GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 23/NR IUP Crimson Hawks (8-2, 5-2 PSAC West)
vs. Shippensburg Red Raiders (5-5, 3-3 PSAC East)
Saturday, November 10, 2018 | Noon
Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium | Indiana, Pa.
*Rankings reflect AFCA/D2Football Top 25 Polls

Watch: IUPAthletics.com | IUP-TV Sports
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen (smartphone): U92 Sports App
Live Stats: IUPStats.com | StatBroadcast
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUPfootball

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

THE GAME
The 23rd-ranked Crimson Hawks wrap up their 2018 season when they host Shippensburg Saturday afternoon. It's Senior Day at IUP with kickoff from George P. Miller Stadium coming at noon. The Crimson Hawks have been victorious in four straight games, winning a variety of different ways. The latest was a defensive struggle in wicked weather, defeating Edinboro 13-6 on the road. Shippensburg has won two straight, including a 48-7 blowout over East Stroudsburg in its home finale. 

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. IUP-TV Sports will stream video at IUPAthletics.com/watch.

STORYLINES
• Outside of the top 10 Super Region One playoff rankings entering the week, it's all but guaranteed that IUP will play its final game of 2018 
• That would end the run of three straight NCAA playoff seasons for the Crimson Hawks
• IUP is 9-1 in regular season finales dating back to the 2008 season; its only loss during that time was a 28-17 defeat at home to West Chester in 2014
• IUP is 32-7 against PSAC East teams dating back to 2006, including a streak of 10 straight wins dating back to 2015; IUP has won 22 straight over Shippensburg
• This marks the first meeting between these two schools since the 2013 won by IUP (42-21); De'Antwan Williams rushed for a program record 315 yards
• IUP defeated Shippensburg 41-7 in the 2012 PSAC Championship, the Red Raiders last visit to Miller Stadium
• IUP's Senior Class enters with a 40-8 record since 2015, the sixth class in program history with 40 victories
• Ship is led by PSAC passing leader Brycen Mussina, son of former MLB All-Star Mike; Brycen averages 317 passing yards per game and has tossed 31 TDs
• Mussina has also thrown 19 interceptions, the 2nd most in Division II; the IUP defense has 12 picks this year, with 6 of those coming in the last two games
• Saturday's game could feature the offenses, with both teams among the PSAC leaders in scoring (IUP 34.2, Ship 32.7)
• The Red Raiders give up 263 passing yards per game with 20 TDs allowed through the air, including five 300-yard games
• QB Lenny Williams Jr. passing numbers in 11 games against PSAC East teams: 66.9 completion pct., 1,986 yards (180.5/game), 23 TDs with 2 interceptions (six 3-TD games) 

NOTEBOOK

SENIOR CLASS ONE OF THE BEST IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Prior to kickoff Saturday, the IUP will honor the 16 members of its 2018 senior class. This class will go down as one of the best in program history with an .833 winning percentage, three NCAA Division II playoff appearances, two PSAC West outright or co-championships, a conference title, and an appearance in the 2017 national semifinals. This class is one of only six in program history to accumulate 40 victories, the first such class since the 1994. 

IUP HAS BEEN RANKED IN TOP 25 FOR 38 STRAIGHT POLL RELEASES
After the week 10 win over Edinboro, the Crimson Hawks moved down one spot to No. 23 in the latest AFCA Coaches' Top 25 rankings. It marks the 38th 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
Coach Tortorella has still put together a great start to his head coaching career with a 21-3 record through his first 24 games. It's the best mark of any IUP coach in their first 24 career games with the program. Tortorella also had the best debut season of any coach at 13-1 in 2017. 

CRIMSON HAWKS HAVE WON 22 OF LAST 24 HOME GAMES
With the Crimson Hawks' dominant 56-14 win over Seton Hill in week nine, they now have 21 wins in their last 23 games played at Miller Stadium dating back to September 2015. The two losses during that span came to Slippery Rock (30-27) this year and West Florida (27-17) in last year's national semifinal. In the last 23 games, IUP is outscoring opponents 848-393 at home, or an average of 36.9 to 17.1.

IUP vs. THE PSAC EAST
Since 2006, IUP is 32-7 (.821) against teams from the PSAC East, including wins over Millersville (41-7) and Lock Haven (59-17) this year, and four wins (ESU, Cheyney, West Chester twice) a year ago. The Crimson Hawks have won 10 straight against the East dating back to 2015. IUP carries a 46-17-4 all-time record against Shippensburg with 22 straight victories dating back to 1989.

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. 

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 PUT UP BEST OFFENSIVE NUMBERS AGAINST GANNON, SETON HILL
IUP's best two offensive performances of the season have come in the last few 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 those two weeks than any game this season. 

QB LENNY WILLIAMS OWNS 17 SCHOOL AND 3 PSAC RECORDS
R-Sr. QB Lenny Williams Jr. will wrap up a fantastic career Saturday, and will go down as one of the best players in program history. He owns 17 school records (four game, six season, seven career) and three PSAC records, and is in the top five in five other IUP categories. 

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 despite a decrease in production this year will be one of the best total offense marks in IUP history.

TEMPLE ONE OF 21 PLAYERS IN PSAC HISTORY WITH 40 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
R-Sr. RB Chris Temple rushed for two touchdowns against Seton Hill and became the 2nd IUP player and 21st from the PSAC to record 40 career rushing touchdowns. He'll enter his final game in an IUP uniform ranked in the top six in IUP history in five career categories, including tied for 2nd in total touchdowns (41) and 6th in rushing yards (2,676).  

JUSTICE EVANS HAS 4 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH RUSHING TD, AVERAGING 102 YARDS DURING SPAN
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 ramped up his production over his last four games with 407 yards and 4 touchdowns. Evans is averaging 6.6 yards per carry during that span with 11 of his 67 rushes going for 10 yards or more. He posted his second best rushing game of his career with 140 yards at Gannon and followed that up with 137 yards 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 put together back-to-back performances of two 100-yard rushers against Gannon and Seton Hill. Two weeks ago against the Griffins Evans (137) and Soph. RB Tyler Balega (101) 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.

DOM MCNEIL ONE OF TOP DEEP THREATS IN PSAC
Jr. WR Dom McNeil is among the PSAC leaders with a 18.8 yards per catch average, 716 receiving yards, 71.6 receiving yards per game and 6 receiving TDs. He has a team-best 11 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 8 receptions for 103 yards and 3 TDs over the last three games, while Williamson has just 5 catches but 4 have gone for TDs. Combined this year the duo has 20 receptions, 223 yards and 9 TDs. 

SENIOR JOE PETERSON WILL BE MAKING 35TH CAREER START
Sr. LT Joe Peterson will be appearing in his 37th career game Saturday and making his 35th start. Although it's the most games played of any current IUP offensive lineman, Peterson has been held back each of the last two years due to injury. He's one of two linemen playing in their final game Saturday with Gr. Rocco Esposito (20 games, 8 starts) also departing after this year. 

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 170 career games with 134 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 35 career starts. 

FRESHMEN TIGHT ENDS MAKING KEY PLAYS FOR CRIMSON HAWKS
IUP went for youth with its hybrid tight end and fullback position this year, deploying Fr. Ryan Langdon, Fr. Grant Smith and R-Fr. Jacob Watts. Each has earned at least one start and have been used a variety of ways, combining for 17 receptions, 215 yards and 2 touchdowns. Smith has done most of the damage with 13 catches for 152 yards and both scores, while Langdon had a huge 37-yard catch and run two week ago against Seton Hill. 

CRIMSON HAWKS 5-0 WHEN THEY WIN TURNOVER MARGIN, 1-2 WHEN THEY DO NOT
After struggling with its turnover margin against Cal, Slippery Rock and Clarion (-7), IUP is +4 in its last three games, forcing a combined 8 turnovers. This year the Crimson Hawks have won the turnover battle five times, posting a 5-0 record in those games with a margin of +9. Since 2015, they are a combined 28-3 when winning the turnover battle. 

CRIMSON HAWKS BOAST STRONG SECOND HALF DEFENSE LAST FOUR WEEKS
The IUP defense has come up with huge second half performances during in its 4-game win streak, giving up a combined 23 points and a 3.3 yards per play average. After giving up a game-tying third quarter touchdown last week at Edinboro, the the Crimson Hawks buckled down and forced two punts before intercepting two passes on back-to-back drives in the last six minutes to preserve the victory. In games against Clarion, Gannon and Seton Hill the Crimson Hawks didn't allow more than 99 yards in the second half after giving up 49 total points and an average of 200 yards per game in the season's first six games. 

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 30 SACKS
With the help of a great start to the season, IUP is tied for 20th in Division II with 30.0 sacks through 10 games (3.00/game). Nine different players have chipped in on getting to the opposing quarterback, with Jr. DE Dondrea Tillman and Sr. DE Deandre Easterling leading the way with 10.5 and 7.0, respectively. 

EASTERLING NOMINATED FOR GENE UPSHAW LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Easterling will wrap up a highly successful career as he heads into Saturday 4th in IUP history with 43.0 tackles-for-loss and 6th with 27.0 sacks. He's a two-time 1st team All-PSAC West and 2nd team All-Super Region One selection who is 10th in the PSAC with 7.0 sacks and 13th with 11.5 TFLs this season. 

TILLMAN AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN SACKS 
Tillman leads the PSAC and is ranked 5th in Division II with 10.5 sacks this season. His current number is the most by an IUP player since Roger Wilson had 12.5 in 1999. Tillman has reached the QB in eight of his 10 games this year, posting double-digit sacks against Ashland, Clarion and Gannon. 

LLOYD, AMENDOLA AMONG PSAC LEADERS IN TACKLES
Junior linebackers Damon Lloyd and Nick Amendola make up the top tackling duo in the PSAC - Lloyd leads the conference with 95 total tackles while Amendola is 8th with 80 stops. The two have combined for seven double-figure tackle performances this year, each posting career-high tackle performances against Slippery Rock (Lloyd 18, Amendola 15).  

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 33 punts. That average would lead the PSAC and rank 14th in Division II, but he falls below the qualifying 3.6 punts per game mark. Ruiz has boomed seven punts more than 50 yards and has dropped nine inside the opponent's 20-yard line. 

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 (30.1, 11th) and kickoff return yards (693, 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.