From IUP Sports Information
Following its first loss of the 2018 season, the IUP football program fell to No. 14 in this week’s American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, released Monday morning.
The Crimson Hawks lost to rival California (Pa.) 36-24 in the 10th annual Coal Bowl Saturday night at the Vulcans’ Adamson Stadium. IUP took a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter but Cal scored 26 second half points for the comeback win.
It marked the first regular season loss since 2016 for the Crimson Hawks, a streak of 21 such victories. Their last regular season loss came to the Vulcans at California, a 31-28 decision on October 8.
The Crimson Hawks dropped 12 spots in this week’s rankings after holding onto the No. 2 spot a week ago.
Minnesota State (5-0) remains at No. 1 garnering 28 first place votes. Grand Valley State (5-0) is the new No. 2 with a single first place vote while Ferris State (5-0) moved up to No. 3 with four first place votes. Midwestern State (5-0) and West Georgia (5-0) are No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
The rest of the top 10 includes Ouachita Baptist (5-0) at No. 6, Minnesota-Duluth (5-0) at No. 7, Pittsburg State (5-0) at No. 8, Texas A&M-Commerce (4-1) at No. 9, and Valdosta State (5-0) at No. 10.
IUP is no longer the highest ranked team from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), as West Chester (5-0) moved up to No. 13 in the AFCA rankings. Kutztown (4-0) debuted at No. 23 this week.
