CALIFORNIA, Pa. – IUP (5-3, 2-3) faced offensive difficulties and made a crucial mistake in the final minute, resulting in a 16-13 overtime loss to California (Pa.) (7-1, 5-0) at Adamson Stadium on Saturday.
Quarterback
Karst Hunter threw for 100-yards on 12 of 19 attempts, threw one interception, and was sacked twice. On the ground he rushed for 29 total yards. IUP could only convert one of seven third downs and totaled 229-yards on offense.
JD Younger was the only Hawk to score today, finding the end zone on a two-yard run with 2:38 left in the fourth quarter. He finished with 65 rushing yards, including a long run of 21-yards, and caught two passes for 26-yards.
Adam Houser contributed with 27-yards on four rushing attempts.
Maurice Massey made four catches for 38-yards,
Daniel Deabner had one for 14-yards, while
Cyair Clark and
Marcus Day each caught two passes.
Hilton Ridley added one reception for eight yards. Punter
Aiden Spitler kicked four times for 161-yards with a long of 54-yards.
Defensively,
Noah Johnston led with eight solo tackles, totaling 12 with 0.5 TFL.
Chuck Ingram recorded 10 tackles and one TFL for three yards, while
Darius Bruce added seven tackles.
Maurice Feazell also recorded seven tackles, with 1.5 TFL for eight yards, one sack for a seven-yard loss, and one quarterback hurry.
Noah Vaughan recorded two sacks for a combined loss of nine yards.
IUP won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Cal U's opening drive was ended shortly after a seven-yard sack from Feazell forced them to punt. IUP's first drive ended prematurely due to a false start, leading to a punt that positioned Cal U at the IUP 37.
The first quarter concluded scoreless as both teams traded punts.
In the second quarter, Cal U's Davis Black connected with Eric Willis III on a 63-yard pass for the game's first touchdown.
IUP advanced to their own 47 after converting two first downs, before Cal U forced a fumble that was recovered by Cal U's own.
The teams continued to exchange punts until IUP reached the Cal U 19, where
Nick Andrasi attempted a field goal but was unsuccessful.
After halftime, IUP's first pass was intercepted, although the Vulcans were unable to capitalize and were forced to punt. IUP had to punt again, but Cal U fumbled, and Washington recovered the ball at the Cal U 30. IUP's ensuing drive began with a 17-yard rush from Hunter, followed by a false start and three incompletions. Andrasi's field goal attempt was successful, narrowing the score to 7-3.
Cal U advanced to the IUP 2 where
Terell Williams and
Garrett Cox tackled for loss, forcing a turnover on downs.
IUP then consumed 11 minutes on a drive that culminated in a two-yard rushing touchdown by Younger, putting the Hawks ahead 10-7 with just under three minutes on the clock.
Cal U attempted a field goal, but Terrell Williams blocked it. Although, the referees ruled that the ball landed behind the line of scrimmage, giving Cal U a second chance to score. Their second field goal attempt was successful sending the game into overtime.
The Hawks received the ball first and Andrasi kicked a field goal to take a three-point lead. However, the Vulcan quarterback responded with a three-yard rush into the endzone.
Up Next
IUP travels to Gannon next Saturday, November 2, kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m.
Follow
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