GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 22/NR IUP Crimson Hawks (7-2, 4-2 PSAC West)
at Edinboro Fighting Scots (6-3, 3-3 PSAC West)
Saturday, November 3, 2018 | 12 p.m.
Sox Harrison Stadium | Edinboro, Pa.

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

IUP Game Notes (PDF)
Edinboro preview

THE GAME
The 22nd-ranked Crimson Hawks are on the road for their division finale when they square off against Edinboro Saturday afternoon. Kickoff from Sox Harrison Stadium is set for noon. IUP has reeled off three straight wins, including back-to-back season-best offensive performances in wins over Gannon and Seton Hill to improve to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the PSAC West. The Fighting Scots narrowly defeated Clarion 14-7 last week after its 56-12 win over Seton Hill two weeks ago. They are 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the division. 

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
• The Crimson Hawks have won four straight and seven of the last eight games against Edinboro, outscoring the Fighting Scots an average of 30.9-13.7
• Edinboro's last home win over IUP came in 2008 (24-17); IUP is 11-3 in Edinboro since 1991
• The IUP defense will face a strong test from Edinboro RB Walter Fletcher, who leads the PSAC and ranks 4th in Division II with 146.4 rushing yards per game; His 328 rushing yards against Seton Hill is the 3rd highest mark in DII this year
• IUP held Fletcher to 50 yards on 14 carries last year; he finished 2017 with 1740 yards and 18 TDs
• Edinboro's defense will also cause problems as the Fighting Scots are 2nd in Division II with 17 interceptions and 14th with 28.0 sacks; The Fighting Scots have 17.0 sacks over the last four games, but just 1 interception in that same span
• IUP QBs have been sacked just 8 times this year and thrown just two interceptions in their last 65 pass attempts
• Something's got to give: the IUP offense is averaging 530 total yards - including 304 rushing - the last two weeks, while Edinboro has allowed a combined 518 yards and 19 points in its last two outings
• IUP QB Lenny Williams Jr. is 64 yards shy of tying Drew Folmar (Millersville) for 8th in PSAC history with 10,688 yards of total offense; he's 417 yards away from 7th place Bob McLaughlin (LHU) at 11,041 yards
• Williams also enters Saturday 314 passing yards away from tying Andrew Krewatch (8220) for 2nd place in IUP history
• This game features two of the top kick returners in the nation - IUP Fr. Qashah Carter (30.8 KOR Avg.) and Edinboro's Ta'Nauz Gregory (26.2 KOR Avg.)

THE NOTEBOOK

CRIMSON HAWKS LEFT OUT OF SECOND REGIONAL RANKING RELEASE
Despite a 7-2 overall record, the Crimson Hawks did not make the top 10 of this week's Super Region One rankings released by the NCAA Monday afternoon. Five schools in the region have an undefeated record and make up the top five spots in the ranking, which also includes three one-loss and a pair of two-loss teams. Three PSAC teams are ranked: West Chester at No. 4, Kutztown at No. 6, and Slippery Rock at No. 8. The top seven teams make up the Super Region One bracket. 

IUP HAS BEEN RANKED IN TOP 25 FOR 37 STRAIGHT POLL RELEASES
After the week nine win over Seton Hill, the Crimson Hawks remained at No. 22 in the latest AFCA Coaches' Top 25. It marks the 37th 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 did not include the Crimson Hawks in 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 a 20-3 record through his first 23 games. It's the best mark of any IUP coach in their first 23 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 8-1 ON THE ROAD UNDER TORTORELLA
IUP is on the road for the final time this season as it closes the PSAC West portion of the schedule. The Crimson Hawks carry a 3-1 road record this year and are a combined 8-1 in the last two years under Coach Tortorella. 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 HAVE PUT UP BEST OFFENSIVE NUMBERS IN SUCCESSIVE WEEKS
IUP's best two offensive performances of the season have come in the last two weeks, posting a season-high 516 yards at Gannon before besting that mark with 545 yards against Seton Hill. Averaging 49.5 points per game, the Crimson Hawks have put up the most rushing yards (284 vs. Gannon, 324 vs. SHU), first downs (27, 26), and total plays (75, 77) over the last two weeks than any game this season. 

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 101 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 EDINBORO WITH OFFENSE AVERAGING 45 POINTS PER GAME
The Crimson Hawks are 3-0 against Edinboro with Williams at QB, outscoring the Fighting Scots 136-56 the last three seasons. Williams has excelled in the pass game the last two years against Edinboro, throwing for 274 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2017 and completed 85.7 percent of his passes with a 17.3 average yards per completion in 2016. He has not hit the 100-yard rushing mark against Edinboro, but is averaging 74 yards per game and 7.9 yards per carry. 

JUSTICE EVANS AVERAGING 121 YARDS OVER THE LAST THREE GAMES
So. RB Justice Evans had a slow start to the year averaging 45.2 rushing yards with 2 scores over the first six games of the season. But he's turned it up in the last three outings with 363 yards and 3 touchdowns, averaging 121 yards per game and nearly 7.0 yards per carry. Evans rushed for a season-high 140 yards at Gannon and followed that with 137 yards on just 11 carries against Seton Hill. 

IUP IS 51-9 SINCE 2011 WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS
After not having a 100-yard rusher through the first seven games of the season, IUP has put together back-to-back performances of two 100-yard rushers. Last week it was Evans (137) and Soph. RB Tyler Balega (101) who gave the Crimson Hawks a 51-9 record since 2011 when a player rushes for 100 yards. Since 2012, IUP has had 10 instances where at least two players have reached 100 yards in a single game.

TEMPLE BECOMES 21ST PLAYER IN PSAC HISTORY WITH 40 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
R-Sr. RB Chris Temple rushed for two touchdowns last week to become the 2nd IUP player and 21st from the PSAC to record 40 career rushing touchdowns. And with 41 career total touchdowns, he's behind only Michael Mann in rushing (48) and career (52) scores. 

DOM MCNEIL ONE OF TOP DEEP THREATS IN PSAC
Jr. WR Dom McNeil is among the PSAC leaders with a 19.3 yards per catch average, 636 receiving yards, 70.7 receiving yards per game and 6 receiving TDs. He has a team-best 10 receptions of 20 yards or more this season and 4 touchdowns of more than 20 yards.

GAUSE AND WILLIAMSON ARE TOP RED ZONE THREATS
R-Jr. WR JoJo Gause and R-Sr. WR Miles Williams have used their size this year to provide Williams highly efficient red zone targets. Gause missed three games due to injury but has 7 receptions for 94 yards and 3 TDs over the last two games, while Williamson has just 5 catches but 4 have gone for TDs. Combined this year the duo has 19 receptions, 214 yards and 9 TDs. 

SEVEN-MAN LINEMAN ROTATION HAS OVER 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 163 career games with 129 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 34 career starts while Sr. LT Joe Peterson has played in 35 games with 33 starts. 

CRIMSON HAWKS 4-0 WHEN THEY WIN TURNOVER MARGIN, 1-2 WHEN THEY DO NOT
After struggling with its turnover margin for three games (-7) against Cal, Slippery Rock and Clarion, IUP is +2 in its last two games, forcing Seton Hil into three turnovers last week. This year the Crimson Hawks have won the turnover battle four times, posting a 4-0 record in those games with a margin of +7. Since 2015, they are a combined 27-3 when winning the turnover battle. 

CRIMSON HAWKS BOAST STRONG SECOND HALF DEFENSE LAST THREE WEEKS
The IUP defense has come up with huge second performances in its last two comeback wins, giving up a total of 10 points and 189 yards on 60 plays (3.2 avg) against Clarion and Gannon. In the previous six games, IUP gave 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 a touchdown. 

CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS WITH 26 SACKS
With the help of a great start to the season, IUP is tied for 19th in Division II with 26.0 sacks through nine games (2.89/game). The Crimson Hawks have combined for just 3.0 sacks in their last two games, but have still made plays behind the line-of-scrimmage with 12.0 tackles-for-loss during that time. 

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. Tillman is 4th in Division II with 9.5 sacks this season while Easterling's 0.72 sacks per game ranks 11th in the nation.  Easterling has at least one sack in five games this year while Tillman has three multi-sack performances. For his career, Easterling is unofficially 5th in IUP history with 42.5 TFLs and 6th with 26.5 sacks. 

LLOYD, AMENDOLA STARTING TO MAKE THEIR PRESENCE FELT
Junior linebackers Damon Lloyd and Nick Amendola make up the top tackling duo in the PSAC. Lloyd is 2nd in the conference with 82 tackles and 9.1 tackles per game, while Amendola ranks 6th with 71 total tackles on the year. The two have combined for six double-figure tackle performances this year, with Lloyd posting back-to-back performances of 18 (vs. SRU) and 16 (Clarion) a few weeks ago. Amendola had a career-high 15 tackles against Slippery Rock. 

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 (30.8, 11th) and kickoff return yards (677, 9th). 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. QASHAH

RUIZ HAS ONE OF NATION'S TOP PUNTING AVERAGES, BUT ... 
Sr. P Nico Ruiz has put together his best year with a 42.6 average on 27 punts. That average would be the  highest in the PSAC and tied for 14th in Division II, but he falls below the qualifying 3.6 punts per game mark. Ruiz has boomed five punts more than 50 yards and has dropped eight inside the opponents 20-yard line.