INDIANA, Pa. -- IUP opens its 2026 home schedule against Seton Hill in the annual Hall of Fame Game at George P. Miller Stadium. The Crimson Hawks hold an 11-1 advantage in the all-time series against the Griffins, which dates to 2013.

IUP is 7-1 against Seton Hill under head coach Paul Tortorella, including a perfect 7-0 record against the Griffins at Miller Stadium. The Crimson Hawks defeated Seton Hill 40-13 last season behind a potent passing attack, avenging IUP's only loss in the series, which came against the Griffins in 2024.

The Crimson Hawks return home with a 3-0 record following a two-point victory over Shippensburg. Sophomore running back Leon Parson powered the IUP offense with a career-high 187 rushing yards and finished with more than 250 all-purpose yards.

Parson was named the PSAC West Co-Offensive Athlete of the Week following the performance, while senior linebacker Tai'Don Strickland earned PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week honors after recording nine tackles, including seven solo stops, two tackles for loss and a sack.

THE MATCHUP

September 26, 2026 | 4:00 PM | Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium

No.11 / No. 17 IUP Crimson Hawks (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West

Roster     |    Stats    |    Schedule

NR / NR Seton Hill Griffins (1-2, 0-0 PSAC West)

Roster     |    Stats    |    Schedule

GAME DAY LINKS

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Streaming: PSAC Digital Network    |    Radio: U92.5 FM    |    Live Stats: Stat Broadcast 

Game Notes

IUP

QUICK NOTES

• IUP holds an 11-1 advantage over Seton Hill in the all-time series, which dates to 2013. The Crimson Hawks have dominated the series at George P. Miller Stadium, posting a perfect record at home against the Griffins.

• Leon Parson and Connor Shamany are the two returning Crimson Hawks who found the end zone against Seton Hill last season. The duo has continued to provide a scoring punch for IUP in 2026, combining for eight touchdowns through the first three games of the season.

• IUP has won two of its first three games by one score, with an average margin of victory of 6 points. The Crimson Hawks' largest victory came by 10 points in the season opener against No. 12 Ashland.

IUP once again found a way to finish last week, making a late defensive stop to secure a two-point victory over Shippensburg. The win moved the Crimson Hawks to 3-0 for the first time since 2024.

• This marks IUP's fifth 3-0 start under head coach Paul Tortorella. The Crimson Hawks' longest unbeaten start during Tortorella's tenure came in 2017, his first season as IUP's head coach.

IUP won its first 13 games that season, capturing the PSAC Championship and the NCAA Super Region One title before suffering its first loss of the year against West Florida in the NCAA Division II semifinals.

•The 2026 season marks Paul Tortorella's 32nd year at IUP. Tortorella served as the Crimson Hawks' defensive coordinator from 1995-2016 before taking over as head coach in 2017.

Now in his ninth season as head coach, Tortorella is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the PSAC and has coached 95 games at the helm of the Crimson Hawks. His more than three decades with the program have made him one of the longest-serving coaches in IUP football history.

• Seton Hill enters the matchup with a 1-2 record, with its lone victory coming against Lackawanna on Sept. 12. The Griffins were picked to finish sixth in the PSAC West preseason poll and currently sit seventh in the division entering conference play.

STORY LINES

PSAC WEST OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
IUP sophomore running back Leon Parson was named the PSAC West Co-Offensive Athlete of the Week following a career performance against Shippensburg. Parson rushed for a career-high 187 yards and a touchdown while adding a 17-yard touchdown reception.

Parson totaled more than 250 all-purpose yards when including his production in the return game. Through three games, he ranks second in the PSAC with five total touchdowns.

Parson became the first IUP player to rush for 100 yards in a game since Karst Hunter accomplished the feat in the final game of the 2024 season. His 187-yard performance also marked the first time a Crimson Hawk surpassed 150 rushing yards since Duajure Stewart did so against Edinboro in 2023.

PSAC WEST DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Senior linebacker Tai'Don Strickland also earned PSAC West weekly honors following a nine-tackle performance against Shippensburg. Seven of Strickland's nine tackles were solo stops, while he added two tackles for loss and a sack.

Strickland is the first IUP defensive player to earn PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors this season.

THROW IT UP AND WATCH HIM WORK
IUP wide receiver D'Avay Johnson does one thing — catch touchdowns. The graduate student has 10 receptions this season, with three going for scores, including the game-winning touchdown against Shippensburg.

Johnson is one of 13 players in the PSAC with three receiving touchdowns this season. He is joined on that list by IUP redshirt junior tight end Connor Shamany, giving the Crimson Hawks a pair of reliable red-zone targets through the first three games.

MAGGS THROWS TOUCHDOWNS
Mason Maggs completed just eight passes last week against Shippensburg, but the redshirt senior quarterback made them count, throwing three touchdown passes. Maggs opened the game with a 60-yard touchdown strike to tight end Connor Shamany.

Through three games, Maggs has thrown nine touchdown passes against just one interception. He has committed only two turnovers this season, with his second coming on a lost fumble against Shippensburg.

EFFECTIVE RUNNING GAME
IUP turned in its best rushing performance since the final game of the 2024 season, surpassing 200 yards on the ground against Shippensburg. Sophomore running back Leon Parson led the way with 187 rushing yards, becoming IUP's first 100-yard rusher in 13 games.

Parson averaged nearly 10 yards per carry against a Shippensburg defense that entered the matchup as one of the top units in the PSAC through the opening weeks of the season

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Defensive lineman Braden "Rev" Walker continued to show his big-play ability last week, coming up with another game-sealing interception. The defensive end made a one-handed interception on Shippensburg's potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt to preserve the IUP victory.

It marked Walker's second game-clinching play through three games. He also recorded the game-sealing interception in IUP's season-opening victory over No. 12 Ashland.

Walker is part of a completely retooled IUP defensive front, with the unit's primary contributors receiving starting reps for the first time in their collegiate careers this season.

FLIP THE FIELD
Redshirt freshman punter Gavin Mentzer has been a key weapon in flipping the field for IUP, ranking inside the top 20 nationally with an average of more than 44 yards per punt.

Mentzer has placed seven punts inside the 20-yard line this season, including two downed inside the 5, while booming three punts of 50 yards or more. He recorded a career-long 66-yard punt last week against Shippensburg.

Mentzer's ability to control field position has provided another boost for the Crimson Hawks through their 3-0 start.

JUST WIN BABY
IUP has flipped the script in close games to begin the 2026 season. The Crimson Hawks have an average margin of victory of six points through three games, with two of their three victories decided by one score.

Prior to this season, IUP had lost nine one-score games under head coach Paul Tortorella. The Crimson Hawks have found ways to finish those games in 2026, surviving a double-overtime battle at West Chester before making another late defensive stand to secure the win at Shippensburg.

Through three weeks, IUP has embraced a "Junkyard Dogs" identity — finding different ways to win each week and doing whatever it takes to finish games.

HOME SWEET HOME
After opening the season with three consecutive road games, IUP returns to George P. Miller Stadium for its 2026 home opener. It marks the Crimson Hawks' latest home opener since the 2024 season.

IUP is 7-1 in home openers under head coach Paul Tortorella, with the lone loss coming against Ashland last season under the Thursday night lights. This season marks the first time Seton Hill will serve as IUP's home-opening opponent during the Tortorella era.

The Crimson Hawks defeated the Griffins 40-13 last season, with quarterback Mathew Rueve throwing four touchdown passes in the victory.
 

PARKING INFORMATION

Parking will be available on game day for fans attending the event. Single parking spots are available for $15, while fans can purchase two parking spots for $25.

All parking purchases are cash only. Fans are encouraged to have payment ready upon arrival to help ensure a smooth and efficient parking process.

100-FOR-100 INITIATIVE: 

IUP football is celebrating its unofficial 100th season in 2026 with the launch of the "100 For 100" campaign, an initiative aimed at raising more than $100,000 to support the current and future needs of the program.

IUP's football record book dates to 1927, with the Crimson Hawks compiling 619 victories, 23 PSAC West titles, five PSAC championships, 21 NCAA playoff appearances and two national championship game appearances over nearly a century of football.

The "100 For 100" campaign gives former players, alumni, families, fans and supporters an opportunity to help build on that tradition and provide resources for the program's next century.

Donate for the 100-for-100 Initiative