#19/22 IUP CRIMSON HAWKS at SETON HILL GRIFFINS
Saturday, November 2 | 12 p.m. | Offutt Field

Game Notes: IUP (7-1, 4-1 PSAC West) | Seton Hill (2-5, 2-3 PSAC West) | PSAC Notes

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

THE GAME
The 19th-ranked Crimson Hawks take their late season momentum on the road Saturday when they visit Seton Hill in Greensburg. Kickoff at Offutt Field is set for noon.  

IUP is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the PSAC Western Division after posting a 35-0 home victory over Gannon last Saturday. It was the Crimson Hawks' second shutout of the season as they limited Gannon to 240 total yards, including 72 passing. IUP threw for more than 300 yards for the sixth time as Quinton Maxwell tossed 3 touchdowns to three different receivers. 

Seton Hill opened the year with four straight losses before defeating Gannon and Mercyhurst in back-to-back weeks. The Griffins fell to 2-5 overall and 2-3 in the division after losing to Edinboro 37-10 last week. Seton Hill threw 3 interceptions and lost 2 more fumbles, totaling 279 yards while accumlating 11 penalties in the loss to the Fighting Scots. 

QUICK NOTES / STORY LINES
• The season's first NCAA regional rankings were released Monday with IUP debuting at No. 4 on the 10-team list; the top 7 teams in the final rankings advance to the Division II playoffs with the top seed earning a bye and the Nos. 2-4 seeds hosting a first round game
• IUP is one of seven 1-loss (or better) teams in Super Region One, including undefeated Kutztown, Slippery Rock and Notre Dame College; IUP is the highest-ranked 1-loss team in the region
• IUP has won all six games in this short series that started when Seton Hill joined the conference in 2013; five of IUP's six wins have been blowouts, outscoring the Griffins 113-28 the last two years
• In IUP's last trip to Greensburg, RB Samir Bullock rushed for 263 of the Crimson Hawks' 431 yards and tied a school record with 6 rushing TDs in a 56-14 win
• The Crimson Hawks are ranked in both the AFCA Coaches and D2Football.com Media Polls this week; IUP remained in the same spots from a week ago, including No. 19 in the coaches poll and No. 21 in the media poll
• The Crimson Hawks are having one of the best offensive seasons in program history with 45.5 points and 483.1 total yards per game; IUP also tied a program record with four 50-point games 
• IUP Sr. QB Quinton Maxwell is one of the top signal callers in Division II ranking in the top-20 in nine categories, including 4th in passing efficiency (174.7), 6th in passing TDs (23), and 17th in passing yards per game (260.5)
• So. WR Duane Brown has caught a TD pass in eight straight games, the longest streak of any player in Division II this season; his 13 receiving touchdowns is 3rd in the nation
• Seton Hill is 15th (of 16) teams in the PSAC with 16.1 points per game, scoring 20+ in its wins over Gannon and Mercyhurst
• The Crimson Hawks are tied for 2nd in the PSAC and 13th in Division II giving up just 15.4 points, holding opponents to 14 or less five times including two shutouts
• 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 RANKED FOURTH IN SEASON'S FIRST REGIONAL RANKINGS
The NCAA released its first set of Division II regional rankings on Monday (Oct. 28) with IUP sitting at No. 4 on the 10-team list. The top seven teams in each of the four regions advance to the NCAA
Division II playoffs, with the top seed receiving a first round bye. 

CRIMSON HAWKS HEAD INTO FINAL STRETCH OF REGULAR SEASON WITH MOMENTUM
IUP has had a successful rebound to its first loss with back-to-back wins, defeating Clarion and Gannon by a combined score of 94-21. The week nine game at Seton Hill marks the start of the final stretch of the regular season that includes games against Edinboro and Shippensburg, three teams with a combined record of 6-17. 

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 7-1 record this season has an overall mark of 28-5 (.848). 

CRIMSON HAWKS STAY THE SAME IN BOTH COACHES' AND MEDIA TOP 25 POLLS
With no upsets in the top 25 this week, the Crimson Hawks kept their spots in both the AFCA Coaches' and D2Football.com Media Top 25 rankings released earlier this week. IUP is No. 19 in the coaches' rankings for the third time in the last five weeks and is No. 21 in the media poll for the fourth time. 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
The Crimson Hawks' aerial game is having it's most success since 2007. IUP is 11th in Division II in passing at 313.6 yards per game, including six 300-yard outings. The 399 and 389-yard outputs in back-to-back weeks are 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
Grad transfer QB Quinton Maxwell has made his mark in is first year at IUP. Through eight games he ranks in the top-20 of Division II in nine categories, including top-10 rankings in five. Maxwell is 4th in pass efficiency (174.7), 6th in passing TDs (23), 7th in yards per attempt (9.74), and 17th in yards per game (260.5). Earlier this year he became the first IUP QB to throw for 300 yards in three straight games. 

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 is 3rd in Division II with 13 receiving touchdowns. He's also 2nd in the country in total touchdowns (16) and points (96), and 3rd in points per game (12.0). Brown has done his damage on just 39 offensive touches as he averages a touchdown every 2.43 times he gets the ball. 

THE IUP DEFENSE RANKS AMONG THE BEST NATIONALLY
The Crimson Hawks are coming off their second shutout of the season and gave up just 240 total yards to Gannon in their week eight win. On the season, IUP ranks in the top 20 in seven statistical categories, including 5th in defensive pass efficiency (90.14), 10th in total defense (264.3), 11th in sacks (28.0), 13th in scoring (15.4), 13th in turnovers forced (19), and 14th in pass defense (152.19). 

CRIMSON HAWKS LEAD PSAC IN FIVE DEFENSIVE CATEGORIES
In addition to their national rankings, the Crimson Hawks have arguably the best defense in the PSAC as they lead the conference in five different categories. Much can be said about IUP's pass defense as the Crimson Hawks give up the fewest yards per game (152.19), force QBs into the worse pass efficiency (90.14), have the most sacks (28.0) and rank 4th in the conference in interceptions (17). 

TWO SHUTOUTS FOR IUP THE MOST IN SIX SEASONS
The Crimson Hawks have tallied two shutouts this year - 54-0 at Millersville, 35-0 vs. Gannon - for the first time since 2013. That year IUP led the PSAC and finished 5th in Division II with 15.4 points allowed per game. This year the Crimson Hawks are 13th in scoring defense...with 15.4 points allowed per game. The Gannon shutout was the 11th since 2011 and the 51st since 1980. 

FISHER LEADS THE WAY FOR DEEP DEFENSIVE FRONT
So. NG Dajour Fisher has had a breakout year as a first time starter, leading the team in TFLs and sacks while leading all linemen in tackles. Fisher's 10.0 TFLs is tied for 8th in the PSAC while his 7.5 sacks are tied for 2nd. As a unit, the defensive line has 36.5 of IUP's 59.0 TFLs and 22.5 of the 28.0 team sacks. 

CRIMSON HAWKS 22-1 SINCE 2011 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES
Sr. LB Damon Lloyd tallied the defense's second score of the season when he returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown during the second quarter of IUP's 35-0 win over Gannon in week eight. It's the second pick-six for the Crimson Hawks this year as Sr. DE Dondrea Tillman went for 51 yards at Mercyhurst. With Lloyd's score, IUP improved to 22-1 since 2011 when the defense scores a touchdown. 

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 ranks 2nd in the PSAC and 26th in Division II with 75 total tackles, adding 5.0 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries, a sack, 2 pass breakups and the pick-six against Gannon. Amendola is tied for 1st in the PSAC and 15th in Division II with 4 interceptions, and is 2nd on the team in tackles (48), TFLs (7.0), sacks (3.5) and passes defensed (7).