INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP football team made timely plays when it mattered and held off a final push from eighth-ranked Slippery Rock in a wire-to-wire 20-12 Homecoming victory at a soggy George P. Miller Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
While Slippery Rock (4-1, 1-1) moved the ball with efficiency throughout the day, IUP (4-0, 2-0) secured a pair of red-zone interceptions from Randy Washington and Naszhir Taylor in the opening quarter. SRU eventually notched a pair of touchdowns in the second half to get on the board, missing both extra points, before IUP held off a final drive from the visitors in a driving rain.
 
Duane Brown grabbed 10 receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns, making some acrobatic catches throughout the day. His 12-yard reception from Mak Sexton early in the fourth quarter handed IUP some insurance at 20-6 with 12:34 left in the contest.
 
Sexton completed 19 of 30 passes for 236 yards and three passing touchdowns, while Dayjure Stewart added a hard-earned 92 yards on the ground. Saturday's victory marked the second consecutive year that IUP has knocked off a Slippery Rock team ranked inside the top 10. Paul Tortorella, who earned his bachelor's degree at SRU, moves to 42-9 overall.
 
The contest began with four consecutive punts, two for each team, before IUP recorded its first interception off a tipped ball in the endzone. From there, the Crimson Hawks moved down the field, covering 20 yards over 18 plays for the game's first touchdown.
 
Sexton completed a pass to Hilton Ridley, who made an impressive grab through contact in front of the IUP bench. Sexton found Ridley for the opening play of the second quarter from seven yards out, lifting IUP to a 7-0 advantage after an extra-point from Nick Andrasi. Taylor put an end to a 14-play Slippery Rock drive after jumping a pass for the second consecutive interception for the IUP defense.

The Rock turned the ball over on downs in the opening possession of the second half and IUP took advantage of the starting field position. Stewart zipped up the middle for an 18-yard gain on the first play of the drive before adding a 19-yard tote that brought the ball just outside the redzone. Sexton found Brown on consecutive completions of 14 and nine yards, the second of which pushed IUP in front 14-0.
 
SRU picked up the tempo and got on the board with a 10-yard pitch and catch from Noah Grover to Jawon Hall. Connor Kelly raced in to block the ensuing point after as IUP led 14-6. Brown went up to snare the ball out of the air for a 12-yard score and a 20-6 advantage.
 
After a 28-yard rapid fire drive brought Slippery Rock back to within one possession, the extra point snap sailed into the backfield, keeping IUP in front at 20-12. IUP found itself backed up to its own six on the next drive before Sexton converted a key third down with a 26-yard find to Brown that advanced the ball to the 34. Sexton found Brown again on third down, this time for 12 yards to midfield. The Rock defense made a stop, forcing an IUP punt.
 
The IUP defense made two more stops on the day with Slippery Rock looking to level the score. Gregory Moore II and Raunya Mitchell combined for a sack on the final SRU drive of the afternoon, bringing up a fourth and long. Moore II continued applying the pressure along the defensive line, forcing a quick throw that landed incomplete, securing the victory for IUP.
 
Washington and Drew DiNunzio-Biss made eight stops each defensively for IUP, while Kelly added seven. Grover finished 19 for 41 passing with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Chris D'Or ran for 101 yards on 15 carries, averaging 6.7 yards per rush for SRU.
 
Up Next
IUP hits the road to take on PSAC West foe California (Pa.) in the 13th Annual Coal Bowl on Saturday, October 8 at noon.
 
Follow
For coverage of the IUP football program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPfootball and online at IUPAthletics.com.   


   

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