GAMEDAY CENTRAL
#23/NR IUP Crimson Hawks (5-2, 2-2 PSAC West)
at Gannon Golden Knights (2-5, 2-2 PSAC West)
Saturday, October 20, 2018 | 12 p.m.
McConnell Family Stadium | Erie, Pa.

Watch: GannonSports.com | Stretch Internet
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen (smartphone): U92 Sports App
Live Stats: GannonSports.com | Sidearm Stats
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUPfootball

IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Gannon Preview (coming soon)

THE GAME
The 23rd-ranked Crimson Hawks look to keep the momentum going as they head out for a road battle against Gannon Saturday afternoon. Kickoff in Erie is set for noon. IUP rebounded from two straight losses with a 24-23 fourth quarter comeback win over Clarion last week to improve to 5-2 overall and even its division record at 2-2. Gannon is 2-5 overall, but has won two straight divisional games, including a 29-15 road victory over California (Pa.) Saturday. 

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 is 7-3 against the Golden Knights since they joined the PSAC in 2008, including a current 3-game win streak; two of Gannon's wins in the series have come in Erie - 31-21 in 2014 and 35-17 in 2010
• IUP is averaging nearly 40 points in its seven wins over Gannon, including a 48-3 victory in Erie in 2016
• IUP is used to getting out to fast starts against Gannon, combining for 52 first quarter points in the last three meetings; In the first half of those games, IUP has outscored the Golden Knights 70-10, including 42-3 in 2016
• This year, IUP is outscoring opponents 148-70 in the first half; Gannon owns a 96-91 edge
• Gannon's Marcus Jones is among the national leaders with 988 rushing yards (4th), 141.1 rush yards/game (5th), and 10 rushing TDs (10th); last year he finished with 91 yards on 20 carries against IUP
• IUP is 10th in the PSAC against the run (160.1/game) and has allowed 598 rushing yards over the last three weeks (Cal, Slippery Rock, Clarion)
• IUP has not had a 100-yard rusher through seven games this year
• Opposing QBs are averaging 269 passing yards with 6 TDs over the last three weeks against Gannon
• Gannon defenders also have 6 interceptions in the last three games; IUP QB Lenny Williams Jr. has also thrown 6 picks in his last three outings 
• Williams has thrown for 3 TDs in a game four times this season and is 3rd in the PSAC with 15 TDs
• Williams has accounted for 97 TDs (69 pass, 28 rush) in his career and is looking to become the 8th player in PSAC history with 100 touchdowns

THE NOTEBOOK

CRIMSON HAWKS HOPE TO KEEP MOMENTUM HEADING INTO FIRST REGIONAL RANKING RELEASE
IUP rebounded from back-to-back losses with a comeback 24-23 win over Clarion in week seven. The win put the Crimson Hawks at 5-2 overall heading into Gannon as they look to start another win streak to finish out the regular season. IUP will also find itself battling for playoff positioning each week as the NCAA will release its first Division II regional rankings next Wednesday. 

IUP HAS BEEN RANKED IN TOP 25 FOR 35 STRAIGHT POLL RELEASES
After the narrow week seven win over Clarion, the Crimson Hawks remained at No. 23 at this week's AFCA Coaches' Top 25. It marks the 35th straight week that IUP has been ranked in the coaches' top 25, the third longest streak in program history trailing 81 straight (1987-95) and 59 straight (2000-04). The D2Football Media dropped the Crimson Hawks out of its top 25 this week. 

COACH TORTORELLA's HEAD COACHING CAREER OFF TO GREAT START
Despite the recent losses, Coach Tortorella has still put together a great start to his head coaching career with an 18-3 record through his first 21 games. It's the best mark of any IUP coach in their first 21 career games with the program. Tortorella also had the best debut season of any coach at 13-1 in 2017. 

COACH TORTORELLA IS 5-0 AGAINST TOP 25 TEAMS
In just his second season leading the IUP program, Coach Tortorella already has five wins in as many chances against opponents ranked in the top 25. That includes a pair of Ashland, and last year's wins over California (Pa.), Slippery Rock, and Assumption in the playoffs. 

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 7-1 ON THE ROAD UNDER TORTORELLA
IUP is on the road this Saturday for the first time since its week five loss at California. That defeat was the first road loss for the Crimson Hawks in two seasons under Coach Tortorella as they carry a 7-1 record in such games into Gannon. Key victories include wins over #9 Slippery Rock and West Chester last year, and a 21-17 win over #15 Ashland to open this season. 

IUP IS PSAC WEST's WINNINGEST TEAM SINCE 2011
Since 2011, IUP has the most overall wins and conference wins of any team in the PSAC West. The program owns an overall record of 70-19 (.787) along with a conference record of 41-13 (.759) during that span, with four PSAC West shared or outright regular season titles and a pair of conference championships. 

CRIMSON HAWKS IN YEAR FOUR OF SPREAD OFFENSE
Since moving to a spread offense in 2015, the Crimson Hawks have been a dominant force with the ability to move the ball and score on the ground or through the air. Last year was one of the best passing seasons in school history with 31 touchdowns, while 2016's 48 rushing TDs was a record, and 2015's 293.6 rushing yards per game broke a school mark. 

QB LENNY WILLIAMS OWNS FIVE IUP CAREER RECORDS, COULD BREAK SEVERAL MORE
R-Sr. QB Lenny Williams Jr. already owns five career IUP records, including the total touchdown (pass & rush) mark of 95 which is broke earlier this season. He's on pace to possibly break Brian Eyerman's passing yards record of 8409, and could threaten his passing TD mark of 84 depending on how many more games the Crimson Hawks play this year. 

NO OTHER QB IN IUP HISTORY COMPARES TO WILLIAMS
Williams set the stage for a fantastic career when he rushed for 1,229 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman in 2015, helping IUP to the NCAA playoffs. He grew into more of a passer as a sophomore before an injury ended his season, but not before he totaled over 2,400 yards with 26 touchdowns in just nine games. Last year he had one of the best passing seasons in IUP history (2789 yards, 31 TDs), and this year he looks to break several passing records and move into the top five at IUP in rushing yards and TDs.

WILLIAMS IS 3-0 AGAINST GANNON, HAS 72.0 COMPLETION PCT WITH 8 TOTAL TDs
The Crimson Hawks are 3-0 against Gannon with Williams at QB, including a 48-3 win in Erie during the 2016 season. Williams played just one half in that contest as he totaled 324 yards, averaged 19.6 yards per play, and was responsible for three touchdowns. Last year he completed 80.0 percent of his passes for 3 aerial scores and as a freshman he rushed for 140 yards against the Golden Knights. 

IUP STILL LOOKING FOR FIRST 100-YARD RUSHER; 49-9 SINCE 2011 WHEN A PLAYER HITS 100 YARDS
Through seven weeks in 2018, the Crimson Hawks have yet to see a player rush for 100 yards in a game. IUP rushed for a season-high 236 yards in week five, with Jr. RB Samir Bullock leading the way with 90 yards on 12 carries. Since the start of the 2011 season, IUP has had at least one player rush for 100 yards in 58 of its 89 games played, going 49-9 in those contests. 

TEMPLE LOOKS TO MOVE UP THE RECORD BOOKS IN FINAL SEASON
R-Sr. RB Chris Temple returned to the field in 2018 after missing all of last year with an injury. One of the best running backs in program history, he's 2nd to the great Michael Mann with 38 career rushing touchdowns, and 7th at IUP with 2,638 rushing yards. With 39 total TDs, he's close to moving past Jai Hill (41) for 2nd in that category and is also looking to break into the top five in rushing yards. 

DOM MCNEIL ONE OF TOP DEEP THREATS IN PSAC
Jr. WR Dom McNeil is among the PSAC leaders with a 20.5 yards per catch average (4th), 554 receiving yards, 79.1 receiving yards per game, and 5 receiving TDs (6th). He has a team-best 9 receptions of 20 yards or more this season and three touchdowns of more than 20 yards.

MILES WILLIAMSON MAKING THE MOST OF HIS OPPORTUNITIES
R-Sr. WR Miles Williams has just 4 receptions this year, but he's been highly efficient as 3 of those have gone for touchdowns. The biggest catch of his career came in week seven's comeback win over Clarion, catching the game-winning 27-yard scoring grab with 3:54 to play. He also had TD receptions against Millersville and Lock Haven. 

SEVEN-MAN LINEMAN ROTATION HAS NEARLY 150 GAMES OF EXPERIENCE
The Crimson Hawks annually have an experienced line under the tutelage of Coach Campolo. This year is no different, the IUP's seven-man rotation boasting 149 career games with 117 starts under their belts. Each player has at least four starts and are made up of one freshman, one sophomore, three juniors, a senior and a grad student. Jr. C Jeff Arnold leads the way with 32 career starts while Sr. LT Joe Peterson has played in 33 games with 31 starts. 

CRIMSON HAWKS 3-0 WHEN THEY WIN TURNOVER MARGIN, 1-2 WHEN THEY DO NOT
IUP has struggled with turnover margin in its last three games with a combined -7 margin, turning it over 10 times while forcing 3 turnovers defensively. The Crimson Hawks were +5 with just two turnovers during their 4-0 start. Since 2015, they are a combined 26-3 when winning the turnover battle. 

SECOND HALF DEFENSE PROPELLED CRIMSON HAWKS TO COMEBACK WIN LAST WEEK
Trailing 20-7 at the break, the IUP defense performed like it needed to in week seven's 24-23 comeback win over Clarion. The Crimson Hawks gave up just 90 yards on 31 plays (2.9 avg.) and a lone field goal in the second half. They also forced a turnover and tallied 3 sacks in the fourth quarter alone, wrapping up their best second half performance all season. IUP had come into the game giving up 49 total points an an average of 200 yards per game in the second half. 

IUP IS 12-1 SINCE 2015 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES; JUST 1 DEFENSIVE TD THIS YEAR
For the last three years the Crimson Hawks have been one of the national leaders in defensive touchdowns, totaling 14 from 2015-17. This year IUP has just one score from the defense, an 80-yard interception return by R-Jr. CB JR Stevens against Millersville in week two. Since 2015, IUP is 12-1 when the defensive scores. 

CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS WITH 23 SACKS
With the help of a great start to the season, IUP is tied for 11th in Division II with 23.0 sacks through seven games (3.29/game). After just one combined sack vs. Cal and Slippery Rock, the Crimson Hawks returned to their old ways with 4 sacks against Clarion. 

EASTERLING AND TILLMAN AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN SACKS
Most of IUP's sack total can be attributed to its defensive ends: Sr. Deandre Easterling and Jr. Dondrea Tillman. They each have 6.5 sacks this season, which is tied for the PSAC lead and are 12th in Division II. Easterling has at least one sack in five games this year while Tillman has two multi-sack performances. For his career, Easterling is unofficially 5th in IUP history with 41.5 TFLs and 6th with 26.5 sacks. 

LLOYD, AMENDOLA STARTING TO MAKE THEIR PRESENCE FELT
After a quiet first couple weeks of the season, junior linebackers Damon Lloyd and Nick Amendola have started to ramp up their production. Lloyd has 51 tackles over the last four games while Amendola has 48, combining for six double-digit tackle performances during that span. With 68 (Lloyd) and 59 (Amendola) tackles this year, they lead the Crimson Hawks and rank 2nd and 4th, respectively, in the PSAC. 

SHAQ JONES LEADS TEAM IN SPECIAL TEAMS TACKLES; KELLY AND HOFF 
Jr. SS Shaq Jones is fifth on the team with 34 total tackles, but he's also been a force on special teams with 8 tackles on kickoff and punt units in seven games. Jr. WR Zac Kelly and R-Fr. WR Ryan Hoff are also big contributors with 5 tackles apiece. 

QASHAH CARTER AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN KICKOFF RETURNS
Fr. WR Qashah Carter has made his mark in the return game as he's among the national leaders in kickoff return average (31.7, 8th) and kickoff return yards (539, 11th). He had IUP's first kick return touchdown since 2012 with a 95-yard score at Cal and also posted an 89-yard return against Millersville.