INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP football program looks to turn the page in another rivalry matchup, hosting California (Pa.) for Homecoming and the 14th annual Coal Bowl this Saturday. Kickoff from Miller Stadium is set for 2:00 p.m.
 
The difficult stretch continues for IUP (3-2, 1-1) this week against the Vulcans, entering the week with a 2-0 division mark. IUP is looking to refocus after a 42-21 road loss to then 12th-ranked Slippery Rock last weekend at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. After falling behind early in the first half, IUP sliced its deficit down to 14 points but could not get over the top in a rivalry matchup with SRU.
 
Cal U (3-1, 2-0) has played just four games after having its season-opener cancelled just before the beginning of the school year. From there, the Vulcans faced a difficult PSAC crossover pairing at Adamson Stadium against Kutztown and Shepherd. Cal has rolled to division wins against Edinboro and Clarion the last two weeks, entering the matchup with IUP as the nation's top team in third down conversions (58.8%).
 
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.
 
QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES

• This marks the 14th meeting between IUP and Cal U in the Coal Bowl series with the resumption of the game in 2021. The Vulcans lead the Coal Bowl series 8-5, while IUP has a 4-1 record against the Vulcans at home since 2013.
• The road teams have won each of the last two seasons since the resumption of the Coal Bowl in 2021, including a dramatic 22-21 victory for IUP last season at Adamson Stadium. Prior to 2021, the home teams took home the Coal Pail Trophy each year since 2012.
• Entering last week as the league's top unit statistically, the IUP defense uncharacteristically struggled against a balanced Slippery Rock offensive attack in a 42-21 loss on September 30. SRU racked up 485 yards of total offense (over 300 yards in the first half), went 7-of-12 on third down and ran for six touchdowns.
• IUP has gone 17-5 in October games during the tenure of head coach Paul Tortorella, dating back to 2017.
• Dayjure Stewart continues to gain an increased workload in the IUP backfield, logging a season-high 89 yards and his first touchdown of the season.
• Saturday's game features a pair of transfer QBs for both sides in Karst Hunter (Colorado Mesa) for IUP and Davis Black (Charleston). Hunter ran for 88 yards and two scores, but threw three interceptions as IUP pressed to crawl back from an early deficit. Black completing nearly 72% of his passes for 287 passing yards and three touchdowns last week against Clarion.
• Cal battled back from a 20-7 deficit in a 31-20 victory against Kutztown in week two. The following week, Shepherd erased a 28-17 lead in a fourth quarter comeback against Cal U.
• IUP slipped out of both the AFCA and D2Football.com Top 25 Polls in the latest releases this week.
• The Vulcans rank seventh nationally in time of possession (33:47) with Black leading the PSAC in passing yards/game (278.5).

 
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 51-13 (.797) overall with a 30-7 mark against PSAC West opponents. His 51 wins just surpassed the legendary Bill Neal (50) for fourth in IUP history, now two wins 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 AND CAL U BATTLE IN 14TH ANNUAL COAL BOWL
With a hiatus in 2020, the Cowl Bowl is back for its 14th edition on Saturday. The Vulcans lead the Coal Bowl series 8-5, while IUP has a 4-1 record against the Vulcans at home since 2013.
 
The background and genesis of the Coal Bowl began in 2009 when California alumnus Bob Lippencott (class of 1966) and his brother Barry, a 1967 graduate of IUP, established football scholarships to their respective universities. As part of their initiatives, the families have donated a "Coal Pail" trophy that is presented to the winner of the rivalry between the two PSAC member institutions. Following the game, the winning team will receive the Lippencott Brothers Coal Miner's Pail Trophy, which will be presented by the Lippencott brothers, to the winning university president and football coach. Additionally, the Lippencott brothers will also present a trophy to the Most Valuable Player.
 
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.
 
In the series with Cal U, five of the previous 13 Coal Bowl contests have been decided by one score.  
 
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. The 24 road wins is more than six PSAC schools overall number of wins during that span.
 
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 HOPES FOR RETURN TO FORM AGAINST CAL
Returning a plethora of starters on the defensive side of the ball in 2023, the Crimson Hawks entered last week's matchup against Slippery Rock as the top defense in the PSAC in scoring average (14.2) and yards/game (249.0).
 
SRU, which is the league's top offense, rolled up 485 yards and 42 points, with much of the damage coming in the first half against the Crimson Hawks.
 
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.
 
KARST HUNTER PROVIDING VERSATILE OPTION AS QB1
IUP has a new starting quarterback leading the offense again in 2023, with highly-touted transfer Karst Hunter making stepping into the lineup as a transfer from Colorado Mesa. Hunter has thrown for 1,060 yards with nine touchdowns (seventh in PSAC) and four interceptions in 2023, averaging 15.1 yards per completion this season, which ranks 18th in NCAA DII. He's also rushed for five scores this season, with two coming in goal-line situations at Slippery Rock.
 
Hunter was a two-year starter at Colorado Mesa, earning All-RMAC Honorable mention and RMAC Freshman of the Year honors. Hunter set single season passing records in yards (2,481), completions (190) and completion percentage (62.5) at Colorado Mesa.
 
IUP RACKING UP "SPLASH PLAYS" EARLY THIS SEASON
IUP has posted 45 total "splash plays" over four games, which is listed as a pass of 20+ yards or a run of 10+ yards. IUP has 12 plays spanning 30 yards or more this season.
 
OFFENSE SEEMS TO HIT ITS STRIDE IN THE SECOND HALF
With some new faces across multiple areas of the offense, IUP seems to improve as the game progresses. The Crimson Hawks have scored 83 points over the second half of games this season, compared to just 53 in the first half.
 
RECEIVING OPTIONS APLENTY IN 2023
IUP features a trio of 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 three more receiving touchdowns this season on 16 receptions, including one at Mercyhurst.
 
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 five games. Zinobile enters week six among the top receivers in the league in receiving yards (4th; 403), receiving yards/game (5th; 80.6), receptions/game (5th; 5.0) and receiving touchdowns (2nd; 4). 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) is back for his second season at IUP after playing just one game in the 2022 opener for the Crimson Hawks. He's made a reception in 12 straight games dating back to the start of the 2021 season at Cal U. Cole Laney provides a big target at the tight end spot at 6-6, including a 74-yard catch and run in the season opener against Ashland. Cyair Clark also impressed in preseason camp and throughout scrimmages and provides a dynamic skillset in the slot and in the return game, evidenced by a lengthy 78-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter against Shippensburg.

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 in the opener, 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 is just 17 rushing yards shy of 1,000 net yards for his collegiate career.
 
Stewart has seen a heavier workload over the last two weeks, including season-high 89 yards and a rushing score. 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, providing 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. IUP ranks sixth in the PSAC in passing yards allowed (185.8) with 24 pass breakups entering week six.
 
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.
 
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 145 total stops over two-plus seasons as a Crimson Hawk. An All-PSAC West First Team selection in 2022, DiNunzio-Biss has recorded at least five tackles in each of the initial five games this season, including a forced fumble and fumble recovery, two QB hurries, two sacks and one pass breakup.
 
He's joined by Jay Holmes in the middle of the IUP defense, who made five tackles in each of the last four games, adding 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 56 tackles and 10.5 sacks in just 19 games with the Crimson Hawks.
 
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 and Maurice Feazell are all 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 601 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 welcomes Edinboro on Saturday, October 14 for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff from Miller Stadium.    
 
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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