GREENSBURG, Pa. – Seton Hill snapped a nine-game losing streak to IUP with a 35-28 win over the Crimson Hawks on Saturday at Offutt Field.
Prior to Saturday, IUP (4-4, 2-3) had won all previous nine meetings since Seton Hill (3-5, 2-3) became a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). SHU converted a first down on the ground, coming on a 3rd and 28 play during the Griffins' go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, capped by a 35-yard completion from Hayden Teska to Cody Rubrecht that made the score 35-28.
IUP dialed up an effective pass play on a 4th and 10 with about one minute left in the contest, but could not haul in the well-placed pass around the endzone. SHU took a knee and closed out the game from there, posting its second divisional win of the 2023 season.
SHU outgained IUP by one yard offensively (406-405), collecting two interceptions and averaging nearly 19 yards per reception. For IUP,
Nico Marchitelli completed 19 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns, adding 42 yards on the ground.
Dayjure Stewart amassed 59 yards and a score out of the backfield, while
Hilton Ridley made a season-high 11 catches for 131 yards.
Daniel Deabner has four receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense,
Noah Johnston and
Drew DiNunzio-Biss recorded seven tackles apiece.
Kalen Frazier notched six solo stops for the Crimson Hawks and
Darius Bruce had an interception and pass breakup in the secondary.
Both sides stalled on their opening possessions of the contest before Seton Hill got one the board at the 8:06 mark of the first, set up by an interception. Treska, who finished with 259 yards through the air and three touchdowns, found Ky'Ron Cragette for the opening touchdown of the afternoon.
Cragette had an all-around strong effort for the Griffins with three total touchdowns and 191 yards (143 rush, 48 receiving) of offense.
IUP responded with an 11-play drive, spanning 74 yards, but was denied on a fourth and goal from the SHU one. The Griffins began the second quarter by doubling the lead at 14-0 as Ma4rk Bails Jr. rounded out a 16-play drive with a 13-yard reception at the 6:39 mark.
IUP answered with its first scoring drive of the afternoon with
Nick Andrasi splitting the uprights from 40 yards out, culminating an 11-play drive. After forcing a punt, IUP got back within 14-10 on a 17-yard completion to Deabner with 11 seconds left in the first half.
SHU posted an important score on its first possession of the second half with Teska completing a pass to Ethan Frame for a 39-yard score and a 21-10 lead for the hosts. IUP responded with a touchdown of its own on the ensuing possession as Marchitelli found Deabner for the second score of the day, trimming the deficit to 21-17.
SHU posted one more touchdown in the third on an 11-yard scamper by Craggette, widening the SHU lead at 28-17 with under one minute remaining in the quarter. Stewart scored from one yard out in the fourth quarter before
Bo Waddell recovered the ensuing kickoff inside the SHU 20.
Andrasi converted his second field goal, this one from 34 yards out, leveling the score at 28. SHU covered 73 yards in just six plays, converting the eventual game-winning score with 1:43 left on a 35-yard catch by Rubrecht.
Up Next
IUP looks to refocus for its home finale and Senior Day against Gannon on Saturday, October 28. Kickoff from Miller Stadium is set for 2:00 p.m.
Follow
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