THE MATCHUP

• Game Four: IUP (3-0, 1-0 PSAC) vs. No. 8/12 Slippery Rock (4-0, 1-0 PSAC)
• What: Homecoming
• When: Saturday, October 1 – 2:00 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 | Slippery Rock
• 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: SOLD OUT (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 SCENCE

IUP is back at Miller Stadium for Homecoming, welcoming unbeaten and eighth-ranked Slippery Rock on Saturday. The 2:00 p.m. kickoff marks the 96th all-time meeting between the two programs, dating back to 1907. The Crimson Hawks used a powerful rushing attack and some timely defensive stops to remain unbeaten with a 33-16 victory against Mercyhurst last Saturday. IUP outscored the Lakers by a 20-9 margin in the second half following a back and forth opening two quarters. Dayjure Stewart anchored a successful IUP ground game, racking up 256 rushing yards on 32 carries. It was all part of 383 total rushing yards for the Crimson Hawks, with JD Younger adding 91 yards on just 12 carries. Slippery Rock visits Miller Stadium for the first time since 2018, entering the matchup ranked eighth in the AFCA Top 25 and 12th in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll. The Rock moved to 4-0 behind an impressive defensive showing in a 30-2 victory against Seton Hill last week. SRU held Seton Hill to just 106 yards of total offense in the victory.

QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES 

• IUP head coach Paul Tortorella coached his 50th game last week for IUP as the head coach, posting a 41-9 mark since 2017. Tortorella earned his degree from Slippery Rock in 1985. He and Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz had similar paths to head coaching success, both serving as long time assistants and coordinators before taking the reigns of their respective programs.
• The Crimson Hawks continue to play complimentary football, making timely plays across all three phases of the game. While IUP battled through some early turnovers on offense against Mercyhurst, the defense stepped up with some key stops. Later, the Crimson Hawks got the ground game going and dictated time of possession.
• IUP features one of the top offenses in the nation through three games. Under new offensive coordinator Larry Wilson, the Crimson Hawks are third nationally in total offense (502.7) and 11th in rushing offense (240.3).
• Dayjure Stewart, who missed the opening game of the season due to illness, broke out in a big way against the Lakers last week. His 256 yards are tied for sixth all-time for rushing yards in a game at IUP, matching Harvie Tuck against Cal U (Pa.) back in 2012.
• IUP and Slippery Rock are among two of just 25 remaining unbeaten teams across NCAA DII football.
• While the SRU offense had four turnovers, the unit still amassed 449 yards in a 30-2 win against Seton Hill. QB Noah Grover threw for 294 yards with one passing and one rushing touchdown. On the day, the SRU defense had six sacks and held Seton Hill to 1.9 yards/play.
• Mak Sexton has thrown for 787 yards with a completion percentage near 73% through his first three games as a Crimson Hawk. Despite a pair of early interceptions last week, Sexton settled in with three touchdown passes to Duane Brown.
• Drew DiNunzio-Biss paces the IUP defense with 25.0 tackles and 3.5 TFL. The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC in first down defense (51) and rank second in the league in total defense (291.3).
• IUP knocked off sixth-ranked Slippery Rock in a convincing 48-21 road victory in October 2021. Harry Woodbery tossed five touchdown passes and the IUP defense forced four turnovers.

SCOUTING SLIPPERY ROCK 

• Slippery Rock has lost just one PSAC Western Division game since Oct. 21, 2017 and is 23-1 against the Division in its last 24 PSAC West games, with the lone loss coming to IUP in 2021. 
• In eight games as the starting QB at SRU, Noah Grover has thrown for 2,648 yards and 24 touchdowns while leading SRU to a 6-2 record.
• Slippery Rock enters this week ranked fourth in Division II in total defense, allowing just 200.5 total yards per game. The Rock rank seventh in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 10.0 points per game, and also rank seventh in tackles for loss at 9.8 per game.
• Slippery Rock is coming off one of its most dominant defensive efforts in the last decade, holding Seton Hill to just 106 total yards of offense and not allowing any offensive points in a 30-2 win.
• SRU looks vastly different in 2022 than it did in 2021 with the departure of a highly decorated senior class. To fill most of those voids, Slippery Rock went heavy on the transfer portal and added 20 transfer students, many of which have slid immediately into starting roles. In total, Slippery Rock has 31 players on the roster that also played at another college.

NOTEBOOK 

COACH TORTORELLA THROUGH 50 GAMES
The Mercyhurst game on September 24 marked Coach Tortorella’s 50th game as head coach of the Crimson Hawks. Tortorella owns a record of 41-9, including a 24-5 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.

CRIMSON HAWKS OFFENSE COMING OFF ANOTHER BIG PERFORMANCE
IUP has ranked among the nation's top offenses so far in 2022. The Crimson Hawks rank third nationally in total offense (502.7), also ranking second in the PSAC in scoring offense (38.3) and first in the conference in rushing offense (240.3). So far this season, IUP is averaging 7.5 yards/play.

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 first in the PSAC in first down defense, allowing just 51 through three games. Additionally, IUP enters Saturday's contest second in the league in total defense (291.3). 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), Murice Feazell (1.5), Connor Kelly (1.0), Raunya Mitchell (1.0) and Gregory Moore II (1.0) have all posted at least one sack in 2022.

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.

BIG PLAY DAUNE (BROWN)
Duane Brown continues to be one of the most dynamic offensive threats in the country, coming off a three-touchdown performance in a win against Mercyhurst. Brown ranks eighth in the nation in all-purpose yards (175.33) and sixth in receiving yards/game (138.0).

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.

DINUNZIO-BISS LEADING THE WAY IN TACKLES
IUP LB Drew DiNunzio-Biss paces the IUP defense with 25 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 three games from his linebacker spot for IUP.

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. He racked up 256 rushing yards on 32 carries in a 33-16 victory last week, 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.