INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP football team mounted an impressive second-half comeback after trailing 13-0 at halftime. IUP (5-2, 2-2) secured a 20-13 victory over Seton Hill (2-5, 0-3) for Senior Day at Miller Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Crimson Hawks had a rocky start after allowing Seton Hill to score 13 points in first half but answered with a 20-0 run in the second half.
IUP quarterback
Karst Hunter had a challenging start, throwing three interceptions in the first half. However, he finished the day with 164-yards and one touchdown, including a long pass of 35-yards to
Cole Laney. Hunter also contributed on the ground, rushing for a total of 39-yards, which included a two-yard touchdown run.
JD Younger rushed for a total of 104-yards and scored a touchdown. In the receiving game,
Hilton Ridley made three catches for 50-yards,
Cole Laney had one reception for 35-yards, and
Maurice Massey caught four passes for 26-yards. Aidan Spitler punted five times for 208-yards, with his longest being 48-yards.
On the defensive side,
Garrett Cox delivered a standout performance with four solo tackles, totaling 16 tackles, including two sacks that resulted in a combined loss of 22-yards. Charles Ingram followed closely with 11 total tackles, while
Noah Johnston recorded nine, and
Maurice Feazell had seven and two quarterback hurries.
Darius Bruce contributed with six total tackles, 1.5 of which were for a loss of three yards, along with an interception that he returned for 57-yards.
The first half was nothing short of a nightmare for IUP. Over seven drives, they punted four times and threw three interceptions.
IUP's opening drive ended with a punt, and their second drive faltered on just the second play when an interception occurred. A 35-yard return by Seton Hill, coupled with an IUP penalty, set the Griffins up at the IUP 8-yard line. The IUP defense managed to hold them to a field goal, giving Seton Hill a 3-0 lead.
After a sack put IUP in a tough spot at 3rd and 16, punter
Aiden Spitler's kick positioned the Griffins at the SHU 25-yard line. Seton Hill's Ky'Ron Craggette then rushed for an impressive 41-yards, scoring their first touchdown after a dominant drive that totaled 55 rushing yards.
IUP's first drive of the second quarter ended with a punt, and their second drive mirrored the first with another interception on the second play. The teams exchanged a series of punts until Seton Hill advanced downfield and kicked another field goal, extending their lead to 13-0 with 3:06 left to play.
IUP had one last chance to score before halftime but threw another interception.
After a much needed halftime reset, the Crimson Hawks returned with renewed energy.
They found their rhythm on their first drive of the third quarter, covering 80-yards in nine plays and taking 4:45 off the clock.
Karst Hunter connected with
Cole Laney for a 35-yard touchdown pass, and kicker
Nick Andrasi's successful kick put IUP on the board, still trailing 13-7.
Seton Hill was forced to punt on their next drive, giving IUP possession at their own 18-yard line following a fair catch by
Kalen Frazier. IUP maintained their momentum with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Hunter rushing two-yards into the end zone. However, the extra point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score tied at 13-13.
As the third quarter came to a close,
Garrett Cox recorded a sack on the Griffins' quarterback, resulting in a 16-yard loss forcing another punt.
With 9:33 left in the fourth quarter,
JD Younger rushed three-yards into the end zone, capping a drive where he totaled 46 rushing yards. This put IUP ahead 20-13 with just over four minutes remaining.
As time wound down to 1:13,
Darius Bruce sealed the victory for the Hawks with a game-winning interception.
Up Next
IUP travels to California (Pa.) for the 15th annual Coal Bowl next Saturday, October 26, kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m.
Follow
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