INDIANA, Pa. – With three of the final four games in 2023 on the road, IUP heads to Greensburg this weekend to face Seton Hill. Kickoff from Offutt Field is slated for 3:00 p.m.  
 
IUP (4-3, 2-2) took control in the second half on both sides of the ball in a 20-10 victory against Edinboro last weekend at a rainy Miller Stadium. IUP trailed 10-7 at halftime and rattled off 13 unanswered points over the final two quarters to secure the victory. Dayjure Stewart ran for 162 yards on 10 carries, scoring touchdowns on a 78-yard run and a 19-yard reception.
 
Seton Hill (2-5, 1-3) fell behind 20-0 in the first quarter, eventually falling 41-14 last week at California (Pa.). The Vulcans, who had two defensive touchdowns on the day, led 34-0 at halftime against Seton Hill before Mark Bails Jr. hauled in a 60-yard receiving touchdown from Kofi Kwaw.
 
FAN INFORMATION (courtesy of Seton Hill)
TICKETS
• Tickets can be purchased at the gates for the prices below:
• General Admission - $10
• Students (must show university ID) - $5
• Senior Citizens - $5
• Gameday programs can be purchased inside the stadium
 
PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
• Offutt Field is located at 109 Laird Street, Greensburg, PA 15601
• Fan parking is $10 inside the stadium in the upper lot
• Limited parking is available inside the stadium and fans are encouraged to find approved parking on E. Pittsburgh Street, off South Urania Avenue or in the lots located on South Maple Avenue.
 
QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES

• IUP has won all nine previous meetings with the Griffins dating back to the program joining the PSAC in 2013. 
• With Slippery Rock and California (Pa.) still unbeaten in divisional play and facing each other this week, IUP's playoff chances are essentially nonexistent with three losses ahead of the first regional ranking release on October 23.
• Nico Marchitelli stepped in for his first collegiate start at quarterback last week for IUP against Edinboro. Despite a rocky first half, Marchitelli tallied four second half completions and two touchdown passes against the Fighting Scots.
• IUP allowed just 73 yards (3.7 yards/play) on defense in the second half to Edinboro, including 34 yards in the fourth quarter. The Hawks also dictated possession on the offensive side of the ball in the second half, averaging over 6.0 yards per play, converting 5-of-7 third-down attempts and holding the ball for almost 19 minutes of the final two quarters.
• SHU head coach Daniel Day (11-28) returned to coach at his alma mater in 2019, now in his fifth year (fourth season). Day was part of Seton Hill's first football team back in 2005.
• IUP is second in the PSAC and 16th in NCAA DII in fewest penalties committed this season (33). Through seven games, IUP is averaging under five penalties against per contest.
• The Hawks rank fifth in the PSAC in rushing yards (154.4) following a season-best 277 yards on the ground last week against Edinboro. SHU ranks 12th of 16 schools in the PSAC against the run (159.7).
• Seton Hill is allowing 32.7 points/game this season on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, Mark Bails is one of the most dynamic receivers in the conference with 558 yards and four touchdowns.
• IUP has gone 24-4 in road games under HC Paul Tortorella since 2017.

NOTEBOOK
 
TORTORELLA FOURTH IN IUP HISTORY IN WINS
IUP head coach Paul Tortorella was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year for 2022, a reflection on the overall strength of the program under his leadership. Coaching his 50th career game in 2022 against Mercyhurst and now in his sixth season, Tortorella is 52-14 (.787) overall with a 30-8 mark against PSAC West opponents. His 51 wins just surpassed the legendary Bill Neal (50) for fourth in IUP history, now one win shy of tying Curt Cignetti (53) for third.
 
In his 62nd game on Sept. 16, 2023, against Shippensburg, Tortorella become the second fastest coach to reach 50 wins in IUP history, behind Frank Cignetti (59 games). He reached 30 wins faster than any other IUP coach (35 games), and has three NCAA playoff berths (2017, 2019, 2022), two PSAC West titles, two PSAC Championships and a regional title.

IUP IS NO STRANGER TO CLOSE GAMES
IUP has seen its fair share of one-score games, dating back to the 2021 season. Since the start of 2021, IUP is 9-4 in one-score games. IUP was 5-1 in one-score games last season, now 6-2 since the start of the 2022 campaign. The opening two matchups of the 2023 season (ASH/ESU) were decided by a combined margin of eight points.
 
CRIMSON HAWKS IN FAMILIAR TERRIOTY; PICKED AS PRESEASON FAVORITE IN PSAC WEST
For the eighth time in the past 11 seasons, the IUP football program was picked as the preseason favorites in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
IUP picked up six first-place votes in the PSAC West, followed by Slippery Rock, Cal U, Gannon and Edinboro in the top five. Shepherd was picked as the preseason favorite in the PSAC East.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
IUP has been particularly strong on the road since Tortorella took over as head coach in 2017. IUP boasts a 24-4 (.857) mark in road games since 2017. IUP has a pair of undefeated seasons on the road under the direction of Tortorella, posting a 5-0 mark in 2017 and 2021.
 
DEFENSE SAW RETURN TO FORM AGAINST EDINBORO
Returning a plethora of starters on the defensive side of the ball in 2023, the Crimson Hawks entered the matchup against Slippery Rock in week four as the top defense in the PSAC in scoring average (14.2) and yards/game (249.0). Since then, the Crimson Hawks were gashed against some high-powered offensive units. Slippery Rock and Cal U have combined for 72 points and 892 yards over the last two weeks against IUP.
 
The Hawks asserted themselves in the second half against Edinboro, allowing 73 yards in the second half and four first downs over the final two quarters of the contest.
 
CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 26-1 SINCE 2011 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES
IUP has one defensive touchdown this year – coming on a 21-yard scoop and score by LB Jay Holmes against Shippensburg on September 16. The single defensive TD this season mirrors the team's output 2021, 2018 and 2014. In every other year since 2011 the Crimson Hawks have had multiple defensive scores, including 4 in 2017, 5 in 2016, and 6 in 2015. In 2022, IUP had a pair of defensive scores, including a blocked punt in the postseason against Ashland's first team offense along with a pick-six at Shippensburg.
 
MARCHITELLI TAKING OVER FOR IUP OFFENSE
Highly-touted transfer QB Karst Hunter had started all six games for IUP to begin the 2023 season, but left the game in the second quarter against Cal U due to injury. Hunter passed for 1,090 yards and accounted for 16 total touchdowns (11 passing, five rushing) for the Crimson Hawks.
 
Nico Marchitelli stepped in for his first collegiate start on October 14 against Edinboro, finding a groove into the second half. Marchitelli threw for two touchdowns and an interception against the Fighting Scots in the final two quarters, managing the offense and holding the ball for 18:50.
 
IUP OFFENSE PREDICATED ON "SPLASH PLAYS"
IUP has posted 58 total "splash plays" over seven games, which is listed as a pass of 20+ yards or a run of 10+ yards. IUP has 14 plays spanning 30 yards or more this season.
 
RECEIVING OPTIONS APLENTY IN 2023
IUP features some top-caliber receivers on its roster in 2023. Returning All-PSAC honoree Hilton Ridley, a 6-3 redshirt-junior scored eight touchdowns last season for the Hawks, is among the most experienced. Ridley has four more receiving touchdowns this season on 18 receptions, including one over the middle against Cal U on October 7.  
 
Graduate student Quinn Zinobile, a 6-3 transfer from Clarion and most recently from Albany, has stepped in as the leading statistical threat for IUP through seven games. Zinobile enters week seven among the top receivers in the league in receiving yards (7th; 456), receiving yards/game (8th; 65.1), receptions/game (11th; 4.1) and receiving touchdowns (3rd; 5). His father, Michael, played at IUP for legendary head coach Frank Cignetti in the early 1990s.
 
Former All-PSAC wideout Derek Lockhart (52 rec, 851 yds, 12 TD) and 6-6 TE Cole Laney are still working back from an injury at Slippery Rock, providing a chance for others to step in. Cyair Clark has stepped up in a big way in the kickoff return and receiving game for IUP, reeling in a 54-yard catch against Cal U. Isaish Houser has returned to the lineup, providing another receiving threat for the Hawks.

VETERAN LEADERSHIP HEADLINES OFFENSIVE LINE
Despite filling the void left by two All-Americans last season, the IUP offensive line is an experienced unit going into the 2023 season. Shuffling around positions, the Hawks will rely on veterans Gerald Comedy and McLean Djouha.
 
Djouha was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA just before the start of camp. Both Comedy and Djouha were starters on last season's offensive line that allowed just five sacks in 2022. Chad Layton stepped into the starting center spot, with transfers Chance Battle, Kelechi Okoro and Daric Cotman seeing action on the line.
 
DYNAMIC STABLE OF BACKS SPEARHEADING RUSHING ATTACK
IUP returns its top three leading rushers from last season, accounting for 12 combined touchdowns on the ground in 2022. The trio of JD Younger, Adam Houser and Dayjure Stewart have all seen carries at various points of the season. Houser surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards at IUP, while Stewart also cleared the 1,500 yard plateau (1,692) in 2023.
 
Stewart has seen a heavier workload over the few weeks, with 14 career rushing touchdowns following his best game of the season last week against Edinboro (17 Att, 162 yards, 1 TD, 9.5 YPC). Also returning in the IUP backfield is Parker Gregg, who has transitioned into a fullback and short-yardage back for IUP in 2023. Randy Washington, who has been limited with injury, converted from the secondary to running back during spring football, provides another option in a deep stable of backs.
 
NO-FLY ZONE: HAWKS BOAST EXPERIENCED SECONDARY IN 2023
The IUP secondary features a pair of returning All-PSAC honorees in Darius Bruce and Jaheim Howard. The Crimson Hawks ranked 18th in the nation in 2022 with 15 total interceptions, with the duo of Bruce and Howard accounting for seven last season.
 
Naszhir Taylor (53 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 1 INT 11 PBU in 2022), Kalen Frazier (19 tackles, 1 INT, 4 PBU in 2022) and Chuck Ingram (24 tackles, 1 INT in 2022) were all starters in the IUP secondary last season and make up the most experienced unit in terms of games played on the roster. Every starter except for Frazier, who was a true freshman in 2022, have played at least 20 college games. Outside of that experienced unit, IUP has worked in Noah Johnston, Devin Barren, Isaiah Towler and Bo Waddell across the secondary.
 
DYNAMIC DUO OF DINUNZIO-BISS, HOLMES IN THE MIDDLE OF IUP DEFENSE
Drew DiNunzio-Biss paced the team with 88.0 tackles last season and has 179 total stops over two-plus seasons as a Crimson Hawk. An All-PSAC West First Team selection in 2022, DiNunzio-Biss has logged 34 tackles and 1.5 sacks over the last three games.
 
He's joined by Jay Holmes in the middle of the IUP defense, adding 31 stops and a 21-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Shippensburg. Holmes emerged as the season progressed in 2022, tallying 29 tackles with 3.5 TFLs.
 
MULTIPLE CONTRIBUTORS ALONG THE DEFENSIVE LINE
Tyrone Fowler Jr. is back along the defensive line after missing most of 2022 to injury. The 2021 PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Fowler has 74 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 21 games with the Crimson Hawks. Fowler played the best statistical game of his career on October 14 against Cal U, racking up 11 tackles with 3.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and two QB hurries.
 
He's joined on the defensive line by Cole Weightman, named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on September 18. Logan Danielson, Terell Williams, Cyler Rozina, Maurice Feazell (22 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Mysir Mayo have all ben key parts of the rotation for the Hawks on the defensive line.
 
A WINNING TRADITION
IUP has a long winning tradition with its football program, recording 602 total victories since 1927. IUP has 20 NCAA DII Playoff appearances, the most in the PSAC and fourth most all-time. Additionally, IUP is eighth in NCAA DII history with 23 playoff victories.
 
UP NEXT
IUP is back for its 2023 home finale, welcoming Gannon for Senior Day at Miller Stadium on October 28 at 2:00 p.m.
 
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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