INDIANA, Pa. – Coming off a conference championship and NCAA Playoff run, expectations and anticipation are high for the 16th-ranked IUP football program, which opens the 2023 season against the 12th-ranked Ashland Eagles. Kickoff from Miller Stadium is set for Thursday, August 31 at 7:00 p.m.
 
Thursday's opener is a rematch of last season's Super Region One Semifinal matchup, a 19-13 victory for the Crimson Hawks against Ashland at Miller Stadium. IUP returns to the field after a 10-2 season last year, winning a division and conference championship.
 
Ashland faces consecutive ranked opponents to open the 2023 season, squaring off against the Crimson Hawks on August 31 before hosting the defending national champions and top-ranked Ferris State on September 9. The Eagles were selected as the preseason favorites in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) poll following a 10-2 season in 2022.

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 three 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. 
 
QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES

• The Crimson Hawks made the playoffs for the 20th time in program history in 2022, the fourth most in Division II. IUP dispatched Ashland after receiving a first-round bye, advancing to the Super Region One Championship game.
• IUP has won 21 of its last 24 season openers dating back to 1998. The program has an all-time record of 55-33-3 (.620) in its first game of a new season.
• Thursday's matchup between IUP and Ashland is the first in a four-year scheduling agreement through 2026. The Hawks will also host the Eagles in 2025 with games played at Ashland in 2024 and 2026
• Head coach Paul Tortorella (48-11) enters his sixth season at the helm of the IUP program, earning his first head coaching victory against Ashland in 2017 following a long stint as the team's defensive coordinator.
• Tortorella's coaching trajectory mirrors new Ashland head man Doug Geiser, who spent 19 seasons as an assistant with the Eagles before taking over for his first season in 2023.
• The IUP/Ashland game is one of just two top-25 matchups across the Division II football slate for week one.
• Karst Hunter will take the reigns as the new starting quarterback for the Crimson Hawks, transferring from Colorado Mesa prior to the season.
• IUP is second among active Pennsylvania NCAA college football teams in winning percentage (.697) since 1950, behind only DI powerhouse Penn State.
• The Crimson Hawks lost nine battle-tested starters offensively from last year's two-deep, including several key contributors on the offensive line.
• Despite losing some experienced starters along the defensive line, the Crimson Hawks welcome back nine starters on the defensive side of the ball from 2022.

 
NOTEBOOK
 
TORTORELLA BEGINS SIXTH SEASON AT IUP
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 beginning his sixth season on Thursday, Tortorella is 48-11 (.814) overall with a 29-6 mark against PSAC West opponents.
 
His .814 winning percentage is 10th nationally across all NCAA divisions among active coaches with five years of experience or more. 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 IN SEASON OPENERS
IUP is 55-33-3 (.612) all-time in season openers. The Crimson Hawks had a streak of nine straight season-opening wins from 2006-14, which ended with a 34-33 loss to Kutztown in 2015. But they've still won 21 of their last 24 openers dating back to 1998. IUP has opened a season at home 14 times since 2000, going 12-2 in those games, including a 29-26 win over No. 18/16 Kutztown in 2021.
 
MARQUEE MATCHUP PART OF WEEK ONE SLATE
The IUP/Ashland game is one of just two top-25 matchups across the Division II football slate for week one, along with a top-five matchup between No. 2 Colorado School of Mines and No. 3 Grand Valley State.
 
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.
 
BECOMING FAMILIAR FOES
While IUP and Ashland have only met three times prior, all meetings have come since 2017. IUP is 3-0 in the series with Ashland, winning those matchups by a combined 13 points. Tortorella's first victory as a head coach came against Ashland in 2017.
 
The two programs will become familiar foes, entering a four-year scheduling agreement that runs through 2026. The Hawks will also host the Eagles in 2023 and 2025 with games played at Ashland in 2024 and 2026.
 
KARST HUNTER MAKES IUP DEBUT AS QB1
IUP will once again have a new starting quarterback in 2023, landing highly-touted transfer Karst Hunter from Colorado Mesa. Hunter was a two-year starter at Colorado Mesa, earning All-RMAC Honorable mention and RMAC Freshman of the Year honors.
 
He brings 18 games of starting experience to IUP, joining the program over the summer. Hunter set single season passing records in yards (2,481), completions (190) and completion percentage (62.5) at Colorado Mesa.
 
NEW FACES FOR IUP OFFENSE IN 2023
The IUP offense features some new faces in 2023, some of which are stepping in to fill the void left by graduating seniors. Offensive coordinator Larry Wilson enters his second season in Indiana, replacing nine players with starting experience on offense from 2022.
 
Among those newcomers are offensive line transfers Kelechi Okoro and Chance Battle, along with receiving threats Quinn Zinobile and Tanner Krevokuch.
 
RECEIVING OPTIONS APLENTY IN 2023
The Crimson Hawks have plenty of depth in the receiving room going into 2023. Returning All-PSAC selection Hilton Ridley, who hauled in eight touchdown receptions in 2022, is among the experienced returners for the Hawks. Derek Lockhart (43 rec, 702yds, 10 TD) returns to the IUP lineup after playing just one game in 2022 during the season opener against East Stroudsburg.
 
Quinn Zinobile joins the IUP lineup as a transfer from Albany who also spent time as one of the leading wideouts at Clarion. His father, Michael, played at IUP for legendary head coach Frank Cignetti in the early 1990s. Cyair Clark also impressed in preseason camp and throughout scrimmages and provides a dynamic skillset in the slot.
 
VETERAN LEADERSHIP HEADLINES OFFENSIVE LINE
Despite filling the void left by two All-Americans, the IUP offensive line is an experienced unit going into the 2023 season. Still looking to gain chemistry as a group, 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 steps into the starting center spot in 2023, with transfers Chance Battle and Kelechi Okoro stepping in with prior collegiate experience.
 
DYNAMIC STABLE OF BACKS TO SPEARHEAD RUSHING ATTACK
IUP returns its top three leading rushers from last season, accounting for 12 combined touchdowns on the ground. JD Younger and Adam Houser should both see carries, while All-PSAC selection Dayjure Stewart (794 Rush Yds, 7 TD in 2022) continues working back into the lineup.
 
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 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 ranks 18th in the nation in 2022 with 15 total interceptions, with the duo of Bruce and Howard accounting for seven last season.
 
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 with the exception of 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 120 total stops over two seasons as a Crimson Hawk. An All-PSAC West First Team selection in 2022, DiNunzio-Biss is joined by Jay Holmes in the middle of the IUP defense. Holmes emerged as the season progressed in 2022, tallying 29 tackles with 3.5 TFLs.
 
FOWLER RETURNS IN 2023 ALONG 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 40 tackles and 9.5 sacks in just 14 games.
 
He's joined on the defensive line by Cole Weightman, who made seven tackles in nine games last season as a rotational defensive end.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS UNIT INTACT FOR 2023
IUP returns its entire special teams unit of kicker Nick Andrasi, punter Aiden Spitler, holder Daniel Deabner and long snapper Brayden Landherr were all relative newcomers a season ago, but look to provide stability for the Hawks in 2023.
 
UP NEXT
IUP stays home for the second of three consecutive contests at Miller Stadium, hosting East Stroudsburg in the annual Hall of Fame Game on Saturday, September 9. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.  
 
FOLLOW
For coverage of the IUP football program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPfootball and online at IUPAthletics.com.