GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#6/4 IUP Crimson Hawks (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West)
vs. Edinboro Fighting Scots (2-1, 0-0 PSAC West)
Saturday, September 23, 2017 | 12:00 p.m.
Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium | Indiana, Pa.
*Rankings reflect current AFCA Coaches/D2Football Media Top 25 

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IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Edinboro Preview

THE GAME
The 6th-ranked Crimson Hawks open up PSAC West divisional play this Saturday when they host longtime rival Edinboro at George P. Miller Stadium. Kickoff on Frank Cignetti Field is scheduled for noon. It will be the fourth straight home game for IUP, which is off to a 3-0 start with wins over nationally-ranked Ashland, and PSAC East foes East Stroudsburg and Cheyney. Edinboro enters the weekend with a 2-1 record, defeating Lake Erie and Lock Haven before coming down to Earth last week with a 62-28 loss at the hands of West Chester. 

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 has won 13 straight home games dating back to 2015; the Crimson Hawks are outscoring opponents 40.5 to 17.2 during the streak
• The Crimson Hawks have won three straight and six of the last seven games against Edinboro, outscoring the Fighting Scots by an average of 29.8 to 14.7
• The Crimson Hawks boast the PSAC's top offense and defense, leading the league with an average of 489.7 yards while giving up just 279.3 yards on the defensive side of the ball
• Due in large part to its blowout loss to West Chester, Edinboro is one of the worst defenses in the PSAC in terms of total yards allowed (417.0, 12th) and rushing yards allowed (185.7, 14th)
• Once again, Edinboro Sr. QB Jake Sisson is one of the top passers in the PSAC, as his 264.7 passing yards per game and eight touchdowns both rank third
• IUP totaled 585 yards (335 rushing) in last year's 56-28 win over Edinboro; the Fighting Scots scored all four of their touchdowns in the final 19 minutes of game action
• In three games, IUP has had three different RBs rush for 100 yards - Soph. Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) (200 vs. Ashland), Fr. Duane Brown (Spring Church, Pa./Apollo-Ridge) (137 vs. ESU), and Fr. Justice Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (116 vs. Cheyney)
• R-Jr. QB Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) is 185 yards from passing Scott Woods (5th, 6,105) and 225 away from passing Rich Ingold (4th, 6,145) in career total offense at IUP; Williams enters this week with 5,921 yards in 24 games
• Coach Tortorella is 15-7 as an assistant coach against Edinboro, including seven straight wins from 1996-2002

NOTEBOOK

A NEW (OLD) FACE LEADS IUP THROUGH THE TUNNEL IN 2017
After the departure of six-year head coach Curt Cignetti following the 2016 season, Paul Tortorella was named the new coach of the IUP football program. Although this will be his first head coaching job, Tortorella is no stranger to the sidelines of George P. Miller Stadium, spending the last 22 years as the IUP defensive coordinator. He was also the associate head coach from 2011-16.

TORTORELLA'S DEFENSES HAVE BEEN DOMINANT
Coach Tortorella has been known for his defensive prowess at IUP, consistently directing one of the best units in Division II since taking over in 1995. The Crimson Hawks finished third in the country with 24 interceptions and 35 forced turnovers in 2016, led a defense that was ranked in the top 12 in six categories in 2015, and was named Football Scoop's Division II Coordinator of the Year in 2012. 

TORTORELLA LOOKING FOR 4-0 START 
A victory over Edinboro on Saturday would give Coach Tortorella a 4-0 start to his head coaching career. It would tie the best start to a coaching career in program history, joining Chuck Klausing, who started 4-0 in 1964. Two other coaches - Bill Neal in 1970, Owen Dougherty in 1979 - started 3-0.

IUP IS 32-2 IN PSAC WEST OPENERS DATING BACK TO 1983
IUP has had incredible success in PSAC West openers going back to 1983, winning 32 of those 34 games, including last year's 56-28 road win at Edinboro. The Crimson Hawks' two PSAC West-opening losses have come to Mercyhurst in 2009 (20-16) and Slippery Rock in 2011 (20-6) - both on the road. IUP is on a current streak of five straight PSAC West-opening wins dating back to 2012, and boasted a 26-game streak from 1983-2008. 

IUP REMAINS AMONG ONE OF THE TOP RANKED TEAMS IN DIVISION II
The Crimson Hawks enter week four of the regular season ranked No. 6 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 4 in the D2Football Media Poll. The AFCA ranking is the highest by that poll since October 3 of last year, while the top five ranking in the media poll is the highest overall for the program since sitting at No. 4 in the coaches' poll for five straight weeks (Sept. 9-Oct. 7) back in 2003. 

CRIMSON HAWKS HAVE 13-GAME HOME WIN STREAK HEADING INTO EDINBORO WEEK
Always a very good home team, IUP carries a 13-game win streak in contests played in the friendly confines of George P. Miller Stadium. 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 527 to 224, or an average of 40.5 to 17.2.

IUP SPREAD OFFENSE OUT TO ANOTHER GOOD START UNDER COACH GREGORY
The Crimson Hawks have entered their third year of the spread offense, although a new face is calling the plays with the addition of Coach Gregory from Charleston. It might be a new coach, but the IUP offense is already rolling as the Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 12th in Division II with an average of 489.7 yards of total offense per game. 

STILL EARLY, CRIMSON HAWKS LEAD THE PSAC AND RANK 12TH IN DIVISION II IN TOTAL OFFENSE
With the help of a 607-yard performance in week two, the Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 12th in Division II with an average of 489.7 total yards through three games. IUP finished the 2016 season ranked 12th in the nation with an average of 489.6 yards per game, which set a single season program record.

CRIMSON HAWKS HAVE 19 "SPLASH PLAYS" THROUGH THREE GAMES
So far this season, IUP has 19 "splash plays" - a play of 20-plus yards - through three games this season. With 204 total plays, the Crimson Hawks go for 20-yards or more every 10.7 offensive plays on average. In week three, IUP totaled six splash plays (three rush, three pass) with a long of 59 yards on a touchdown run by Fr. RB Justice Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic). See page 12 of the game notes for more information. 

IUP IS 45-8 SINCE 2011 WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS IN A GAME
Fr. RB Justice Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) rushed for 116 yards on 13 carries in the week three win over Cheyney, as IUP improved to 45-8 since 2011 when a player rushes for at least 100 yards in a game. He's now the fourth active player on the roster with a 100-yard game to his credit: R-Jr. Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) has nine, Soph. RB Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) has six, and fellow Fr. RB Duane Brown (Spring Church, Pa./Apollo-Ridge) has one.

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 73-5 SINCE 2003 WHEN RUSHING FOR 200 YARDS AS A TEAM
Evans led a ground game that finished with 247 rushing yards in week three, marking the 78th time since 2003 that IUP has rushed for at least 200 yards in a game. The Crimson Hawks are 73-5 in those games, including a 20-3 record since 2015. 

JUSTICE EVANS BECOMES THIRD IUP BACK THIS YEAR TO REACH 100-YARD MARK
Three games, three different 100-yard rushers. Evans became the third different running back this year to hit the 100-yard mark in the week three win, further proving the Crimson Hawks' depth at the position. Four different players average more than 35 rushing yards per game for IUP, which rushes for a league-best 262.3 yards per game while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. 

LENNY WILLIAMS IS 20-3 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 20-3 record into week four. A two-time Harlon Hill Award nominee as the best player in Division II, Williams can already be listed as one of the top quarterbacks in IUP history. Williams owns several single game and season IUP records, but his name is also listed at or near the top in several career categories, including completion percentage, passer efficiency, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total offense, and touchdowns responsible for. 

ALLEN WRIGHT LEADS CRIMSON HAWKS IN RECEPTIONS AND YARDS
Sr. WR Allen Wright (McKeesport, Pa. /McKeesport Area) has excelled in his new starting role early this season, leading the Crimson Hawks with 16 receptions and ranking second on the team with 221 receiving yards through three weeks. He caught a career-high nine passes for 102 yards in the opener, and followed that up with five receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown in week two. He also leads IUP with five receptions of 20 yards or more, including two 20-plus yard touchdowns. 

DOM MCNEIL ALSO SHOWING BIG PLAY CAPABILITY IN EXPANDED ROLE
R-Soph. WR Dom McNeil (Philadelphia, Pa./Martin Luther King) is proving to have a knack for the big play, tallying three of them in week three: a 45-yard touchdown reception; a punt block with 15-yard touchdown return; fumble recovery in end zone off of a botched punt snap. McNeil earned PSAC West Special Teams Athlete of the Week honors for his efforts. For the year, he leads IUP with 232 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 12 receptions, averaging 19.3 yards per catch. 

WALT PEGUES AMONG BEST RECEIVERS IN IUP HISTORY; LOOKS TO RETURN TO LINEUP SOON
Even with three wins and breakout play from receivers, Sr. WR Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) has been missed as an injury has delayed his 2017 debut. He heads into his final year ranked third in IUP history with 2,301 receiving yards and fourth with 145 receptions. He's been a consistent threat since day one, also entering the year with a streak of 33 games with a reception, tallying at least one catch in every game he's played. 
NEW OFFENSIVE LINE QUICKLY PROVING IT IS BEST UNIT IN PSAC
The Crimson Hawks rebuilt their offensive line in fall camp, as they returned just two of their five starters from 2016 -- Jr. LT Joe Peterson (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) and R-Soph. OC Jeff Arnold (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear). That pair, along with additions R-Sr. Jerron Searles (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City), Gr. Rocco Esposito (Coraopolis, Pa./Sto-Rox), and R-Soph. Colin McAllister (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester), have helped IUP rank 10th in Division II with 262.3 rushing yards per game, and third in the country by allowing just one sack through three weeks.

IUP HAS THREE DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS THIS YEAR; 18-1 SINCE 2011 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES
The Crimson Hawks are tied for first in Division II with three defensive touchdowns already this year, including two coming last week from Soph. DL Dondrea Tillman (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) and R-Soph. WR Dom McNeil (Philadelphia, Pa./Martin Luther King). 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. Last year, IUP tied for sixth in Division II with six defensive touchdowns - three on interceptions and three on fumbles. 

CRIMSON HAWKS LEAD THE PSAC IN TOTAL DEFENSE
Through three weeks, the IUP defense is again asserting itself as one of the best in the nation as the Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 20th in Division II in total yards allowed (279.3). IUP is also second in the league in rushing defense (89.0), passing defense (190.3), and scoring defense (17.7). 

THE IUP DEFENSE HAS GIVEN UP JUST SEVEN SECOND HALF POINTS THROUGH THREE WEEKS
That stiffling defense has been even better in the second half, allowing a combined 298 yards and one touchdown to three opponents in the final 30 minutes of games. Opponents are completing 47.6 percent (20-42) of their second half passes, have converted 28 percent (7-25) third down chances, and are averaging just 1.5 yards per rush against the Crimson Hawks in the second half. 

NOTRE DAME TRANSFER MAX REDFIELD LEADS CRIMSON HAWKS IN TACKLES
Sr. SS Max Redfield (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) has made his presence known early this season, as he leads the Crimson Hawks with 27 total tackles through three weeks. In week three, Redfield was a big time ballhawk with nine tackles, a fumble recovery, an 18-yard interception return, and almost had a few more picks with three passes defensed. The NFL talent has been consistently compared to the former Steelers safety Troy Polamalu by IUP radio legend, Jack Benedict. 

NEW LINEBACKERS STEPPING INTO STARTING ROLES, AMONG TEAM LEADERS IN TACKLES
The Crimson Hawks started a pair of new linebackers in week one, with Sophs. Nick Amendola (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) and Damon Lloyd (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) taking over. Through three weeks, the pair ranks two and three, respectively on the team in tackles: Amendola 22 (12 solo), Lloyd 21 (10 solo). Amendola has also broken up a pass and recovered a fumble, and posted a career-high 10 stops in the week three win. 

IUP RANKS SECOND IN PSAC WITH NINE SACKS, EIGHT OF THOSE FROM DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
The IUP defensive front has led the charge this season, with seven players accounting for eight of the team's nine sacks this year. Those nine sacks rank second in the PSAC, and are ahead of their pace from last year when it took five games to match that number. Soph. DE Dondrea Tillman (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) has a team-best 2.0 sacks, both coming in week three against Cheyney. 

MIKE PIETROPOLA SETTLING IN AT DEFENSIVE BACK
After two years of bouncing around between quarterback, defensive back, receiver, and back to quarterback, Jr. FS Mike Pietropola (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) looks to establish himself as a full-time defender. Pietropola is part of the Crimson Hawks' talented defensive backfield, totaling 11 tackles with a sack through three weeks this season. He also returns kicks, averaging 15.7 yards on three kickoffs and 11.3 yards on six punt returns. 

CRIMSON HAWKS' THREE BLOCKED KICKS ARE AMONG BEST TOTALS IN DIVISION II
After last season's eight blocked kicks - which ranked third in Division II - the Crimson Hawks are back at it again with three blocks so far this season.