INDIANA, Pa. – After a stretch of seven consecutive home games, the IUP football program hits the road for the first time in 2023, visiting Mercyhurst for the start of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
 
IUP starts divisional play with a 2-1 mark, moving to 19th in the D2Football.com Top 25. The Crimson Hawks pulled away in the second half during a 49-14 victory against Shippensburg at Miller Stadium. Following a low-scoring first half, IUP found the endzone just before halftime on a sack and fumble recovery.


Mercyhurst enters the game with a 1-2 record on the season, most recently a 47-17 road loss at Kutztown. Kutztown raced ahead to a 37-0 halftime advantage, holding Mercyhurst to just 22 rushing yards on the afternoon. The Lakers knocked off Lock Haven, 41-29, for their lone win of the season on September 9.

QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES

• IUP recovered four fumbles last week against Shippensburg and converted 21 points off turnovers, turning what was a tightly contested game into a 49-14 blowout victory with excellent field position. Saturday's victory was a milestone on multiple fronts for IUP, marking the 50th win for HC Paul Tortorella and 600th win in program history.
• After playing in seven consecutive home games dating back to last season, believed to be the longest streak in program history, the Crimson Hawks will hit the road for the first time since late October 2022.
• Cole Weightman was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week as one of several standouts for the Crimson Hawks. He logged six total tackles (four solo), along with a strip sack and a pair of quarterback hurries. The strip sack was returned by Jay Holmes for a key score right before the half.
• Karst Hunter accounted for five total touchdowns (four pass, one rush), passing for 199 yards on 12 completions.
• IUP is 17-3 in September under HC Paul Tortorella since 2017.
• IUP has a remarkable 23-3 (.884) record in road games since 2017 under Tortorella, winning at least four road games in each season. The Hawks have two undefeated seasons on the road under Tortorella, going 5-0 in both 2017 and 2021.
• The all-time series between these programs dates back to 2008 (13 games) when the Lakers joined the PSAC. After two early losses, IUP has won 10 straight over Mercyhurst and is averaging 35.2 points per outing.
• IUP is 37-2 in PSAC West openers dating back to 1983, including a 10-game win streak that started in 2012 and includes a 56-24 win over the Lakers in 2019.
• IUP is 6-1 against Mercyhurst in Erie with that one loss coming in 2009 (20-16).
• IUP is continuing to receive votes in the AFCA Top 25, falling out of the top 25 after a 13-12 setback to East Stroudsburg in week two. The Hawks climbed three spots in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll from 22nd to 19th.

 
NOTEBOOK
 
TORTORELLA TIED FOR FOURTH IN IUP HISTORY IN WINS; SECOND IN WINNING PERCENATGE
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 50-12 (.806) overall with a 29-6 mark against PSAC West opponents. His 50 wins are tied for fourth all-time with the legendary Bill Neal, while his .806 winning percentage is second only to Chuck Klausing (.825).
 
In his 62nd game last week 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 37-2 IN PSAC WEST OPENERS DATING BACK TO 1983
IUP has had incredible success in PSAC West openers going back to 1983, winning 37 of those 39 games, including a dominating 33-16 victory over Mercyhurst in 2022. The Crimson Hawks' two PSAC West-opening losses have come to Mercyhurst in 2009 (20-16) and Slippery Rock in 2011 (20-6) - both on the road. IUP is on a current streak of 10-straight PSAC West-opening wins dating back to 2012 and boasted a 26-game streak from 1983-2008.
 
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.
 
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 23-3 (.884) mark in road games since 2017. The 23 road wins matches two PSAC programs overall win tally since 2017 and is more than five 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 HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING
Returning nine starters on the defensive side of the ball in 2023, the Crimson Hawks have played outstanding through three games. IUP is 19th nationally in scoring defense (14.7) and 19th in first downs allowed (42).
 
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 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 744 yards with eight touchdowns (second in PSAC) and four interceptions in 2023, averaging 17.3 yards per completion this season, which ranks seventh 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 24 total "splash plays" over two games, which is listed as a pass of 20+ yards or a run of 10+ yards. The Hawks had 13 of their 24 splash plays in the second half this season, including last week's 41-yard pass from Hunter to Hilton Ridley for a touchdown.   
 
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 54 points over the second half of games this season, compared to just 31 in the first half.
 
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 (48 rec, 809 yds, 12 TD) is back in the IUP lineup after playing just one game in 2022 during the season opener against East Stroudsburg.
 
Quinn Zinobile ranks second in the PSAC and ninth nationally in receiving touchdowns (4) through the opening three weeks of the season. Zinobile is also top five in the conference in receiving yards (4th; 309) and receptions/game (1st; 6.0). 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, 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, 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.
 
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 Shippensburg in a game where running room was hard to come by. Houser is just 54 rushing yards shy of 1,000 for his collegiate career.
 
Stewart continues rounding into form heading into week four of the season. Stewart gashed Mercyhurst for 256 rushing yards, tied for sixth all-time for rushing yards in a single game at IUP.
 
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 had two carries last week against Shippensburg, 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 second in the league and 36th nationally in passing yards allowed (165.3) with 13 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 140 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 Shippensburg, leading the team with seven total tackles and adding a sack.  
 
He's joined by Jay Holmes in the middle of the IUP defense, who made five tackles 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 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 47 tackles and 9.5 sacks in just 17 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 600 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 heads to Slippery Rock on Saturday, September 30 for a 6:00 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.
 

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