THE MATCHUP

• Game Three: IUP (2-0) vs. Mercyhurst (2-1) 
• What: 2022 Hall of Fame Game 
• When: Saturday, September 24 – 4:00 p.m. 
• Where: Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium – Indiana, Pa.
• Live Video: PSAC Digital Network (Alex Donaldson, Peyton Trollinger, Sonya Demacek, Torrey Roper) 
• Live Audio: U92 Sports Channel, WQMU 92.5 FM (Jack Benedict, Pat Dougherty, Jake Slebodnick)
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast
• Season Stats: IUP | Mercyhurst 
• Follow the Crimson Hawks: @IUPCrimsonHawk | @IUPfootball

FAN INFORMATION

• Tickets: Purchase Here
• Ticket Booth: Open 1.5 hours before each game
• Stadium Gates: Open one hour before each game
• Parking: $10 (cash only) 
• Tailgating: Spots available for purchase (Stadium South Lot) 
  • Lots open three hours prior to game; close one hour following game
  • Sports are available for all games except for Homecoming (October 1)
• Game Programs: $5 each (cash only) 

SETTING THE SCENE

For the first time since October of last year, the IUP Crimson Hawks return to Miller Stadium for a home contest. IUP welcomes Mercyhurst for the PSAC West opener and annual Hall of Fame Game. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. at Miller Stadium. 

The high-scoring Crimson Hawks are coming off a 44-21 road win at Shippensburg on September 17. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst and new head coach Ryan Riemedio are looking to bounce back from a 50-31 defeat against Kutztown last week. 

Saturday marks a busy day across the department for IUP with four different teams competing at home. Additionally, the annual Hall of Fame reception will take place prior to the game. 

STAT OF THE DAY

• IUP: Mak Sexton is the first QB in IUP history to throw for 300 or more yards in each of his first two starts. The graduate transfer QB 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.
• Mercyhurst: The Lakers had five different players record at least 25 rushing yards in last week’s 50-31 loss to Kutztown.

IUP AT A GLANCE

• Saturday marks the first road contest in four-consecutive outings for the Crimson Hawks, dating back to last season. IUP is back home for the first time since a 21-17 setback against Edinboro in October 2021. 
• Paul Tortorella is set for his 50th game at IUP since becoming head coach back in 2017. 
• IUP held a significant edge in total offense as part of a 23-point victory at Shippensburg on September 17. The Crimson Hawks outgained the Red Raiders, 552-185, while also picking up 23 first downs in the victory. 
• The Crimson Hawks had no shortage of offensive contributors at Shippensburg. Dayjure Stewart led the rushing tack with 108 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Duane Brown secured eight receptions for a game-high 160 yards, while Hilton Ridley posted five catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. 
• Defensively, Drew DiNunzio-Biss recorded his second double-digit tackle game in as many outings. The redshirt-sophomore linebacker posted 11 tackles (six solo) with a TFL and pass breakup last week against Shippensburg. 
• Naszhir Taylor and Jaheim Howard combined for eight tackles and four pass breakups for the Crimson Hawks against Shippensburg. 
• Following strong special teams play that pinned the Red Raiders deep in their own territory, IUP expanded the lead to 30-14 with a safety in the third quarter. 
• DiNunzio-Biss boasts a team-best 21 tackles through two games this season. Howard and Darius Bruce each have interceptions to their credit this season for the IUP defense, while Connor Kelly, Raunya Mitchell and Tyrone Fowler Jr. have each collected one sack. 
• Nick Andrasi has handled punting and kicking duties for IUP in the early portions, including the game-winning 32-yard field goal at East Stroudsburg in the opener. 

SCOUTING MERCYHURST

• Entering with a 2-1 record, Mercyhurst is playing its third road contest in four outings to open the 2022 season. The Lakers recorded wins against Alderson Broaddus and Lock Haven before falling to Kutztown last time out. 
• For the first time in two decades, Mercyhurst has a new head football coach following the retirement of Marty Schaetzle at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Riemedio worked on the defensive side of the ball for the Lakers before being elevated to head coach. 
• Mercyhurst played a close first half against Kutztown before the Golden Bears pulled away over the final two quarters. 
• Michael Lowery leads the Mercyhurst passing game with 438 yards and four touchdowns, also throwing six interceptions. Five different players have a receiving touchdown for Mercyhurst, including leading wideout Justin Hill Jr. (7 Rec, 90 Yds, 1 TD). 
• Defensively, Jacob Holl has a team-high 28 tackles with 3.5 TFLsm two interceptions and a pass breakup. 
• Mercyhurst has not won against IUP since a 28-27 victory in Indiana back in 2010. 
• Riemedio became just the second coach in Mercyhurst's history to win his first two career games and the first ever to have both of those victories come on the road.

SERIES HISTORY

• Series Record: IUP leads 11-2 | Series History
• First Meeting: October 18, 2008 - IUP 41, Mercyhurst 10
• Last Meeting: September 25, 2021 - IUP 48, Mercyhurst 13 | Recap | Box Score

HALL OF FAME GAME 

• IUP will recognize coaching legend Frank Cignetti prior to the game’s opening coin toss. Between quarters, members of the 1993 football team coached by Cignetti will be recognized.
• IUP will add 11 members to its Hall of Fame on Saturday. The class is made up of nine former student-athletes, one coach, and one team that represent nine different sport programs and comprise the department's 27th induction class.
• In addition to the 1993 football team, former IUP greats Shawn Kunes and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah will be inducted to the Hall of Fame on Saturday.
• Mark Bridge (track and field), Rich Dahlgren (baseball), Nafee Harris (track and field), Erin Holloway (softball), Kathy Tattiossain (cross country, track and field), Darryl Webb (men’s basketball), Katie Woodruff (swimming) and Tony Medvetz (tennis) are among the inductees for the Class of 2022.
• Read more about the inductees here.

NOTEBOOK 

IUP IS 36-2 IN PSAC WEST OPENERS DATING BACK TO 1983
IUP has had incredible success in PSAC West openers going back to 1983, winning 36 of those 38 games, including a dominating 48-13 victory over Mercyhurst in 2021. The Crimson Hawks' two PSAC West-opening losses have come to Mercyhurst in 2009 (20-16) and Slippery Rock in 2011 (20-6) - both on the road. IUP is on a current streak of nine-straight PSAC West-opening wins dating back to 2012 and boasted a 26-game streak from 1983-2008.

DUANE BROWN PROVIDES DYNAMIC RECEIVING OPTION

One of the most dynamic players in the nation, redshirt senior WR Duane Brown is third nationally in all-purpose yards (227.5) and leads NCAA DII with 183.5 receiving yards/game. The redshirt-senior has 20 receptions on the season for 367 yards with one touchdown. 

COOACH TORTORELLA NOW IN FIFTH SEASON AS HEAD COACH

Paul Tortorella is set for his 50th game at IUP since becoming head coach back in 2017. Overall, Tortorella boasts a 40-9 (.816) record with a 15-2 mark in the month of September. Through his first four-plus seasons, Tortorella boasts 40 wins with a pair of NCAA playoff berths, regional, PSAC and division titles, and a 6-3 record against ranked opponents.

WILSON BRINGS VAST EXEPRIENCE 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. 

While still early in the season, IUP ranks among the nation’s best offensive units. Entering the weekend, IUP ranks fourth in NCAA DII in total offense (518.5), fourth in passing offense (349.5) and 12th in scoring offense (41.0). 

CRIMSON HAWKS AT HOME UNDER TORTORELLA 

Since taking over as head coach in 2017, IUP has gone 19-7 at Miller Stadium over that span. The Crimson Hawks went 8-1 at Miller Stadium in 2017, but will look to bounce back from a 2-3 mark in home games in 2021. 

Saturday marks the first home game for the Crimson Hawks since October 30, 2021, a stretch of four-straight games on the road dating back to 2021.