INDIANA, Pa. -- With two home games remaining on their slate, IUP welcomes Seton Hill to Miller Stadium, hosting their senior day on Saturday, October 19. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

IUP (4-2, 1-2) faced a tough loss to Edinboro (2-4, 1-2) last Saturday, as Edinboro scored the game-winning touchdown with just eight seconds left. After losing two consecutive games with touchdowns allowed in the final moments, IUP's defense will need to strengthen its secondary after Edinboro converted two fourth downs one of them being a game altering pass interference call, that put Edinboro in scoring position. JD Younger scored two rushing touchdowns and totaled 66-yards while Karst Hunter threw for 209-yards and had a six-yard rush into the endzone.

Seton Hill is coming off two narrow defeats to Gannon and California (Pa.), both within a single score. The Griffins tied the game three times before Cal U scored again with just 14 seconds remaining. Seton Hill's Ky'Ron Craggette had 84 rushing yards and got into the endzone twice.With both teams reeling from late-game losses, it's crucial that they tighten their play as the game clock winds down.

For fans attending the game, please note that VIP Tailgating spots are sold out for the 2024 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. Tailgating procedures can be found here.

Senior Day is set to begin for the sixteen IUP football players around 1:35 p.m. on the field. During halftime, members of the cheerleading team will be recognized, along with the dance team and band. 

QUICK NOTES / STORYLINES
• IUP had won nine consecutive previous meetings with the Griffins dating back since 2013, until they dropped last year's meeting 35-27.
• IUP is averaging 44.4 points per meeting with Seton Hill, while limiting the Griffins to 17.3.
• IUP boasts a 4-0 home record against Seton Hill since 2013, winning all four home contests by a combined point differential of +110.
• Since Tortorella took over the program in 2017, IUP has performed slightly better on the road (29-6) than at home (29-12). The Crimson Hawks dropped multiple road games last season (3-2) for just the first time since 2016 (5-2).
• IUP's last shutout victory came against Clarion on September 28, a 31-0 blowout at Miller Stadium. Tortorella has had six shutouts during his time at IUP, each time scoring 30+ points.
• QB Nico Marchitelli has thrown for eight touchdowns and three interceptions, adding 276 yards on the ground throughout his career. Making his ninth appearance against Millersville, Marchitelli ripped a 30-yard pass deep left to Deabner.
• So far during the 2024 season QB Karst Hunter has thrown for 918-yards, eight touchdowns, and an average 65% passing rate. He has rushed for 280-yards and three touchdowns, through five games.
• Seton Hill is surrendering 367.8-yards/ game and nearly 27.7 points per contest. The Griffins rank tenth in passing yards allowed, surrendering nearly 225.3-yards through the air per outing.
• Seton Hill's kicker/punter was selected for PSAC West Special Teams Athlete of the Week for week six, after averaging 51.3-yards per punt, five being inside the 15, and had three touchbacks against California (Pa.).
• Gerald Comedy, Chad Layton, Cyair Clark and Hilton Ridley are all former All-PSAC honorees on offense.
• On the defensive side of the ball, three-time all- league selection Darius Bruce is part of a talented secondary alongside former All-PSAC selections Kalen Frazier and Jaheim Howard. As well as Maurice Feazell, defensive end, just named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week three weeks ago. 

NOTEBOOK

TORTORELLA THIRD 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 70th career game in the 2023 season finale against Bloomsburg and now in his eighth season, Tortorella is 58-18 (.763) overall with a 33-12 mark against PSAC West opponents. His 54 wins at the completion of the 2023 campaign surpassed Curt Cignetti (53) for third place. In his 62nd game on Sept. 16, 2023, against Shippensburg, Tortorella became 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/SETON HILL SERIES HISTORY
IUP and Seton Hill will meet for the eleventh time overall. The Crimson Hawks look to start a new winning streak after dropping last year's meet 35-27 at Offutt Field. Last year, IUP tied up the game at 28-28 with a 34-yard field goal by Nick Andrasi. Unfortunately, the Griffins found the endzone with under two minutes to play, holding IUP to turnover on downs to close out the game. Despite the defeat, IUP Daniel Deabner scored two touchdowns for the Hawks and Andrasi had two successful field goal attempts. Prior to last year's meet, IUP beat Seton Hill nine consecutive times, since they joined the PSAC in 2013. The total margin of victory is +110 points, with IUP's greatest being in 2017, 57-14.

QUICK GLANCE AT THE 2024 SCHEDULE
IUP has just four home games on the schedule in 2024, losing a game after Mercyhurst made the jump to NCAA Division I. The Crimson Hawks opened the season with three consecutive road games, including a highly-anticipated opener against Ashland on Thursday, September 5 in Ohio, defeating them 19-10. IUP opened the home slate on Saturday, September 28 with the annual Hall of Fame Game against Clarion, defeating the Golden Eagles 31-0. From there, the Hawks hosted Slippery Rock for Homecoming on October 5, falling to their rival 33-32. This weekend the Hawks return home for a matchup against Seton Hill (Senior Day; October 19) and Kutztown (PSAC Championship Weekend; November 16).

IUP OFFENSE PREDICATED ON "SPLASH PLAYS" 
IUP has posted 41 total "splash plays" throughout the season, which is listed as a pass of 20+ yards or a run of 10+ yards. IUP has 16 plays spanning 30 yards.

DEFENSE SEARCHING FOR CONSISTENCY   
Returning only half of the starters on the defensive side of the ball in 2024, the Crimson Hawks have not hesitated to make plays. Both Ingram Charles and redshirt freshman Ian Amegatcher recorded interceptions during week three against Millersville. The Hawks allow an average of 280.3 yards and 16.83 points per game so far this season. Defense coming up big with 10 sacks for 67 yards loss in just the first three games. During the first matchup at Ashland, the Hawks held them to negative one total rushing yards. The Hawks recovered a punt at the 11 yard line, marking a huge stop for the defense, allowing Houser to score. 

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 9-7 in one-score games. IUP was 4-1 in one-score games two seasons ago, and now 1-2 since the beginning of the 2024 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 in three of their five setbacks in 2023.

VETERAN HAWKS TO LEAD IUP OFFENSIVE ATTACK
IUP will rely on its veteran line and signal caller to lead the offense. The Crimson Hawks ranked fifth in the league in scoring offense (26.3) and second in rushing (178.2) last season. IUP is boosted by the return of its starting QB for the first time since 2018 in Karst Hunter (7,061 Pass Yards, 57 TD, 25 Int; 1,324 Rush Yds, 23 Rush TD). The South Dakota native ranks sixth for second among D2 active career leaders in total TDs responsible for (81). All-PSAC honorees Chad Layton (center) and Gerald Comedy (right guard) anchor the offensive line unit that returns four of five starters. Wide receiver Hilton Ridley (112 Rec, 1,601 Yds, 17 TD), a 6-foot-3 redshirt-senior has hauled in 15 touchdown receptions over the past two seasons. Ridley had a breakout performance at Seton Hill with a career-high 11 catches for 131-yards last fall. Redshirt senior Adam Houser (278 ATT, 1,279 Yds, 12 Rush TDs) and senior all-league transfer Kaleb Monaco (2,362 Rush Yards, 399 Rec Yds, 14 Total TD) will carry the bulk of the load in the ground game 

SECONDARY SET TO PLAY PRIMARY ROLE
The IUP secondary features a pair of returning All-PSAC honorees in Darius Bruce and Jaheim Howard with the duo lined up for their fourth season starting together. Two-year starter Kalen Frazier also returns as the team's top cornerback. The experienced trio will lead a Crimson Hawks unit that ranked second in the PSAC and 33rd nationally in scoring defense last season, allowing 19.7 points per game. IUP has kept the opponent scoring average under 20 points per game in back-to-back seasons. The Crimson Hawks allowed 11 passing touchdowns, the fewest since giving up nine in 2018, with only three of those surrendered inside the red zone last season. Key contributor Chuck Ingram has shifted to linebacker after appearing in all 39 games over the past three seasons. Redshirt junior Isaiah Towler (27 career games) and redshirt freshman Ian Amegatcher have stepped into starting roles, along with key contributions from Noah Johnston.

KEY TRANSFERS ADDED ON DEFENSE THROUGH THE PORTAL
Despite a huge void left in the linebacker room from losing leading tackler Drew DiNunzio-Bliss and fellow senior Jay Holmes, IUP has added experience by bringing in Millersville transfers Garrett Cox and Randy Okungu, along with Notre Dame College transfer Nathan Rosario-Santos. Cox, who is a two-time first-team All-PSAC performer, led the league in tackles (114) last year. He is a former high school teammate of Kalen Frazier. Okungu recorded 5.5 sacks for the Marauders last season. Rosario-Santos (67 tackles) is expected to become a heavy contributor after ramping up from preseason injury.

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 26-1 SINCE 2011 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES A TOUCHDOWN
IUP had one defensive touchdown in 2023 – coming on a 21-yard scoop and score by LB Jay Holmes against Shippensburg on September 16. The single defensive TD that 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.

CRIMSON HAWKS IN THE NFL
Highlighting two former Crimson Hawks who have made the jump to the NFL are current New York Jets wide receiver, Irvin Charles and Denver Broncos linebacker, Dondrea Tillman. Irvin Charles was signed to the Jets practice squad on August 31, 2022. On October 7, 2023, Charles was elevated to the active roster as a special team ace. Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season, Irvin Charles blocked a punt against the Titans, putting the Jets in excellent field position changing the momentum of the game. Dondrea Tillman was signed to the Broncos practice squad and has played snaps in weeks 3-6. Recording two sacks and three tackles in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and two tackles the following week against the New York Jets. Tillman was also nominated for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week for his defensive performance Week 3.

COMEDY AND TORTORELLA NOMINEES FOR AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM
IUP football offensive lineman Gerald Comedy and head coach Paul Tortorella are among the nominees for the 2024 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their "good works" off the field. Comedy has been a key leader in IUP football's community service throughout his accomplished career, actively involved socially and within the town of Indiana. Comedy and his teammates primary community service initiative was helping to beautify and clean up the woods at an area near campus last spring. He has joined the football program to assist with move-in, reading at various elementary schools in Indiana County and volunteering as an assistant football coach as his schedule permits. Tortorella is the only NCAA DII head coach and one of just 11 head football coaches in the country recognized as a Good Works Team nominee. The IUP head coach spearheads all community service initiatives within the program, which recently included a stop at the Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) Healthy Kids' Camp in late June 2024.

A WINNING TRADITION
IUP has a long winning tradition with its football program, recording 608 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 California, Pa. Saturday, October 26 for the 15th Annual Coal Bowl against California (Pa.). Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

Follow
For coverage of the IUP football program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPfootball and online at IUPathletics.com.