INDIANA, Pa. – Redshirt junior quarterback Lenny Williams, Jr. totaled 297 yards and three touchdowns to lead to lead fourth-ranked IUP to a 26-10 win over 16th-ranked California (Pa) in the ninth annual Coal Bowl on Saturday afternoon at George P. Miller Stadium.
 
Williams was named the game's Most Valuable Player, throwing for 268 yards and the three scores while running for 29 more yards as the Crimson Hawks improved to 6-0 and 3-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division.
 
It's the first time IUP has started the season 6-0 since 2001. It's also the best six-game start by a first year IUP coach in program history, as Paul Tortorella continues to excel after moving into the top job from defensive coordinator.
 
Sr. DT Jemal Averette led the IUP defensive charge, finishing with a team-best seven total tackles, including 3.0 tackles-for-loss and a sack. The Vulcans (4-2, 1-2 PSAC West) came into the game averaging 41 points and 411 yards per outing, but the dominant IUP defense gave up just 283 total yards on Saturday.
 
The Crimson Hawks got out to a 12-0 lead with a 16-yard touchdown shovel pass from Williams to sophomore running back Malik Anderson, and a one-yard plunge by freshman back Duane Brown. Both extra point attempts were blocked by the Vulcans.
 
Cal got on the board with an 11-yard pass from quarterback Michael Keir to receiver Tom Greene at the 10:15 mark of the second quarter, and pulled within two points with a 26 yard field goal by Will Brazill with 11 seconds left in the first half.
 
The IUP defense buckled down in the second half and didn't allow a single point for the fourth time in the final 30 minutes this season. Cal managed 149 total yards in the second half, with Keir connecting on 9-of-21 passes for 105 yards. The QB completed just 45.8 percent of his 48 passes for 232 yards, a touchdown, interception, and was sacked three times.  
 
The Crimson Hawks never let the Cal running game get going, giving up just 51 yards on 23 carries on the afternoon, an average of 2.2 per carry. IUP defenders combined for 10.0 tackles-for-loss, led by Averette's three.
 
Redshirt junior corner Anthony Davis had IUP's lone interception, although the Crimson Hawks were close on several other throws as they broke up eight passes on the afternoon.
 
Both of IUP's second half scores came in the third quarter. Williams dazzled the more than 4,000 in attendance with a seven-yard scramble touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Kolbe Hughes less than six minutes into the third quarter, and followed that up with a pretty 37-yard pass to junior receiver Swahneek Brown three minutes later.  
 
The Crimson Hawks overcame four turnovers, including three fumbles, to outgain Cal 445-to-283.
 
Notes
IUP came into today ranked fourth in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' poll and third in the D2Football.com Media top 25 … IUP has now given up just 14 combined points in the second half of its six games this year after shutting out Cal on Saturday … Williams has already tied his career-high of 14 passing touchdowns, which he had last year in a just over eight games played … Senior receiver Walt Pegues made his season debut, extending his reception streak to 34 straight games with a 22-yard catch … Sophomore running back Samir Bullock was injured in the opening quarter after 28 yards on six carries … Defensive linemen Dondrea Tillman and Diamond Jones joined Averette with a sack each.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks head to nationally-ranked Slippery Rock (6-0, 3-0) next weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.