CLARION, Pa. – The IUP defense gave up just 239 yards and forced Clarion into nine punts, as the third-ranked Crimson Hawks overcame three turnovers and nine penalties to hang on for a 23-17 road win on Saturday afternoon.
IUP improved to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division with the win, holding Clarion scoreless in the final quarter to secure the victory.
Despite those three early turnovers, the Crimson Hawks got out to a 23-7 lead late in the second quarter. IUP answered an opening Clarion touchdown with three straight of its own, followed by a 29-yard field goal from redshirt sophomore
Dillon Sarka (Lebanon, Ohio/Waynesville) with 1:45 left in the half.
The Crimson Hawks' first score was a 28-yard seam pass off play action from redshirt junior quarterback Lenny Williams to senior tight end
Rex Pearce (McKeesport, Pa. /Elizabeth Forward). Sophomore running back
Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) and freshman back
Justice Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) added touchdown runs of two and four yards, respectively.
Clarion's ensuing drive after Sarka's field goal was aided by back-to-back personal foul penalties by IUP and ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Kyle Evans. The Crimson Hawks took a 23-14 lead into halftime.
Offense from both teams in the second half disappeared, with the IUP defense giving up just 52 yards and three points in the game's final 30 minutes of action.
The defensive charge from the Crimson Hawks was led by their line, as they sacked quarterback Jeff Clemens three times and took down Clarion running backs in their own backfield four times. Senior nose guard
Justin Weldon (Easton, Pa. /Easton Area) finished with six tackles and 3.5 tackles-for-loss and junior end
Diamond Jones (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) had 1.5 sacks.
Sophomore linebackers
Nick Amendola (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) and
Damon Lloyd (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) were highly active, tallying 14 and 11 total tackles, respectively.
A third quarter field goal by Clarion cut the IUP lead to six, with the Golden Eagles gaining even more momentum by successfully converting an onside kick. The IUP defense stood up to the challenge and forced Clarion into one of five second half punts.
The Golden Eagles had one final chance at the upset win, taking over at their own 26 with 3:57 to play in the game. After a 17-yard pass play, Weldon and Amendola made back-to-back stops in the backfield, and following an incomplete pass, senior tackle
Jordan Diven (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) and Jones sacked Clemens on fourth down to seal the win.
Notes
IUP came into today ranked third in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' poll and second in the D2Football.com Media top 25 … IUP starts a season 8-0 for the first time since 2001 and the fifth time in program history ... The 8-0 start by head coach
Paul Tortorella is also the best by a first year coach in program history … The 362 total yards by the Crimson Hawks on Saturday is their lowest output of the season, and their fewest in victory since their 35-14 win at Mercyhurst in 2015 … Clarion ran for 101 yards, the first opponent to reach the century mark since East Stroudsburg (142) in week two … IUP is 3-0 this year when losing the turnover battle (Ashland, California, Clarion).
Up next
The Crimson Hawks will play in their final home regular season game next Saturday when they host Gannon (3-5, 2-3). Kickoff is set for noon. IUP will celebrate Senior Day during pregame festivities.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.
