INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP football program closes out an early-season homestand on Saturday, September 16 in a PSAC crossover clash with Shippensburg. Kickoff from Miller Stadium is slated for 2:00 p.m.
 
IUP (1-1) is looking to bounce back from a bizarre ending in last week's 13-12 setback to East Stroudsburg in the Hall of Fame Game. The Crimson Hawks marched down inside the five on the game's final possession on a drive that spanned about six minutes, but could not get the ball snapped on a potential game-winning field goal attempt.
 
Shippensburg (0-2) has seen its fair share of injuries in the early stages of the season, recently falling to Seton Hill on the road by a 28-23 score. Saturday marks the second consecutive road crossover game for the Red Raiders, which fell in the season opener to 24th-ranked Newberry.
 
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.
 
QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES

• IUP slipped outside of the AFCA Top 25 Poll to the "receiving votes" section following last week's loss, also dropping 10 spots to No. 22 in the D2Football.com Top 25.
• IUP's 13-12 loss last week was the first loss when allowing 17 points or fewer since 2015
• IUP is searching for win number 600 in program history, entering the matchup with an overall record of 599-277-23 (.677). Only eight DII football programs boast 600 wins or more, including West Chester of the PSAC East.
• IUP had a stretch of 22 consecutive victories in the series against Shippensburg that spanned from 1989-2018. Overall, the Crimson Hawks hold a 45-18-4 all-time edge in the series with the Red Raiders, with the first meeting coming in 1925.
• Head coach Paul Tortorella is one win shy of a milestone 50th win as the head coach at IUP. He would become the second fastest IUP head coach to reach 50 wins with a victory Saturday.
• Shippensburg is making its first trip to Indiana since the 2018 season, a 45-21 victory for the Raiders at Miller Stadium. IUP has won 23 of the last 25 head-to-head meetings with Shippensburg, including last season's 44-21 road win at Seth Grove Stadium.
• IUP is among the top 25 nationally in both scoring defense (23rd; 15.0) and total defense (21st; 248.5) and passing yards allowed (20th; 127.5) through the opening two weeks of the season.
• Defensively, IUP has surrendered under 300 total yards in both games this season. The Hawks limited ESU to 264 yards last week.
• Redshirt-junior QB Karst Hunter is ninth nationally in yards per completing (17.58) through two games, which included multiple long passes last week against East Stroudsburg.
• While working a trio of different backs into the offense last week, IUP struggled to get the running game going against East Stroudsburg with just 52 yards on the ground. Redshirt-junior RB Adam Houser enters the contest 63 rushing yards shy of 1,000 for his collegiate career.

 
NOTEBOOK
 
TORTORELLA CLOSING IN ON MILESTONE VICTORY
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 49-12 (.803) overall with a 29-6 mark against PSAC West opponents.
 
In his 62nd game, Tortorella would become the second fastest coach to reach 50 wins in IUP history, behind the legendary 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 9-4 in one-score games. IUP was 5-1 in one-score games last season, now 6-2 since the start of the 2022 campaign. Both of IUP's matchups this season have been decided by a combined margin of eight points.
 
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.
 
DEFENSE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING
Returning nine starters on the defensive side of the ball in 2023, the Crimson Hawks have played outstanding through two games. Allowing an average of 15.0 points through the opening two weeks, IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 21st nationally in yards allowed (248.5).
 
KARST HUNTER SETTLING IN AS QB1
IUP has a new starting quarterback leading the offense again in 2023, with highly-touted transfer Karst Hunter making his debut as a transfer from Colorado Mesa. Hunter has thrown for 545 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in 2023, averaging 17.5 yards per completion this season, which ranks ninth in NCAA DII.
 
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 15 total "splash plays" over two games, which is listed as a pass of 20+ yards or a run of 10+ yards. The Hawks had nine of their 15 splash plays in the second half this season, including last week's 39 yard pass play from Hunter to Derek Lockhart on fourth down.  
 
RECEIVING OPTIONS APLENTY IN 2023
The Crimson Hawks have plenty of depth in the receiving room for 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 (47 rec, 784 yds, 12 TD) is back in the IUP lineup after playing just one game in 2022 during the season opener against East Stroudsburg. Lockhart has made touchdown receptions in each of the first two weeks, going up for a contested grab on a fourth-down conversion against East Stroudsburg.
 
Quinn Zinobile made a big impact in his IUP debut as a transfer from Albany, collecting two touchdown catches on seven receptions and tallying 128 yards against Ashland. He followed it up with another 100-yard receiving game last week, now ranking 12th nationally in receiving yards (235). 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 and in the return game.
 
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 unit, 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. The Hawks struggled to run the football last week, mustering just 52 yards on the ground against East Stroudsburg.
 
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 all saw carries last week for the Crimson Hawks against ESU in a game where running room was hard to come by. Houser is just 63 rushing yards shy of 1,000 for his collegiate career
 
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 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 1st in the league and 20th nationally in passing yards allowed (127.5) with six pass breakups through week two.
 
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 133 total stops over two-plus seasons as a Crimson Hawk. An All-PSAC West First Team selection in 2022, DiNunzio-Biss was all over the field against East Stroudsburg with eight tackles (six solo), 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
 
He's 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 FOR 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 47 tackles and 9.5 sacks in just 16 games with the Crimson Hawks.
 
He's joined on the defensive line by Cole Weightman, who made seven tackles in nine games last season as a rotational defensive end. Logan Danielson, Terell Williams, Cyler Rozina and Maurice Feazell are all key parts of the rotation for the Hawks on the defensive line.
 
UP NEXT
IUP begins divisional play next week, hitting re road for a trip to Erie against Mercyhurst on Saturday, September 23 at 1:00 p.m.
 
FOLLOW
For coverage of the IUP football program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPfootball and online at IUPAthletics.com.
 

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