INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP football program has a chance to secure a winning season, hitting the road for the 2023 finale at Bloomsburg. Kickoff from Redman Stadium is slated for noon.
 
IUP (5-5, 3-4) did not flinch after a slow start, rolling to a 39-27 road victory at Clarion last time out. With several strong individual performances, Karst Hunter stood out in his return to the lineup. Meanwhile, Cole Weightman and Darius Bruce guided the Hawks defensively against an unpredictable Golden Eagle offense.
 
Bloomsburg (3-7, 2-5) is looking to end its season on a three-game winning streak, recently nabbing divisional wins against Millersville along with an upset of Shepherd. The Huskies got a late stand from their defense for the second week in a row in securing the victory.
 
Saturday's game is a Military Appreciation game, and all active military and veterans will receive free admission to the game with a military ID.
 
QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES

• Needing a win in its final two games of 2023 to secure a winning season, IUP has the chance to end a disappointing campaign at 6-5. The Hawks have not had a losing season since 2009 and have had just two losing seasons since 1982 as one of the most storied programs in the region.
• Head coach Paul Tortorella is tied with current JMU head coach Curt Cignetti for third on the program's all-time wins list (53). Tortorella, who is 13-2 in November games as a head coach, can move into sole possession of third with a victory on Saturday.
• Darius Bruce was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week with five solo tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks (one forced fumble), two pass breakups and a blocked extra point. Another defensive standout was Cole Weightman, who racked up five tackles for loss and three sacks last week against Clarion.
• Weightman's TFL effort last week tied for the second in program history for a single game, while his sack output tied for third in the program's single-game record book.
• Saturday marks the final game in the career of several members of a young IUP roster, including veteran OL McLean Djouha, set for his 42nd career appearance. Djouha has been on the IUP roster since 2017, spanning six total years.
• Dayjure Stewart is within striking distance of 2,000 career rushing yards on Saturday, needing 85 yards to reach the rushing milestone. Still with a season of eligibility remaining, Stewart would become just the 18th player on an illustrious list of IUP backs to reach 2,000 yards and one of 35 active DII players to reach the milestone.
• Currently, there is only one active PSAC player to have over 2,000 career rushing yards, and it's the player IUP is tasked with stopping this Saturday: Bloomsburg RB Kaleb Monaco. Monaco is the reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week, he ranks seventh in the nation in all-purpose yards (148.9) and second in the conference in rushing yards (869).  
• IUP and Bloomsburg are squaring off for the first time since 2016, a 42-13 win for the Crimson Hawks. The teams squared off during a CBS nationally-televised contest in 2011 at Miller Stadium.
• Drew DiNunzio-Biss is ranked fifth in the PSAC in solo tackles/game (4.3). The LB has been all over the field this season, posting five or more stops in nine contests.

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 53-16 (.768) overall with a 32-10 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 moving into third past Curt Cignetti on the all-time wins list.
 
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 9-6 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 score against Seton Hill and Gannon.
 
YOUNG ROSTER FOR IUP LED BY EIGHT SENIORS
IUP recognized eight student-athletes prior to the game against Gannon, celebrating Senior Day in a pregame ceremony. Zayaan Cobb, Naszhir Taylor, Quinn Zinobile, Drew DiNunzio-Biss (redshirt-junior), Stone Shugarts, Jay Holmes and McLean Djouha represent a small senior class for the Hawks in 2023.
 
Taylor, Zinobile, DiNunzio-Biss, Holmes and Djouha are among those seeing playing time for the Hawks, set for their final game on Saturday, who have also dealt with injuries to significant contributors throughout the year.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
IUP has been particularly strong on the road since Tortorella took over as head coach in 2017. IUP boasts a 25-5 (.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. IUP got back on track with a road victory at Clarion last week, previously falling to Slippery Rock and Seton Hill.  
 
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). Giving up some big plays over the last few weeks, IUP has steadied itself in the red zone with a bend but don't break approach.
 
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. IUP held Gannon to just one touchdown on the day, also adding a safety and two interceptions against the Golden Knights on October 28.
 
CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 26-1 SINCE 2011 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES A TOUCHDOWN
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.
 
HUNTER MAKES RETURN TO QB1 SPOT
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 on October 7 due to injury. Hunter made his return to the IUP lineup last week at Clarion, guiding the Hawks with 384 total yards and four total touchdowns.
 
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 last week with a touchdown pass before IUP struggled to convert in key situations in the second half against Gannon.
 
IUP OFFENSE PREDICATED ON "SPLASH PLAYS"
IUP has posted 86 total "splash plays" over seven games, which is listed as a pass of 20+ yards or a run of 10+ yards. IUP has 19 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 (98 Rec, 1,427 Yds, 16 TD), a 6-3 redshirt-junior scored eight touchdowns last season for the Hawks, is among the most experienced. Ridley had a breakout performance at Seton Hill with a career-high 11 catches for 131 yards, adding two more receiving scores last week at Clarion.
 
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 in 2023. Zinobile enters week nine among the top receivers in the league in receiving yards (7th; 610), receiving yards/game (9th; 61.0), receptions/game (12th; 4.0) and receiving touchdowns (2nd; 7). His father, Michael, played at IUP for legendary head coach Frank Cignetti in the early 1990s.
 
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 along with Daniel Deabner.

VETERAN LEADERSHIP HEADLINES OFFENSIVE LINE
Despite filling the void left by two All-Americans last season, the IUP offensive line is gaining experience playing together in 2023. 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 (1,915) 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 200 total stops over two-plus seasons as a Crimson Hawk. An All-PSAC West First Team selection in 2022, DiNunzio-Biss has been incredibly productive in the middle of the IUP defense.  
 
He's joined by Jay Holmes in the middle of the IUP defense, adding 44.0 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 REVOLVING DEFENSIVE LINE
Replacing a pair of veteran interior defensive linemen, IUP has struggled with some depth up front due to injury in 2023. Cole Weightman, named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on September 18 is joined up front by Logan Danielson, Terell Williams, Cyler Rozina, Maurice Feazell (32.0 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Mysir Mayo.
 
A WINNING TRADITION
IUP has a long winning tradition with its football program, recording 603 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.
 
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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