INDIANA, Pa. -- The 18th-ranked IUP Crimson hawks hit the road for a rivalry matchup against Cal U in the 13th Annual Coal Bowl on Saturday. Kickoff from Adamson Stadium is set for noon.
 
The Crimson Hawks, which remained unbeaten following a 20-12 Homecoming victory against Slippery Rock last week, look to avenge a heartbreaking 38-34 setback to Vulcans last season. After receiving votes throughout the season, IUP jumped into the national rankings at 18 (AFCA) and 20 (D2Football.com) with the hard-fought win in the rain over SRU.
 
Meanwhile, Cal U is fresh off consecutive blowout victories, including a 59-14 road triumph at Clarion on October 1. The Vulcans scored touchdowns in all three phases of the game with JaQue Jackson accounting for four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) in the rout.
 
THE MATCHUP

• Game Five: No. 18/20 IUP (4-0, 2-0 PSAC) at California (Pa.) (3-2, 2-0 PSAC)
• What: 13th Annual Coal Bowl
• When: Saturday, October 8 – Noon
• Where: Adamson Stadium – California, Pa.
• Season Stats: IUP | Cal
• Follow the Crimson Hawks: @IUPCrimsonHawk | @IUPfootball

 
FAN INFORMATION

• Tickets: $10 adults I $5 students I 12U FREE  (General Admission)
• Parking: $5
• Directions to Adamson Stadium I GPS Address: 170 California Road, Brownsville, PA 15417

 
QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES

• IUP enters the Coal Bowl ranked for the sixth consecutive matchup against the Vulcans, jumping into the national polls this week.
• Home teams have won eight of the last nine meetings in the Cal Bowl, with the lone exception coming last season after Cal nabbed a 38-34 victory at Miller Stadium.
• Cal has owned the upper hand in the Coal Bowl series, holding an 8-4 advantage while going 5-0 against the Crimson Hawks at Adamson Stadium during that span.
• IUP boasts a 14-3 mark in October games under HC Paul Tortorella since 2017. With last week's victory against No. 8 Slippery Rock, IUP improved to 8-3 against ranked opponents under Tortorella.
• IUP improved its record to 25-5 (.833) in PSAC West gamed under Tortorella.
• The IUP defense has slashed the number of points allowed each week of the 2022 season, holding Slippery Rock to a season-low 12 points behind some strong red zone play that included a pair of interceptions.
• Duane Brown moved to 4th on IUP's all-time receiving yardage list with his big week against SRU. The reigning PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week, Brown enters the game with 2,293 receiving yards, just 207 shy of 2,500 for his career.
• Brown is 237 yards shy of moving into a tie for third on IUP's all-time receiving yardage list, matching the electrifying Walt Pegues from 2014-17.
• Last season, the fifth-ranked Cal Vulcans scored 21 fourth quarter points, including the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds left in a 38-34 thriller at Miller Stadium.
• Cal is stout against the run, allowing just 55.2 rushing yards/game. The Vulcan defense is seventh nationally with 4.00 sacks/game.
• Cal has posted a 16-10 record at Adamson Stadium against nationally-ranked teams since the 2000 campaign, including a 5-3 mark against IUP during that span.

NOTEBOOK
 
COACH TORTORELLA OFF TO HISTORIC START AS IUP HEAD COACH
The Mercyhurst game on September 24 marked Coach Tortorella's 50th game as head coach of the Crimson Hawks. Tortorella owns a record of 42-9, including a 25-5 mark against PSAC West schools. He reached 30 wins faster than any other IUP coach (35 games), and has two NCAA playoff berths (2017, 2019), division, PSAC, and regional titles.
 
TOUCHDOWN BROWN
Duane Brown continues to be one of the most dynamic offensive threats in the country, coming off a two-touchdown performance in a win against Slippery Rock and further solidifying his stock in the Harlon Hill conversation. Brown was named the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week for his big day against Slippery Rock.

He ranks first in the nation in receptions per game (9.0), second in receiving yards/game (138.5) and eighth in receiving touchdowns (6). Brown is fourth all-time in program history in receiving yards with 2,293 just 237 shy of tying Walt Pegues for third all-time.
 
IUP DEFENSE MAKING TIMELY PLAYS; FIVE PLAYERS HAVE AT LEAST ONE SACK
IUP has made some timely plays on the defensive side of the ball in 2022. The Crimson Hawks are second in the PSAC in first down defense, allowing 71 through four games. Randy Washington and Naszhir Taylor pulled down interceptions in the Slippery Rock endzone in the opening half, keeping the Rock off the board. Additionally, IUP enters Saturday's contest sixth in the league in total defense (310.0).

Five players have registered at least one sack for the Crimson Hawks in 2022, showcasing their depth along the front seven. Tyrone Fowler Jr. (2.5), Maurice Feazell (1.5), Connor Kelly (1.0), Raunya Mitchell (1.5) and Gregory Moore II (1.5) have all posted at least one sack in 2022.
 
WILSON BRINGS VAST EXPERIENCE AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TO INDIANA 
First-year offensive coordinator Larry Wilson is in his first season as IUP's offensive coordinator after being hired in March. Wilson spent the last 17 seasons at CalU in a variety of coaching roles.
 
CRIMSON HAWKS OFFENSE SHOWING GOOD BALANCE
IUP has ranked among the nation's top offenses so far in 2022. Despite facing a stout Slippery Rock defense last week, the Crimson Hawks rank eighth nationally in total offense (470.5), also ranking third in the PSAC in scoring offense (33.8) and first in the conference in rushing offense (213.8). So far thisseason, IUP is averaging 7.0 yards/play while spreading the wealth with a consistent offensive line.
 
DINUNZIO-BISS LEADING THE WAY IN TACKLES
IUP LB Drew DiNunzio-Biss paces the IUP defense with 33 tackles on the season, including 3.5 TFLs and a pair of pass breakups. DiNunzio-Biss has posted double-digit tackles in two of the first four games from his linebacker spot for IUP.
 
CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 24-1 SINCE 2011 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES
IUP has one defensive touchdown this year - a 47-yard INT return for a score by DB Jaheim Howard - in a road win at Shippensburg. The single defensive TD this season mirrors the team's output in both 2021, 2018 and 2014. In every other year since 2011 the Crimson Hawks have had multiple defensive scores, including four in 2017, five in 2016, and six in 2015.
 
STEWART HAS BREAKOUT GAME IN IUP BACKFIELD
After rushing for 307 yards all of last season, sophomore RB Dayjure Stewart broke out in a big way with a strong performance against Mercyhurst on September 24. He paces the PSAC in rushing yards/game (151.7) and ranks ourth in the league in rushing yards (455).
 
He racked up 256 rushing yards on 32 carries in the 33-16 victory against the Lakers, becoming one of just 15 IUP running backs to rush for 200 or more yards in a game.
 
SEXTON PUTTING TOGETHER STRONG START TO SEASON AT QB
Graduate QB Mak Sexton, a transfer from Pittsburg State, became the first QB in IUP history to throw for 300 or more yards in each of his first two starts. He opened the season with 360 passing yards against East Stroudsburg before following it up with 339 yards through the air in a victory at Shippensburg.
 
Sexton battled back from a sloppy start on Saturday, tossing three passing touchdowns in limited attempts against Mercyhurst. He helped anchor the IUP offense in the second half in a 20-12 win against SRU.

 

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