SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Find a way.
Through three games, that has become a theme for the IUP football team.
The Crimson Hawks have found different ways to finish each week, and they did it again Saturday. Mason Maggs threw three touchdown passes, Leon Parson piled up 204 all-purpose yards and the IUP defense delivered another late-game stop as the Crimson Hawks held off Shippensburg to remain unbeaten at 3-0.
Maggs completed just eight passes but made them count, with three going for touchdowns. He now has nine touchdown passes against just one interception through the first three games of the season.
Parson provided the workhorse performance on the ground, rushing for 187 yards and two touchdowns while finishing with 204 all-purpose yards. D'Avay Johnson continued to provide a big-play presence on the outside, going up and winning a 50-50 ball for a touchdown. It marked Johnson's third touchdown on just 10 receptions this season.
And when Shippensburg had an opportunity to tie the game late, the IUP defense found a way one more time.
Braden Walker made a one-handed interception on the Raiders' two-point conversion attempt, preserving the Crimson Hawks' lead and helping IUP escape Shippensburg with its third consecutive road victory to begin the season.
The result sends IUP into PSAC West play unbeaten ahead of its home opener against Seton Hill on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. inside George P. Miller Stadium.
IUP wasted little time creating offense Saturday. Maggs connected with tight end Connor Shamany for a 60-yard touchdown, the Crimson Hawks' longest play from scrimmage this season. Parson followed with a pair of rushing touchdowns as IUP built a 21-10 advantage heading into halftime.
From there, the Crimson Hawks leaned on their defense.
IUP recorded six tackles for loss and three sacks while preventing Shippensburg from generating explosive plays through the air. The Raiders did not complete a pass longer than 17 yards. Quarterback Roman Jensen accounted for much of Shippensburg's offense, completing 21 passes for 180 yards while adding a net 41 rushing yards.
Redshirt freshman Gavin Harrold also provided several important plays for the IUP offense, hauling in three passes for 23 yards, including a 13-yard reception, while emerging as another option for Maggs in the middle of the field.
IUP finished with 348 yards of total offense, including 221 on the ground and 127 through the air.
Parson's performance highlighted a rushing attack that continues to take strides after IUP struggled to consistently establish the ground game last season. He became the first Crimson Hawk to eclipse 100 rushing yards in a game since quarterback Karst Hunter did so in 2024 and the first IUP player to surpass 150 rushing yards since 2023.
The 221 rushing yards were also IUP's most as a team since the Crimson Hawks piled up 304 yards on the ground against Shippensburg in the final game of the 2024 season at George P. Miller Stadium. Through three games this season, IUP is averaging more than 134 rushing yards per contest.
Now, after opening the season with three consecutive road victories, the Crimson Hawks finally return to Indiana.
IUP opens PSAC West play against Seton Hill on Sept. 26 in its first game of the season at Miller Stadium. The contest will also serve as IUP Athletics' Hall of Fame Game.
The 1977 IUP cross country team will be recognized during the first-quarter break, while 11 individual inductees and an honorary bell ringer will be recognized at halftime. An induction ceremony earlier in the day inside the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex will officially welcome the newest members into the IUP Athletics Hall of Fame.
IUP defeated Seton Hill 40-13 last season in Greensburg. The Crimson Hawks are 6-1 all-time against the Griffins and 5-1 in the series under ninth-year head coach Paul Tortorella.
Saturday's victory was the 71st of Tortorella's career as IUP's head coach.
