INDIANA, Pa. – Losing several key contributors on the offensive side of the ball as the game progressed, the IUP football program struggled to move the ball in a 30-20 loss to rival California (Pa.) in the 14th Annual Coal Bowl from Miller Stadium Saturday.
IUP slips to .500 on the season at 3-3, dropping to 1-2 in league play. Meanwhile, Cal U pushes its record to 4-1 and 3-0 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play.
Already without wideout
Derek Lockhart, the IUP offense was dealt a crushing blow as transfer QB
Karst Hunter left the game midway through the second quarter with a lower body injury.
In abbreviated action, Hunter went 3-for-7 through the air with two touchdown passes, coming to
Hilton Ridley and
Cole Laney in the opening quarter.
Montel Sims blocked a punt in the first quarter, advancing the ball to the Cal 11 and setting up the opening score of the contest for the Crimson Hawks.
Struggling to find a rhythm, the Hawks mustered just seven points and 110 passing yards the rest of the way following Hunter's departure.
Nico Marchitelli and
Blayne Romano entered the game in relief for the IUP offense.
Cal U built a 20-13 advantage with 5:23 left in the first half, pushing the lead to 30-13 into the fourth. Eric McKann III won Coal Bowl MVP honors for the Vulcans with 21 carries for 101 yards and a score, including a 40-yard scamper on the first play from scrimmage.
The IUP defense held serve in the second half for IUP, allowing just 145 yards of total offense despite Cal U possessing the ball for nearly 20 minutes.
Drew DiNunzio-Biss was all over the field Saturday, racking up 17 tackles, just outside the top 10 in school history for the most in a single game.
Tyrone Fowler Jr. added 11 stops, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two QB hurries along the IUP front seven.
The 17.0 total tackles set a new record in the Coal Bowl series, which spans 14 meetings, surpassing Kevin Clarke's mark of 16 in 2016.
IUP moved the sticks just one time in the third quarter but entered the final 15 minutes still within striking distance, trailing 27-13. The Vulcans trailed briefly in the first quarter at 13-10 before tying the score about two minutes later with a 34-yard field goal.
Dayjure Stewart ran well for 53 yards on 12 carries, while
JD Younger added a late score on the ground. In the receiving game,
Cyair Clark made four catches for 80 yards and posted 152 yards on kickoff returns.
McKann opened the scoring with an 18-yard run on the opening possession for Cal U, closing out a five-play drive just over two minutes in. With the score tied at 13, Cal outscored IUP 17-7 over the final three quarters.
Up Next
IUP welcomes Edinboro to Miller Stadium on Saturday, October 14 for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff.
Follow
For coverage of the IUP football program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPfootball and online at IUPAthletics.com.
