with 20 total passes defensed - 16 breakups and four interceptions. His 16 pass breakups set a new single season IUP record.  

WATKINS AND FRANCO LEAD EXPERIENCED SECONDARY
Along with Watkins, R-Sr. SS Steve Franco (Tyrone, Pa. /Tyrone ) is another postseason award winner returning to the IUP secondary. The two have combined for 47 career games played and 43 starts in the defensive backfield, as the Crimson Hawks boast an experienced group. 

FIVE KICKERS AND PUNTERS BATTLING FOR PLAYING TIME AS THE SEASON BEGINS
IUP has five kickers and/or punters on its roster, including four who have seen extensive playing time. Sr. Ryan Stewart (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) won a "kick-off" in fall camp, and responded by connecting on 10-10 extra points and a 24-yard field goal in the opener. Transfer R-Fr. Dillon Sarka (Lebanon, Ohio/Waynesville) provides competition while So. Sean Bowling (Pylesville, Md./North Hartford) returns to handle kickoff duties. R-Sr. Matt Spegal (Bethel Park, Pa. /Bethel Park) returns at punter this year after missing last year due to injury. R-Sr. Jordan Spangler (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) also returns after averaging 35.8 yards on 37 punts last season.