INDIANA, Pa. – The 17th-ranekd IUP football team celebrated Senior Day in style with a 45-0 victory over Clarion on Saturday at a jam-packed Miller Stadium.
 
IUP (8-1, 6-1) forced a fumble on the opening Clarion (3-7) play from scrimmage and did not look back, owning a 482-139 edge in total offense, including a 256-60 advantage on the ground.
 
Mak Sexton tossed three touchdown passes to Duane Brown and the IUP defense forced four turnovers in a resounding effort. Jay Holmes and Gregory Moore II paced the defensive effort with five tackles each. Joey Tortorella and Jaheim Howard nabbed interceptions, while Drew DiNunzio-Biss and Connor Kelly scooped up fumble recoveries.
 
The victory secures IUP a share of the PSAC West, the program's 22nd division title, along with a spot in the conference championship game next week against Shepherd.

Brown surpassed Carmelo Ocasio for second in program history in both career receiving touchdowns (36) and receptions (168). He leads the PSAC with 16 receiving touchdowns, tied for second in IUP single-season history.
 
IUP won the PSAC West on tiebreakers, joining Slippery Rock and Gannon with 6-1 marks in the division. Despite Edinboro giving Slippery Rock a scare, the Crimson Hawks advance to the conference title game by virtue of a head-to-head win against SRU. Gannon was eliminated from contention for the conference championship following a crossover loss to West Chester and a setback to Slippery Rock earlier in the season.
 
Defensively, the Golden Eagles were led by Drew Blon and Shane Kemper, who each had 10 tackles.
 
IUP opened up a 28-0 lead at the halftime break, posting its second shutout of the season. The Crimson Hawks converted on the early turnover, driving 26 yards in seven plays for the opening touchdown of the afternoon. Sexton found Brown with a pop pass for a 7-0 advantage.
 
Forcing a punt on the next series, IUP doubled its advantage with a methodical 10-play drive, capped with a Dayjure Stewart touchdown scamper. Stewart ran impressively in his return to the lineup, racking up 124 rush yards and two scores. Stewart averaged 10.3 yards per carry, thanks in large part to the veteran offensive line, which dominated the point of attack on Saturday.
 
Brown reeled in his second touchdown of the day, this time a six-yard reception at the 10:49 mark of the second quarter for a 21-0 IUP advantage. The Crimson Hawks closed out the first-half scoring with an 18-yard pitch and catch from Sexton to Brown, concluding a drive that spanned over six minutes, for a commanding 28-0 edge.
 
Nick Andrasi added a 34-yard field goal in the third. IUP forced Clarion into another fumble in the third and Stewart converted just two plays later with a 25-yard jaunt down the right sideline. Terry Mumford gathered in a fade route along the near sideline for a one-yard score the final 45-0 tally.
 
IUP relied on a stable of running backs, particularly in the second half. Adam Houser ran for 53 yards with Vinny Sirianni and JD Younger picking up 41 yards apiece.

The IUP marching band welcomed back hundreds of alumni on Saturday, taking the field for an impressive halftime and postgame performance. 
 
NOTES
Advancing to next week's PSAC Championship, IUP looks to match West Chester for a conference-record 19th championship with a victory against Shepherd… IUP has surpassed 40 points in three of the last four outings and four times in 2022… Saturday's shared divisional championship is the first for IUP since the 2017 season… Among the best in the country at stopping the run, the IUP defense delivered once again against a tricky Clarion offense… Going against the third-best rushing offense in the conference, IUP held the Golden Eagles to just 60 yards on the ground… Saturday marked the fifth time this season that IUP held its opponent to under 65 yards rushing for the game… Standout tailback Khalil Owens mustered just 43 rushing yards on the day… Sexton continues to be among the most efficient passers in the nation with three more touchdowns on Saturday… Over the last four games, Sexton has thrown for 14 touchdowns and one interception… Andrasi went 6-for-6 on extra-points in addition to his 34-yard field goal…. IUP had some big running plays as Clarion loaded the box, which allowed the Crimson Hawks to convert short passes and let their playmakers gain yardage after the catch… Hilton Ridley made four catches for 48 yards, one of 11 different IUP players with a reception… Clarion converted just seven first downs on the day… IUP dominated time of possession, holding the ball for over 36 minutes.
 
UP NEXT
IUP hosts undefeated Shepherd for the 2022 PSAC Championship game, taking place on Saturday, November 12 at 3:00 p.m. from Miller Stadium.
 
FOLLOW
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