ERIE, Pa. – IUP football scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and forced a pair of turnovers down the stretch to rally past Gannon, 17-14, Saturday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium.
The Crimson Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory, improving to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in PSAC West play. Gannon dropped to 1-8 overall and 1-6 in conference action.
Trailing 14-7 entering the fourth quarter, IUP pulled within four on Preston Rathway's 28-yard field goal with 14:49 remaining. The Crimson Hawks then took advantage of a Gannon turnover, needing just three plays to go 43 yards before Mason Maggs connected with Connor Shamany for a seven-yard touchdown. Rathway's extra point put IUP ahead for good, 17-14, with 11:20 remaining.
The IUP defense made the lead stand.
Antonio Greene and Tasso Whipple spearheaded a defensive effort that forced five Gannon fumbles and recovered two. Greene finished with a team-high eight tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Whipple added six tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a recovery. Dinari Clacks also recorded a sack and forced a fumble.
Gannon opened the scoring midway through the first quarter after taking over at the IUP 18-yard line. Andrew Kuban scored on the next play to give the Golden Knights a 7-0 advantage.
IUP answered on its ensuing possession, putting together a seven-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. Maggs capped the march with a 28-yard touchdown strike to Jeremiah Coleman with 53 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, tying the game at seven.
Neither team scored in the second quarter. Rathway had an opportunity to put IUP ahead with 10:35 remaining in the half, but his 49-yard field-goal attempt missed. Gannon later missed a 45-yard attempt of its own, sending the teams into halftime tied at 7-7.
Gannon regained the lead midway through the third quarter when Ty Hurst connected with Chazz Corley for a 50-yard touchdown, putting the Golden Knights ahead 14-7.
IUP responded in the fourth.
Rathway's 28-yard field goal cut the deficit to 14-10 before the Crimson Hawks turned another defensive takeaway into the go-ahead touchdown. Maggs found Shamany from seven yards out for his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, completing IUP's comeback.
Leon Parson powered the IUP rushing attack with 138 yards on 22 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt. The performance helped the Crimson Hawks finish with 167 rushing yards and 312 yards of total offense.
Maggs completed 14 of 25 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Mason James led IUP with 52 receiving yards on four catches, while Shamany caught a team-high five passes for 32 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Coleman added the 28-yard touchdown reception.
IUP's defense held Gannon to 109 rushing yards and registered three sacks. The Crimson Hawks also held the Golden Knights to 3-of-11 on third down and stopped both of their fourth-down attempts.
The Crimson Hawks return home to face Clarion on Nov. 7.
