INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP defense tallied five sacks and forced two turnovers as the No. 3 Crimson Hawks soared to a 34-7 division-opening win over Mercyhurst at George P. Miller Stadium Saturday evening.
 
Five different players contributed in the five Mercyhurst quarterback takedowns, while three different Crimson Hawks had a hand in the two turnovers to help IUP start the year 4-0.
 
Senior interior lineman Dyllon Scott finished with six tackles and 1.5 sacks, also blocking a Mercyhurst field goal in the fourth quarter to keep the Lakers in single digits and off the scoreboard in the second half.
 
Also getting to the quarterback were junior linebacker Damon Lloyd, senior end Deandre Easterling, junior end Dondrea Tillman, and freshman lineman Raunya Mitchell.
 
Lloyd finished with eight tackles and had two of the Crimson Hawks' six total pass breakups. Junior linebacker Nick Amendola finished with a team-high 10 tackles.
 
The IUP offense didn't take long to get points on the board, as senior quarterback Lenny Williams Jr. rushed around the right end for a 22-yard touchdown on the third play of the game. The score was set up by a 41-yard pass play from Williams to junior receiver Dom McNeil down the seam. On his rush, Williams eluded defenders on the sideline before scooting into the end zone.
 
A Mercyhurst 3-and-out led to another quick IUP touchdown, this one an 8-yard jump ball from Williams to junior receiver JoJo Gause in the back corner of the end zone.
 
The Lakers (1-3, 0-1 PSAC West) converted a 4th-and-goal from the one on their first drive of the second quarter, cutting the IUP lead to 14-7. The Crimson Hawks answered right back with a Dillon Sarka 27-yard field goal to get their lead back to double digits with 1:55 to go in the half.
 
Sarka's kick was set up by another key special teams play, as senior Nico Ruiz faked a punt and ran around the left end for 27 yards on a 4th-and-2 from the UIP 44.  
 
A quick change followed as Mitchell forced a fumble of running back Garrett Owens on Mercyhurst's next play, and Yawn Coleman recovered to give the Crimson Hawks the ball at the Lakers' 33-yard line.
 
Five plays later, sophomore back Justice Evans ran in from three yards out and IUP took a 24-7 lead to the break.
 
The Crimson Hawks scored the only points of the second half in the final quarter, getting a 22-yard field goal from Sarka and a five-yard touchdown run by senior back Chris Temple.
 
The IUP defense came up with three big plays backed up in their own territory to keep the Lakers off the board in the second half. Tillman stopped Owens short on a 4th down play at the IUP 26 at the start of the third quarter; Scott blocked a 28-yard field goal later in the quarter; and senior corner Anthony Davis picked off a Doug Altavilla pass at the IUP 16 on the Lakers' first possession of the fourth.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks look ahead to their annual Coal Bowl rivalry matchup with California (Pa.) next Saturday night. The two rivals kickoff at Cal's Adamson Stadium at 6 p.m. The Vulcans enter the week after defeating Edinboro 40-35 Saturday to even their overall record at 2-2.
 
Notes
The Crimson Hawks outgained Mercyhurst 384-266, with a balanced attack of 193 passing yards and 191 rushing yards … Williams finished 17-of-27 for 193 yards and one touchdown, rushing nine times for a team-best 62 yards and a score … McNeil and junior Dwine Walls each had five receptions, McNeil for a team-high 78 yards and Walls for 57 … Gause was injured in the second quarter and did not return … IUP head coach Paul Tortorella is now 17-1 in his two seasons, including a 10-1 record at home … Temple has 38 career rushing touchdowns, 10 shy of tying Michael Mann (48) for the program record … With five sacks Saturday, the Crimson Hawks now have 18 in their first four games, one of the best starts in school history … IUP has now won 20 of its last 21 home games dating back to September 2015 … The Crimson Hawks have won seven straight PSAC West openers dating back to 2012.
 
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