ERIE, Pa. – Grad transfer quarterback
Harry Woodbery threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another in his IUP debut, helping the 24th-ranked Crimson Hawks put up a big first half enroute to a 48-13 win over Mercyhurst Saturday afternoon at Saxon Stadium.
Woodbery accounted for four of his five touchdowns in the first half, while the IUP special teams had a score early on, as the Crimson Hawks took control early and scored 35 first half points.
IUP improved to 2-1 on the year and opened its PSAC divisional schedule with a victory, rebounding nicely from its loss to Shepherd last week.
The Crimson Hawks used big special teams and defensive plays in the first quarter get out to an early lead. After the defense forced a 3-and-out on Mercyhurst's opening drive,
Cam Suman blocked the Lakers' punt and returned it eight yards for a score to make it 7-0 less than two minutes in to the game.
Suman scored again, this time on offense, as he caught a 7-yard pass from Woodbery midway through the first quarter to give IUP a 14-7 lead. IUP turned a fumble recovery by
Malachi Newell into another touchdown, with Woodbery finding tight end
Grant Smith for a 13-yard score minutes later.
Cornerback
Bryce Gibson picked off a pass on the Lakers' next offensive play, and returned it 35 yards deep into Mercyhurst territory. Seven plays later Woodbery plunged in from a yard out and the IUP lead was 28-7 early in the second.
IUP added one more score in the first half on a Woodbery 11-yard touchdown pass to receiver
Irvin Charles. Woodbery threw for his fourth score in the third quarter, finding receiver
Hilton Ridley from six yards out and then running back
Malik Anderson capped the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Woodbery, who didn't see action in IUP's first two games due to COVID-19 protocols, finished 15-of-22 for 146 yards and those four touchdowns, with no interceptions or sacks. He found seven different receivers on the day, with
Justice Evans and
Qashah Carter each catching three passes while Charles had two for 44 yards. Running back
Dayjure Stewart carried 18 times for 98 yards.
Defensively, safety
Darius Bruce was credited with a team-best 11 total tackles. Newell had 10 stops, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, and forced two fumbles, and defensive end
Vaughn Wallace had two sacks.
Up next
The Crimson Hawks return home and look for another win on Homecoming as they host Gannon (2-2, 1-0) next Saturday.
Notes
IUP entered the week ranked No. 24 in the AFCA coaches' top 25 poll … IUP head coach
Paul Tortorella is now 3-1 in games following a regular season loss … IUP improved to 34-7 in the month of September since 2011 … IUP has won nine straight PSAC West openers dating back to 2012 … The Crimson Hawks had season-highs of 182 rushing yards and 5.9 yards per rush … IUP committed 10 penalties for 103 yards compared to just one for five yards for Mercyhurst … IUP went 6-for-6 in the red zone and is now 12-for-12 on scoring opportunities inside its opponents' 20-yard line this season .. IUP receiver
Duane Brown did not see action due to injury.
Follow
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