INDIANA, Pa. – It was a wet and dreary night at Miller Stadium for IUP Football's first game of the 2025 season. The Hawks struggled to get a running game established, while Ashland ran the ball 46 times and scored 13 unanswered second-half points to upend the Hawks 13-9.
 
Matthew Rueve threw the ball 23 times, completing 13 passes, averaging 17 yards each, and 221 yards in total. One hundred one of those yards went to senior wideout Maurice Massey. Massey caught the ball four times with a long reception of 53 yards.
 
Even with a couple of interceptions, the passing game was not in question for the Hawks, but the team was not able to record a rushing first down and had a net gain of -15 yards on 26 attempts. However, a running back scored in the passing game for the Crimson Hawks as Randy Washington took a backfield pass 55 yards to pay dirt to open the scoring in the second quarter.
 
Nick Andrasi added a 44-yard field goal, but that rounded out the scoring for IUP. Ashland's Cameron Blair hooked up with wide receiver Jonathan Merrimee for a 25-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The Eagles then scored again late in the fourth quarter on a one-yard halfback dive by Ty'aris Stevenson to give the Eagles all they needed.
 
This is the first time in six meetings that Ashland has bested the Crimson Hawks. IUP will continue its home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 13, when Lock Haven pays a visit to Miller Stadium. It will be Hall of Fame Weekend at IUP. Kickoff will be at 4 PM.

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