GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#3/1 IUP Crimson Hawks (9-0, 6-0 PSAC West)
at Mercyhurst Lakers (4-5, 3-3 PSAC West)
Saturday, November 4, 2017 | 12 p.m.
Tullio Field | Erie, Pa.
*Rankings reflect current AFCA Coaches/D2Football Media Top 25 

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IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Mercyhurst Game Notes (coming soon)

THE GAME
The 3rd-ranked Crimson Hawks wrap up divisional play on the road this weekend as they travel to Erie to square off against Mercyhurst. Kickoff at Tullio Field is set for noon. IUP will go for a 10-0 start in a very important tune-up game before next week's PSAC Championship. The Crimson Hawks are coming off of a 42-26 win over Gannon last week in which they got out to a 35-0 lead early in the third quarter. Mercyhurst (4-5) will be looking for an upset after nearly knocking off nationally-ranked Slippery Rock (L, 31-28) and California (L, 31-21) in October. 

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
• IUP's win over Gannon last week clinched the program's 21st PSAC West title and it's seventh trip to the PSAC Championship game; IUP is still waiting for its opponent to clinch the East title
• This is the Crimson Hawks' final tune-up before the title game, but they still have much to play for as they hold onto the No. 1 spot in the Super Region One rankings; these rankings determine the NCAA playoff field
• IUP is looking for its third 10-0 start in program history; the other two came during its national finalist seasons of 1991 and 1993
• This is IUP's fourth road game of the season, outscoring opponents 114-48 (38.0-16.0) 
• Mercyhurst is 2-3 at home this year, but are outscoring opponents 114-109 at Tullio Field; The Lakers three home losses were by a combined 16 points (Hillsdale, Kutztown, Slippery Rock)
• The Lakers have one of the best QB-WR combos in the PSAC in Doug Altavilla (232 ypg, 12 TDs) and Brad Novak (46 rec, 8 TDs)
• Mercyhurst splits its running backs, with Garrett Owens (510 yards, 7 TDs) and E'Andre Smith (473 yards, 2 TDs) receiving nearly equal carries
• IUP has allowed just one 100-yard rusher this year (ESU's Jaymar Anderson) and are 11th in Division II giving up 83.7 yards
• IUP QB Lenny Williams is 311 total yards and 3 total TDs away from moving into a tie for 2nd place in both categories in career program history (page three)
• After dropping back-to-back games to the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, IUP has won six straight in the series by an average score of 33.5 to 14.7; The closest game during that time was a 35-28 overtime win by IUP in Erie in 2011

NOTEBOOK

CRIMSON HAWKS REMAIN 1ST IN REGIONAL RANKING RELEASE
For the second straight week, IUP leads the way in Super Region One has the NCAA released its Division II regional rankings on Monday (Oct. 30). The top seven teams in each of the four regions advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs, with the top seed receiving a first round bye. See page seven for more details.

COACH TORTORELLA'S 9-0 RECORD IS BEST NINE-GAME START IN PROGRAM HISTORY
With nine wins in his first nine games, Coach Tortorella is the only IUP coach to start his career with an 9-0 record. The previous nine-game mark was 8-1, which was done by Chuck Klausing in 1964 and Frank Cignetti in 1986. Tortorella looks for a 10-0 start this Saturday, which has never been done by a first year IUP head coach. 

IUP SEEKING THIRD 10-0 START IN PROGRAM HISTORY; FIRST SINCE 1993
A win over Mercyhurst would give IUP its third 10-0 start in its illustrious history, and the first time since the 1993 national semifinalist season. IUP's 10-0 starts have come in 1991 and 1993. 

IUP MOVES TO NO. 1 IN MEDIA NATIONAL POLL, MOVES TO NO. 3 IN COACHES TOP 25
For the first time since 1996, IUP has achieved a No. 1 national ranking as the Crimson Hawks sit atop the D2Football.com Media Poll this week. The Crimson Hawks moved up one spot to No. 3 in the AFCA Coaches' Poll. IUP's No. 1 ranking in 1996 was in back-to-back weeks (Oct. 7-14), opening up that season with a 5-0 record. See page three of the game notes for more information. 

IUP WON 21ST PSAC WEST TITLE, WILL PLAY IN PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NEXT WEEK
With the Crimson Hawks' 42-26 win over Gannon in week nine, they clinched the program's 21st PSAC West title and first outright division title since 2002. IUP will now appear in the program's seventh PSAC Championship in week 11 at the yet-to-be determined PSAC East winner. IUP's other "State Game" appearances have come in 1964-65, 1985-87 and 2012, with sinces in 1986, 1987, and 2012. 

IUP IS PSAC WEST's WINNINGEST TEAM SINCE 1986
Since 1986, IUP has the most overall wins and divisional wins of any team in the PSAC West. The program owns an overall record of 275-86-1 (.761) along with a conference record of 165-38-1 (.811) during that span. IUP has won or shared 17 PSAC West titles since 1986 (32 years).  

CRIMSON HAWKS OWN 3-0 RECORD AGAINST NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS IN 2017
IUP has had a strong schedule through nine games this season and boasts three wins over three nationally-ranked foes: 26-23 over NR/18 Ashland, 26-10 over #16/16 California, and 34-17 at #9/13 Slippery Rock. The combined record of those teams is 22-5. 

CRIMSON HAWKS HAVE 16-GAME HOME WIN STREAK AFTER WEEK NINE VICTORY
Always a very good home team, IUP has a 16-game home win streak after last week's win over Gannon. The Crimson Hawks' last loss at home came in the 2015 season opener, falling to Kutztown 34-33 after two missed extra point attempts. Since that loss, IUP has outscored visiting opponents 633 to 267, or an average of 39.6 to 16.7.

CRIMSON HAWKS RANK IN THE TOP 25 OF DIVISION II IN SIX OFFENSIVE CATEGORIES
The diverse and well-rounded IUP offense is near the top of the NCAA rankings in six categories, including points per game (38.8, 19th), rushing offense (260.4, 9th), total offense (486.9, 15th), sacks allowed (7, 13th), passing efficiency (171.20, 8th), and first downs (222, 6th). Thought of as just a running team just two years ago, IUP's spread offense has hurt opponents on the ground and in the air. 

IUP's "SPLASH PLAYS" BIG PART OF OFFENSE; HAS SCORED 17 TOUCHDOWNS OF 20-PLUS YARDS 
IUP has produced 49 "splash plays" - a play of 20-plus yards - through nine games this season. With 644 total plays, the Crimson Hawks go for 20-yards or more every 13.1 offensive plays on average. The Crimson Hawks' two biggest plays of the year both came in the week seven win, as Soph. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) had an 84-yard run and Fr. RB Justice Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) had a 72-yard burst. Of IUP's 49 splash plays, 17 have gone for touchdowns, including a 24-yard pass play to Gr. WR Chris Wuestner (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) last week. See page 12 of the game notes for more information. 

IUP IS 47-8 SINCE 2011 WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS IN A GAME
Soph. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) ran for 168 yards in the week seven win at Slippery Rock, as IUP improved to 47-8 since 2011 when a player rushes for at least 100 yards. IUP has four active players on the roster with a 100-yard game to his credit: R-Jr. QB Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) has nine, Bullock has eight, Fr. RB Justice Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) has two, and Fr. RB Duane Brown (Spring Church, Pa./Apollo-Ridge) has one.

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 77-5 SINCE 2003 WHEN RUSHING FOR 200 YARDS AS A TEAM
Five different players combined to rush for 201 yards on 46 carries in IUP's week nine win over Gannon, marking the 82nd time since 2003 that IUP has rushed for at least 200 yards in a game. The Crimson Hawks are 77-5 in those games, including a 24-3 record since 2015 and 7-0 this year. IUP's season-high of 431 yards in the week five win at Seton Hill are the fourth most in program history. 

SAMIR BULLOCK POISED FOR 1,000-YARD SEASON, 13TH IN DIVISION II IN RUSHING YARDS
Bullock ranks third in the PSAC and 18th in Division II with 941 rushing yards, as he's poised to hit the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time in his career. Despite playing in just two full games this year, he also ranks in the top 25 in the nation with 104.6 rushing yards per game and 11 rushing touchdowns. 

LENNY WILLIAMS IS 26-3 AS IUP STARTING QB; ALREADY ONE OF BEST IN PROGRAM HISTORY
R-Jr. QB Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) is in his third year as the IUP starter, carrying a 26-3 record into week 10. A two-time Harlon Hill Award nominee as the best player in Division II, Williams is one of the top quarterbacks in IUP history. Williams owns several single game and season IUP records, but his name is also at or near the top in several career categories, including completion percentage, passing yards, passer efficiency, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total offense, and touchdowns responsible for. 

WILLIAMS RANKS IN TOP 20 IN COUNTRY IN FOUR CATEGORIES
Williams again finds himself near the top of the Division II rankings this season, ranking seventh in completion percentage (68.9), seventh in yards per attempt (9.18), 10th in passer efficiency (172.7), and 13th in passing touchdowns (21). Last season, the signal caller finished as the Division II leader in passer efficiency (214.0), yards per completion (19.70), and yards per attempt (13.47). 

OFFENSIVE LINE FACING INJURIES, STILL A TOP UNIT UNDER COACH CAMPOLO
Under the direction of Coach Campolo, the Crimson Hawks boast one of the top offensive line units in Division II. That group has led the way for a ground game that ranks ninth in the country with 260.9 yards, and has given up just seven sacks in nine games. Recent injuries have led to three different starting lineups in the last three weeks, with a fourth different combination expected against Mercyhurst. 

IUP's DEPTH AT RECEIVER PROVING VALUABLE, SIX DIFFERENT PLAYERS HAVE EARNED STARTS
The Crimson Hawks boast an incredibly deep receiving corps, with eight players combining for 137 receptions, 1,887 yards (13.7 ypc) and 19 touchdowns. In the week nine win over Gannon, Gr. WR Chris Wuestner (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) led the way in his first start of the season, catching seven passes for 75 yards and a career-high three touchdowns Sr. WR Allen Wright (McKeesport, Pa. /McKeesport Area) leads IUP with 51 catches and 545 yards; R-Soph. WR Dom McNeil (Philadelphia, Pa./Martin Luther King) averages a team-best 20.1 yards on 24 receptions; and R-Soph. WR JoJo Gause (Rochester, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) has a team-high four touchdowns.  

CRIMSON HAWKS +10 TURNOVER MARGIN RANKS 12TH IN DIVISION II
Yearly one of the top teams in Division II in turnover margin, IUP ranks third in the PSAC and 12th in the country at +10 through nine weeks this season. IUP survived a recent slump with a combined -4 margin against California, Slippery Rock and Clarion, bouncing back by forcing three turnovers while committing 0 in the week nine win over Gannon. The Crimson Hawks are 14th in the country with 22 total takeaways - 16 interceptions and six fumble recoveries. IUP has forced at least one turnover in each of the last seven games, including a season-high five against Edinboro, and four against Cheyney and Seton Hill. 

IUP DEFENSE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION UNDER COACH SMITH
Through nine weeks, the IUP defense is again asserting itself as one of the best in the nation under first year DC Jim Smith. The Crimson Hawks' defense ranks in the top 30 in Division II in seven categories, including interceptions (16, 4th), rushing (83.7, 11th), pass efficiency (97.36, 12th), scoring (16.0, 14th), red zone defense (66.7%, 14th), defensive touchdowns (3, 23rd), and total defense (302.6 29th).

IUP HAS THREE DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS THIS YEAR; 18-1 SINCE 2011 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES
IUP is tied for 10th in Division II with three defensive touchdowns this year, including two in week three against Cheyney. They were the 22nd and 23rd defensive scores for IUP since the start of 2011, as the program improved to 18-1 during that span when the defense creates a touchdown.  

IUP DEFENSE GAVE UP FIRST 4TH QUARTER POINTS LAST WEEK, SINCE DOMINANT IN SECOND HALF
The Crimson Hawks have had a suffocating second half defense all year, until a fourth quarter Gannon outburst last week ended a dominant run: IUP had not allowed a single fourth quarter point until GU scored a pair of touchdowns in the last nine minutes of the game. Still, the IUP defense has better numbers in the second half, giving up just under 142 total yards in the game's final 30 minutes. Opponents are completing 52.4 percent (89-170) of their second half passes, have converted 34.3 percent (23-67) third down chances, and are averaging just 2.6 (140-361) yards per rush against IUP in the second half. 

IUP's BALL-HAWKING DEFENSE TIED FOR FOURTH IN DIVISION II WITH 16 INTECEPTIONS
IUP leads the PSAC and is tied for fourth in the country with 16 interceptions, picking off at least two in five of the last seven games. Eight players have combined for those 16 picks, as the Crimson Hawks have had contributions from defensive backs (11 INTs), linemen (three) and linebackers (two). The defense has also broken up another 48 passes for 64 total passes defensed in nine games (7.1/game). 

JR STEVENS AMONG BEST IN NATION AT BREAKING UP PASSES
R-Soph. CB JR Stevens (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) is tied for third in Division II with 17 total passes defensed, intercepting four and breaking up an additional 13 this year. He returned his first interception of the year 38 yards for a touchdown in week two, had two fourth quarter picks against Slippery Rock in week seven, and snagged his fourth last week. He's had two games of four pass breakups - week three against Cheyney and last week.

DEEP AND TALENTED DEFENSIVE LINE HAS PROVIDED PRESSURE
A deep and talented defensive line has been the Crimson Hawks' main source of pressure all year long, as nine players have combined for 39.0 tackles-for-loss and 20.0 sacks. Soph. DE Dondrea Tillman (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) leads the way with 8.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks, while the middle is handled by Sr. DT Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel), Sr. NG Justin Weldon (Easton, Pa. /Easton Area), and Sr. Jordan Diven (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny), who have 17.0 TFLs and 6.5 sacks between them. The group has helped give IUP one of the top run defenses in the nation, holding Division II leading rusher Marc Jones 122 yards below his season average in week nine. 

LINEBACKERS AMENDOLA AND LLOYD LEAD THE CRIMSON HAWKS IN TACKLES
Soph. LBs Nick Amendola (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) and Damon Lloyd (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) have excelled as first year starters. Amendola has a team-high 68 total tackles, while his two fumble recoveries are among the best marks in the PSAC. He's had three games of at least 10 tackles, including 14 against Edinboro and Clarion. Lloyd's 67 stops are second on the team, combining for 21 in the last two weeks. He's added to the IUP pass defense, intercepting two passes and breaking up four more. 

CRIMSON HAWKS' FIVE BLOCKED KICKS TIED FOR THIRD IN DIVISION II
The IUP special teams is back at it this year with five blocked kicks in seven games, which is tied for ninth in Division II. Averette has two of those - one point after, one field goal - and Dom McNeil (Philadelphia, Pa./Martin Luther King)'s punt block he returned himself 15 yards for a touchdown against Cheyney.