#22/25 IUP CRIMSON HAWKS at CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES
Saturday, October 19 | 12 p.m. | Memorial Stadium 

Game Notes: IUP (5-1, 2-1 PSAC West) | Clarion (3-3, 1-2 PSAC West) | PSAC Notes

Watch: StretchInternet.com/Clarion | Listen: WQMU 92.5, U92 Sports App | Live Stats: StretchInternet.com/Clarion | Twitter Updates: @IUPfootball

THE GAME
The 22nd-ranked Crimson Hawks look to rebound from their first loss of the season with a road matchup with Clarion Saturday. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is noon. 

IUP is 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC Western Division after suffering a frustrating 45-42 loss at 9th-ranked Slippery Rock a week ago. The Crimson Hawks found themselves down 17-0 in the first quarter and 31-7 late in the second before mounting a comeback. After outscoring SRU 28-14 in the second half, IUP couldn't recover an onside kick in the final moments. 

Clarion enters the week with a 3-3 overall record and 1-2 mark in the division, having dropped a 35-20 road decision at Cal U Saturday. The Golden Eagles led 10-7 after the first quarter but only converted 4-14 third downs and a Vulcans' 28-3 run into the fourth quarter proved too much. 

QUICK NOTES / STORY LINES
• The Crimson Hawks lost their first game of the season last week after starting the season 5-0; It was their second 5-0 start in the last three years and fifth since 2000
• IUP has won eight straight games against Clarion dating back to 2011 and own the overall series 62-23-3
• Recent results have been closer, with ranked IUP teams needing to mount comebacks in each of the last two seasons; IUP won 24-23 last year at home and 23-17 at Clarion in 2017
• The Crimson Hawks have lost back-to-back games just five times since 2011, including twice during their down 6-5 season; IUP is 4-1 after losses to Slippery Rock during that period, including three wins over Clarion
• Clarion is one of the top offensive teams in the PSAC averaging 36.2 points and 401.0 yards per game; the league's leading rusher Mylique McGriff averages 121.4 yards per game but missed last week at Cal U due to injury
• The Crimson Hawks are having one of the best offensive seasons in program history with 45.0 points and 470.3 total yards per game; This comes from a change in philosophy to more of a pass heavy attack that ranks 5th in the nation (324.7)
• IUP Sr. QB Quinton Maxwell is one of the top signal callers in Division II, ranking 8th with 17 passing TDs and 9th with a 172.9 efficiency rating; He's thrown for 300 yards in three straight games, the most by a QB in IUP history
• So. WR Duane Brown has caught a TD in six straight games to open the season and ranks 2nd in Division II with 13 total touchdowns
• The Crimson Hawks are ranked in both the AFCA Coaches and D2Football.com Media Polls this week; IUP dropped six spots to No. 22 in the coaches poll and four spots to No. 25 in the media rankings
• After missing out on the postseason last year, the Crimson Hawks look for a return trip after making the Division II playoffs in 2015, 2016 and 2017; IUP's 18 Division II playoff appearances is tied for fourth all-time (NW Missouri State 23, North Alabama 21, Grand Valley St. 19, Pittsburg St. 18)
• The Crimson Hawks entered the year as one of only nine Division II teams with 80+ wins this decade (80); New PSAC addition and former MEC power Shepherd (91) is the only other team in the region on that list
 

---

NOTEBOOK

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 10-5 AFTER REGULAR SEASON LOSS IN LAST EIGHT SEASONS
IUP will look to bounce back this weekend and avoid a second straight defeat after falling to No. 9 Slippery Rock 45-42 for its first loss of the season. Since 2011, the Crimson Hawks are 10-5 after regular season losses and have dropped back-to-back games just five times, including twice in 2014. IUP is 4-1 after losses to Slippery Rock during that same period, including three wins over Clarion. 

IUP IS PSAC WEST's WINNINGEST TEAM SINCE 2011
Since 2011, IUP has the most overall wins (79) of any team in the PSAC Western Division. The program has a record of 79-21 (.790) during that span with a 47-14 (.770) divisional record, four West shared or outright regular season titles and a pair of conference championships (2012, 2017). 

COACH TORTORELLA HAS HOTTEST START OF ANY IUP HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Coach Tortorella's 26-4 record over is first 30 games was the best start of any IUP head football coach. Frank Cignetti started 24-5-1 in his first three years (1985-87), Curt Cignetti went 24-6 in his first 30 games (2011-13), and Chuck Klausing started his IUP career (1964-67) with a 23-7 record. Tortorella went 13-1 with a national semifinal appearance during his debut season of 2017, went 8-3 last year and with a 5-1 record this season has an overall mark of 26-5 (.839). 

CRIMSON HAWKS DROP IN BOTH COACHES' AND MEDIA TOP 25 POLLS
After last week's loss to No. 9 Slippery Rock, the Crimson Hawks fell in both the AFCA Coaches' and D2Football.com Media Top 25 rankings released this week. IUP dropped six spots to No. 22 in the coaches rankings and is now on the edge of the media poll at No. 25. The Crimson Hawks spent 38 straight weeks in the coaches' rankings between 2015-18. 

WITH CHANGE OF PHILOSOPHY, IUP OFFENSE BACK TO PUTTING UP HUGE NUMBERS
After a relatively down year in 2018, the Crimson Hawks are again putting up big offensive numbers this season in part to its change in philosophy. Now more of a passing team, IUP ranks in the top 20 in Division II in six offensive categories, including: 5th in passing yards (324.7) and pass efficiency (185.39); 8th in scoring (45.0); 10th in 3rd down percentage (52.1 pct.); 12th in 1st downs (147); and 16th in total offense (470.3). IUP's scoring, total yards, pass efficiency and 3rd down conversion numbers are the best since its record breaking 2016 campaign.   
 
IUP PASSING GAME PUTTING UP BIGGEST NUMBERS IN THE LAST DECADE
Led by a pair of MAC quarterback transfers, the Crimson Hawks' aerial game is having it's most success since 2007. IUP is 5th in Division II in passing at 324.7 yards per game, including five straight 300-yard outings. The 399 and 389-yard outputs in back-to-back weeks are both among the top eight yardage totals in program history and the most in a single game since 2001. The single season record for passing yards is 3,219 in 1993 while the 1992 QB group averaged a record 272.1 passing yards per game. 

QUINTON MAXWELL AMONG BEST QBs IN THE NATION; HAS 3 STRAIGHT 300-YARD GAMES
Sr. transfer QB Quinton Maxwell has made his mark in just a few games with the Crimson Hawks. Through six games he ranks in the top-20 of Division II in nine categories, including top-10 rankings in six. Maxwell is 5th in passing yards per completion (16.24) and attempt (9.93); 8th in passing TDs (17); and 9th in passing efficiency (172.9). He has three straight 300-yard passing games, the first QB in IUP history to do so. 

RECEIVER DUANE BROWN AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN SCORING, RECEIVING
So. WR Duane Brown has been a huge offensive weapon for the Crimson Hawks this year. The converted running back leads Division II with 10 receiving touchdowns and is 2nd in total touchdowns (13), points (78) and points per game (13.0). Brown has done his damage on just 29 offensive touches as he averages a touchdown every 2.23 times he gets the ball. Brown is also 16th in Division II with 22.04 yards per catch and 17th with an 11.3 yard punt return average. 

DEEP RECEIVING GROUP HAS COMBINED SIX 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES
Brown isn't the only big-play receiver for the Crimson Hawks, as he's one of five players who have combined for six 100-yard receiving games this season. Sr. WR Dom McNeil is the latest, hitting career-highs with 10 catches for 141 yards to go along with 2 TDs at Slippery Rock. IUP has 37 pass plays of 20-plus yards this season including 17 touchdowns that have gone for more than 20 yards. 

DESPITE SLIPPERY ROCK RESULT, IUP DEFENSE STILL RANKS AMONG BEST IN DIVISION II
The Crimson Hawks defense has been keeping up with its offensive counterparts, ranking in the top 35 of Division II in eight statistical categories, including 8th in sacks (23.0); 10th in pass efficiency (93.49); 12th in total defense (261.0); 15th in pass defense (150.2); and 27th in scoring defense (17.0). 

CRIMSON HAWKS 21-1 SINCE 2011 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES
The IUP defense recorded its first touchdown of the season in the week four win at Mercyhurst with a 51-yard interception return by Sr. DE Dondrea Tillman. It helped propel the Crimson Hawks to a 56-24 win as they improved to 21-1 since 2011 in games when the defense scores a touchdown. 

CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG DIVISION II LEADERS IN SACKS
The IUP pass rush is arguably one of the best in the nation as the Crimson Hawks are tied for 7th with 23.0 sacks and tied for 8th with 3.38 sacks per game. The pressure has come from all over with 10 different players - seven linemen, three linebackers - registering at least 1 sack.

LINEBACKERS LLOYD AND AMENDOLA LEADING THE CHARGE
Sr. LBs Damon Lloyd and Nick Amendola have been two of the biggest playmakers for the defense this year. Lloyd leads IUP and ranks 4th in the PSAC with 55 total tackles, adding 4.0 TFLs, 2 pass breakups, a sack and a forced fumble. Two weeks ago Lloyd went over 300 stops for his career and enters this week with 317. Amendola has a team-best 3 interceptions and 6 passes defensed to go along with 29 tackles, 6.0 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. 

IUP PASS DEFENSE ONE OF BEST IN DIVISION II
The Crimson Hawks head into Week Seven ranked 10th in Division II in defensive pass efficiency (93.49) and 15th in passing yards allowed (150.2). IUP has held opposing teams under 200 yards passing five times this season. Over the last 10 quarters dating back to the second half of the Mercyhurst game, opposing QBs have gone just 34-67 (.507) for 331 yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions (91.20 efficiency).