INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP football program is set for its home finale in 2023, hosting Gannon for Senior Day on Saturday, October 28. Kickoff from Miller Stadium is set for 2:00 p.m.
 
IUP (4-4, 2-3) fell behind and never led in a 35-28 road loss to Seton Hill last week. Despite some penalty issues and big plays, IUP did have some strong performances, including QB Nico Marchitelli's 313 total yards on offense. In the receiving game, Hilton Ridley racked up 11 catches for 131 yards and Daniel Deabner recorded two touchdown grabs.
 
Gannon (4-4, 4-1) has won four of the last five games following a slow start to the season. The Golden Knights defeated crosstown rival Mercyhurst, 31-28, on a 32-yard game-winning field goal from Eric Scarpino. Jayden Whitaker stepped into the QB role for Gannon and accounted for three total touchdowns, also marching the Golden Knights in position for the eventual game-winning field goal.
 
For fans attending the game, please note that VIP Tailgating spots are sold out for the 2023 season. Gates to Miller Stadium open one hour prior to kickoff, while parking lots open four hours prior to kickoff for $10 per spot. All fans are encouraged to allow extra time when arriving on gameday for parking and entering the stadium. Tailgating procedures can be found here.
 
Senior Day is set to begin for the eight IUP football players around 1:35 p.m. on the field. During halftime, members of the cheerleading team will be recognized, while senior members of the band will be honored postgame.
 
QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES

• IUP has struggled to play complimentary football over the last several weeks, dropping three of the last four games.
• IUP owns a 10-4 all-time mark against Gannon, including a 6-1 record against the Golden Knights at Miller Stadium since the start of the series in 2008.
• Gannon handed then 11th-ranked IUP its lone regular season loss last year back in October 2022. The Golden Knights held on for a 43-36 shootout victory, snapping a six-game IUP winning streak in the series.
• IUP boasts a combined 22-6 against Erie schools Mercyhurst and Gannon since 2008, which includes a 13-2 mark at home over that span.
• QB Nico Marchitelli regrouped from an early interception and showed a strong command of the IUP offense in just his second collegiate start. Marchitelli three for 271 yards and two touchdowns, along with 42 rushing yards.
• IUP had several missed opportunities in the loss against Seton hill last week, including a penalty that wiped out a potential long Marchitelli touchdown run and a late fourth down drop on the Hawks' final possession.
• Hilton Ridley made a career-high 11 receptions last week against Seton Hill, going over 1,200 yards for his IUP career. Another talented wideout, Quinn Zinobile, enters the game with 1,945 receiving yards in his collegiate career (Clarion, Albany, IUP) and 55 yards shy from 2,000 combined receiving yards.
• The Knights have a dynamic receiving group of their own, led by Donell Mason and KeJohn Batiste. Both with four touchdown grabs on the season, Mason is third in the PSAC in receiving yards/game (82.3).
• Entering last week's game averaging under five penalties per contest, IUP was whistled for a season-high eight infractions last week, including some untimely fouls.
• Over the last four games, the IUP defense has surrendered an average of 407.2 yards and 29.2 points/game.
• Noah Johnston and Kalen Frazier led the way last week for IUP with six solo stops each. The two are part of a secondary that has seen some shuffling of personnel over the last few weeks. The Hawks enter the week 12th in the league in passing yards allowed/game (208.6).
• IUP ranks fifth in the league in both scoring offense (25.5) and scoring defense (21.8).
• Gannon has proven particularly effective in the red zone this season, leading the league in red zone defense (.643) and ranking third in the league in red zone offense (.889).

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 52-15 (.776) overall with a 31-8 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 9-5 in one-score games. IUP was 5-1 in one-score games last season, now 6-3 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, while the Hawks fell by one touchdown to SHU last week.
 
SENIOR DAY FOR IUP
IUP will recognize eight student-athletes prior to the game, celebrating Senior Day in a pregame ceremony. Derek Lockhart, Zayaan Coob, Naszhir Taylor, Quinn Zinobile, Drew DiNunzio-Biss, Stone Shugarts, Jay Holmes and Mclean Djouha represent a small senior class for the Hawks in 2023.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
IUP has been particularly strong on the road since Tortorella took over as head coach in 2017. IUP boasts a 24-5 (.827) 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. Despite the strong play on the road, IUP fell in each of its last two trips way from Miller Stadium, at Slippery Rock (Sept. 30) and at Seton Hill (Oct. 21).
 
DEFENSE SEARCHING FOR CONSISTENCY   
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, IUP has surrendered an average of 407.2 yards and 29.2 points/game over the last four weeks.
 
 
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, but took another step back in a setback against Seton Hill.
 
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 SHOWS PROMISE IN SECOND CAREER START
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 continued his progression and command of the offense last week against Seton Hill with 19 completions and two touchdown passes, along with 42 rushing yards.  
 
IUP OFFENSE PREDICATED ON "SPLASH PLAYS"
IUP has posted 65 total "splash plays" over seven games, which is listed as a pass of 20+ yards or a run of 10+ yards. IUP has 15 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 (89 Rec, 1,294 Yds, 14 TD), a 6-3 redshirt-junior scored eight touchdowns last season for the Hawks, is among the most experienced. Ridley had a breakout performance last week at Seton Hill with 11 catches for 131 yards.
 
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 eight games. Zinobile enters week nine among the top receivers in the league in receiving yards (8th; 473), receiving yards/game (9th; 59.1), receptions/game (13th; 3.9) 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 (1,751) in 2023.
 
Stewart has seen a heavier workload over the few weeks, with 14 career rushing touchdowns following his best game of the season 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. 
 
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. With plenty of returning talent, IUP has allowed some big plays defensively in 2023.
 
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 186 total stops over two-plus seasons as a Crimson Hawk. An All-PSAC West First Team selection in 2022, DiNunzio-Biss has logged 41 tackles, 4.0 TFLs and 1.5 sacks over the last three games.
 
He's joined by Jay Holmes in the middle of the IUP defense, adding 36 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 79 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 22 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 (24 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 hits the road for consecutive weeks to round out the 2023 season, beginning Saturday, November 4 at Clarion. Kickoff is set for noon.  
 
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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