From IUP Sports Information
IUP CRIMSON HAWKS vs. NEW HAVEN CHARGERS
Saturday, September 7 | 1 p.m. | Frank Cignetti Field @ George P. Miller Stadium
Game Notes: IUP (0-0, 0-0 PSAC West) (PDF) | New Haven (0-0, 0-0 NE10)
Watch: IUPAthletics.com/watch | Listen: u92radio.com, U92 Sports App (12:30 PM) | Live Stats: IUPStats.com | Twitter Updates: @IUPfootball
THE GAME
The Crimson Hawks open their 2019 season Saturday afternoon when they host New Haven at Frank Cignetti Field @ George P. Miller Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
IUP returns to the field after finishing 8-3 overall last year and missing out on a fourth straight trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Crimson Hawks had a 5-2 in the division, dropping tight games to rivals Cal U and Slippery Rock, and lost the season finale at home to Shippensburg. A yearly national contender out of the Northeast 10 Conference, New Haven went 9-3 last year, advancing to the NCAA playoffs before eventually losing to Slippery Rock 59-20 in the second round. UNH has posted winning records each of the last nine seasons with NE10 championships in2 010, 2011 and 2012.
QUICK NOTES / STORY LINES
• After missing out on the postseason last year, the Crimson Hawks look for a return trip after making the Division II playoffs in 2015, 2016 and 2017; IUP’s 18 Division II playoff appearances is tied for fourth all-time (NW Missouri State 23, North Alabama 21, Grand Valley St. 19, Pittsburg St. 18)
• The Crimson Hawks are one of only nine Division II teams with 80+ wins this decade (80); New PSAC addition and former MEC power Shepherd (91) is the only other team in the region on that list
• IUP has won 18 of its last 21 season openers dating back to 1998; The program has an all-time record of 52-33-3 (.607) in its first game of a new season
• This is the first meeting between these two programs since IUP defeated the Chargers 17-14 in Connecticut in the second round of the 2012 NCAA playoffs
• New Haven was voted the overwhelming favorite to win the NE10 with seven of nine 1st place votes in the league’s preseason coaches poll; the Chargers went 9-3 a year ago, including 8-1 in the NE10
• New Haven is no stranger to opening a new year on the road with this being its fourth straight season opener away from Connecticut
• A new QB takes the reigns for the Crimson Hawks as R-Sr. transfer Quinton Maxwell won the job in fall camp; Maxwell played in 23 games with eight starts at Ohio University from 2016-18
• The offensive line features four returning starters and six with starting experience; the first stringers have combined for 119 career games and six All-PSAC West selections
• Senior linebackers Damon Lloyd and Nick Amendola begin their third year as starters in 2019; they’ve combined for nearly 500 total tackles
• It will be a new-look defensive secondary for IUP in the opener with two returning starters and three fresh faces; 2017 All-American corner JR Stevens is joined by All-PSAC West SS Shaq Jones, with LIU Post transfer Nazir Streater (7 INTs) looking to make an impact
NOTEBOOK
COACH TORTORELLA HEADS INTO YEAR THREE AT THE HELM
Coach Tortorella has put together the best 25-game start of any head coach in program history. His 21-4 overall record through his first two seasons eclipsed Curt Cignetti (2011-13) and Lou Tepper (2006-08) who both had 20-5 marks in their first 25 games. Tortorella debuted with a 13-1 record, a PSAC title and national semifinalst season in 2017. it was the best year by a first year IUP head coach since Frank Cignetti went 9-2 in 1986. The winningest coach in IUP history, Cignetti went 19-5-1 in his first 25 games.
IUP IN SEASON OPENERS
IUP is 52-33-3 (.607) all-time in season openers. The Crimson Hawks had a streak of nine straight season-opening wins from 2006-14, which ended with a 34-33 loss to Kutztown in 2015. But they’ve still won 18 of their last 21 openers dating back to 1998. IUP has opened a season at home 12 times since 2000, going 10-2 in those games, including a 26-23 win over #18 Ashland in 2017.
IUP vs. THE NORTHEAST 10 CONFERENCE
IUP carries a 15-3 all-time record against teams currently from the Northeast 10 Conference (NE10). New Haven as been the Crimson Hawks’ most popular opponent from the league as IUP holds a 6-3 record against the Chargers, including a 3-1 record at home. IUP is 7-0 against Southern Connecticut State and 1-0 against American International and Assumption.
CRIMSON HAWKS PICKED THIRD IN PSAC WEST
IUP was picked to finish third in the PSAC Western Division by the coaches when the league announced its preseason polls in early August. Slippery Rock was the overwhelming favorite to repeat with six first place votes while Cal U (one 1st place vote) was second and IUP (one) was third. The Crimson Hawks return 17 starters and 42 lettermen from last year’s 8-3 team.
BOTH IUP AND NEW HAVEN SIT OUTSIDE PRESEASON TOP 25 RANKINGS
IUP and New Haven each won eight regular season games in 2018 but neither were included in the preseason AFCA Coaches or D2Football Media top 25 polls. The Crimson Hawks missed out on an AFCA ranking by just two spots at 10 points behind No. 25 Fairmont State while New Haven was the fourth team listed receiving votes and 13 points behind FSU.
CRIMSON HAWKS WILL HAVE NEW QUARTERBACK UNDER CENTER IN GAME ONE
For the first time since 2016, a brand new quarterback will take the reigns for the Crimson Hawks to begin the season. R-Sr. transfer Quinton Maxwell was officially named the starter last week after winning the job during fall camp. Maxwell came to IUP in the summer after spending the last four seasons at Ohio University. He played in 23 games with eight starts for the Bobcats, leading them to the MAC Championship Game as a freshman in 2016. Maxwell replaces four-year starter Lenny Williams Jr., who owns IUP career records for total offense (10,976 yards), total touchdowns (106), completion percentage (.618) and pass efficiency rating (160.2).
DEEP RUNNING BACK GROUP AGAIN THE STRENGTH OF IUP OFFENSE
The Crimson Hawks boast a talented running back group led by a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Sr. Samir Bullock and Jr. Justice Evans. Bullock enters his final season eighth in program history with 2,667 yards, just 121 yards shy of moving into the top five. Evans led IUP in rushing last year after debuting with 1,011 yards as a freshman in 2017. R-Jr. Malik Anderson is back this season with 22 games and 821 all-purpose yards under his belt and Jr. Tyler Balega posted a 101-yard output against Seton Hill a year ago.
IUP IS 51-9 SINCE 2011 WHEN A PLAYER RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS
Since the start of the 2011 season, IUP has had at least one player rush for 100 yards in 60 of its 95 games played, going a combined 51-9 in those contests. The Crimson Hawks have four players on the roster who have rushed for 100 yards in a game a combined 17 times. Bullock has done so nine times in his career while Evans has hit the mark six times. Since 2012, IUP has had 10 instances where at least two players have reached 100 yards in a single game.
IUP RECEIVERS OFFER A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING HEADING INTO 2019
The Crimson Hawks return three of their top four wideouts from last season, including the team’s leading receiver in Sr. Dom McNeil. The 5-10 speedster was one of the national leaders with a 20.0 yards per catch average last year. 6-3 R-Sr. JoJo Gause also returns after catching 15 passes and 5 TDs last year and has 13 scores on 58 career catches. New to the group is So. Duane Brown, who rushed for 500 yards and 6 TDs as a freshman running back in 2017. Other receivers on the two-deep include R-Sr. Zac Kelly (6-0), Mercyhurst transfer Cam Turner (6-0), Sr. Dwine Walls (5-8) and So. Qashah Carter (5-7).
TALENTED OFFENSIVE LINE BRINGS EXPERIENCE
The Crimson Hawks bring back four of their main offensive line starters from a year ago, led by 2018 All-American R-Sr. Jeff Arnold at center. He’s joined by R-Sr. Colin McAllister at left guard, Jr. Josh Dauberman at right guard, R-Sr. Ken Roman at right tackle and R-So. Darrell Davis at left tackle. That group has combined for 119 games, 94 starts, two All-American nods, five all-region honors and six All-PSAC selections.
IUP PASS RUSH COULD BE DOMINANT IN 2019
The Crimson Hawks finished 21st in Division II in sacks last year and bring back 71 percent of their pass rush, led by Sr. DE Dondrea Tillman. Tillman tallied 12.5 sacks in 2018 and brings 22.5 career QB tackles into his senior season. Six times last year IUP had 4.0 or more sacks in a game, including 5.0 in the season-opening win at Ashland.
LINEBACKERS DAMON LLOYD AND NICK AMENDOLA ENTER THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR AS STARTERS
Sr. LBs Damon Lloyd and Nick Amendola have combined for 73 games and 52 starts as they enter their third season at the heart of the IUP defense. A 2017 All-American and two-time all-region performer, Lloyd has 262 career tackles and 10 passes defensed, putting up 100+ stops each of the past two years. Amendola has 218 tackles and 10 career double-digit tackle games.
DEFENSIVE SECONDARY HAS TALENT, FEATURES NEW FACES
IUP’s secondary boasts a ton of accolades but will look for new faces to step up in 2019. R-Sr. CB JR Stevens earned All-American honors with 7 interceptions in 2017 while Sr. SS Shaq Jones returns after earning 2nd team All-PSAC West honors last year. They’ll be joined by Jr. CB Nazir Streater, who tied for third in Division II with 7 picks last season at LIU Post. Sr. Mike Nash gets the nod at free after coming in from Youngstown State and Jr. Kyeer Geisinger looks to take over the Star position after playing in 10 games as a reserve last year.
RETURN TEAMS LOOK TO BRING FIREWORKS
Qashah Carter made a name for himself last year as a dynamic freshman returner, earning All-PSAC West honors with a 28.6 KOR average. He had a 95-yard TD at Cal U, an 89-yard return against Millersville, and two more 40+ yard returns. Streater averaged 28.4 yards on 29 KO returns at LIU Post, including a 99-yard touchdown as a freshman.
DILLON SARKA BRINGS EXPERIENCES TO KICKING GAME
R-Sr. Dillon Sarka enters his third season as IUP’s primary placekicker where he’s made 27-35 (77 pct.) of his field goal attemps. He’s fourth at IUP with 27 made field goals and with 183 career points, Sarka is fifth in IUP history in scoring by a kicker.
