#19/21 IUP CRIMSON HAWKS vs. GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Saturday, October 26 | 1:30 p.m. | Frank Cignetti Field @ George P. Miller Stadium

Game Notes: IUP (6-1, 3-1 PSAC West) | Gannon (2-5, 1-3 PSAC West) | PSAC Notes

Watch: IUPAthletics.com/watch, PSAC Network App | Listen: WQMU 92.5, U92 Sports App; WIUP-FM, TuneIn App | Live Stats: IUPAthletics.com | Twitter Updates: @IUPfootball

THE GAME
The 19th-ranked Crimson Hawks return home for the first time in three weeks when they host Gannon Saturday at George P. Miller Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. 

IUP is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC Western Division after its 59-21 road victory over Clarion last week. The Crimson Hawks had their best rushing performance of the season with 370 yards en route to 601 total yards and their fourth 50-point effort. The defense also had seven takeaways and limited Clarion to just 58 yards on the ground. 

Gannon is on a three-game losing streak having lost to Cal U 54-14 at home a week ago that dropped the Golden Knights to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the division. The Vulcans threw for 373 yards and five touchdowns while Gannon mustered just 20 rushing yards and turned the ball over three times. 

QUICK NOTES / STORY LINES
• With last week's win, IUP is now 11-5 since 2011 following regular season losses
• The season's first NCAA regional rankings will be released next Monday; these rankings determine the 28-team NCAA Division II Championships field with seven teams from each region advancing
• IUP is one of six teams in Super Region One with a 6-1 record or better including undefeated teams Notre Dame College, Slippery Rock and Kutztown
• The Crimson Hawks have won four straight games over Gannon and is 8-3 in a series that started in 2008; IUP has put 35+ points on Gannon seven times and has averaged 44.3 points over the last three meetings
• Last year's game in Erie included four weather delays and last more than six hours; IUP totaled 516 yards in a 43-34 victory
• The Crimson Hawks are ranked in both the AFCA Coaches and D2Football.com Media Polls this week; IUP moved up three spots to No. 19 in the coaches' poll and four spots to No. 21 in the media rankings
• The Crimson Hawks are having one of the best offensive seasons in program history with 47.0 points and 489.0 total yards per game
• IUP Sr. QB Quinton Maxwell is one of the top signal callers in Division II, and ranks in the top-10 in six categories including 5th in passing TDs (20) and 7th in passing efficiency (175.2)
• So. WR Duane Brown has caught a TD in seven straight games to open the season and ranks 2nd in Division II with 15 total touchdowns
• Outside of a 51-point performance in a win over Clarion, the Golden Knights average 15 points and 278 total yards per game
• The IUP defense is ranked 12th in Division II in pass efficiency (96.32) and gives up an average of 164.4 passing yards per game
• 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
 

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NOTEBOOK

IUP LOOKS TO CONTINUE MOMENTUM HEADING INTO FIRST REGIONAL RANKINGS
The Crimson Hawks rebounded from their first loss of the season with a 59-21 win at Clarion last week, improving to 11-5 since 2011 following regular season losses. IUP improved to 6-1 on the year as it looks to start another win streak heading into the final weeks of the regular season and next Wednesday's first NCAA regional rankings. IUP is one of six teams in Super Region One with a 6-1 record or better, including undefeated teams Notre Dame College, Slippery Rock and Kutztown. 

IUP IS PSAC WEST's WINNINGEST TEAM SINCE 2011
Since 2011, IUP has the most overall wins (80) of any team in the PSAC Western Division. The program has a record of 80-21 (.792) during that span with a 48-14 (.774) 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 6-1 record this season has an overall mark of 27-5 (.844). 

CRIMSON HAWKS BACK UP IN BOTH COACHES' AND MEDIA TOP 25 POLLS
After week seven's bounce back win at Clarion, the Crimson Hawks improved in both the AFCA Coaches' and D2Football.com Media Top 25 rankings released earlier this week. IUP moved up three spots to No. 19 in the coaches rankings and four spots to No. 21 in the media poll. 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: 3rd in pass efficiency (183.49); 5th in scoring (47.0); 6th in 1st downs (177); 8th in passing yards (311.3); 10th in total offense (489.0); and 11th in 3rd down percentage (51.3 pct.). 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 8th in Division II in passing at 311.3 yards per game, including five 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. 

IUP IS 52-9 SINCE 2011 WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS AFTER BIG DAY AT CLARION
Jr. RB Justice Evans and Fr. RB Adam Houser each went for over 100 yards as the Crimson Hawks rushed for a season-high 370 as a team in the week seven win at Clarion. IUP is now 52-9 since the start of the 2011 season when a player rushes for 100 yards and 11-0 when two players hit the century mark. Evans' 142-yard outing was the most by an IUP back this year and the second best performance of his career. Houser's 103 yards marked his first career 100-yard day. IUP leads the PSAC with 177.7 yards per game. 

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 the PSAC in six categories and tops Division II with 12 receiving touchdowns. He's also 2nd in the country in total touchdowns (15), points (90) and points per game (12.9). Brown has done his damage on just 32 offensive touches as he averages a touchdown every 2.13 times he gets the ball. Brown is also 7th in Division II with 21.07 yards per catch and 13th with an 13.5 yard punt return average.  

IUP DEFENSE FORCED 7 TURNOVERS AT CLARION, RANKS IN TOP 10 NATIONALLY WITH 18
The Crimson Hawks had a huge defensive day at Clarion with 4 fumble recoveries and 3 interceptions. The 7 takeaways is the most by an IUP team since forcing Gannon into 9 on Nov. 1, 2008. Sr. LB Nick Amendola had a hand in 2 of those takeaways with a fumble recovery and his PSAC-leading 4th interception of the season. IUP is teid for 10th in Division II with 18 takeaways this season. 

CRIMSON HAWKS LEAD CONFERENCE IN TOTAL DEFENSE AND SACKS
The Crimson Hawks defense has been keeping up with its offensive counterparts, ranking in the top 30 of Division II in eight statistical categories, including 10th in sacks (26.0), 12th in pass efficiency defense (96.32), 13th in total defense (267.7) and 14th in interceptions (11). IUP's 267.7 total yards and 164.4 passing yards allowed, and its 26.0 sacks each lead the PSAC. 

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 3rd in the PSAC with 68 total tackles, adding 4.0 TFLs, 2 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries and a sack. He's put together three straight 10+ tackle games and has 330 stops for his career. Amendola leads the PSAC and is tied for 6th in Division II with 4 interceptions, including a pick in two straight games. He's also 2nd on the team with 39 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks. 

IUP PASS DEFENSE ONE OF BEST IN DIVISION II
The Crimson Hawks head into week eight ranked 12th in Division II in defensive pass efficiency (96.32) and 26th in passing yards allowed (164.4). Opposing teams are completing just 49.3 percent of their passes against IUP with an 8-11 TD-INT ratio and have been held under 200 yards five times in seven games. 

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.