Averaging 51.7 points per game, the IUP Crimson Hawks will get a true test Saturday afternoon at 1 o’clock when they take on Mercyhurst in their PSAC West divisional opener from Tullio Field at Saxon Stadium.
IUP is 3-0 and ranked 21st, while the Lakers check in at 2-1.
The pregame show begins at 12:30 p.m. on U92.5 FM and U92radio.com with Jack Benedict, Ab Dettorre and Greg Drahuschak.
From IUP Sports Information
The Crimson Hawks are coming off back-to-back huge offensive performances, including a 77-14 home route of Lock Haven last weekend. IUP totaled 608 yards in posting its second largest scoring output in program history. The defense didn’t allow LHU to surpass 300 yards, forced 3 turnovers and had 3.0 sacks.
Mercyhurst enters enters divisional play with a 2-1 record after a 38-24 road win at Bloomsburg in week three. The Lakers grabbed momentum early with a 24-0 first half lead and limited the Huskies to just 82 yards on the ground.
QUICK NOTES / STORY LINES
• The Crimson Hawks have started each of the last four seasons with a 3-0 record after last week’s big win over Lock Haven
• IUP has won eight straight in its matchup with Mercyhurst dating back to 2011; the Crimson Hawks are 4-1 all-time at Tullio Field with that lone loss coming in 2009 (20-16)
• IUP has has memorable games in Erie, including a 35-28 overtime win back in 2011; two years ago in 2017, a #3 Crimson Hawks team rallied from a 10-6 halftime deficit to win 36-10
• IUP is 34-2 in PSAC West openers dating back to 1983, including a 7-game win streak starting in 2012
• The Crimson Hawks are ranked in both the AFCA Coaches and D2Football.com Media Polls this week; IUP moved up three spots to No. 21 in the coaches poll and two spots to No. 23 in the media rankings
• The IUP offense has put up historical numbers over the last two weeks, averaging 65.5 points and 584 total yards in wins over Millersville and Lock Haven; the 131 points is the most points scored in back-to-back games in program history
• In the last two weeks IUP has posted two of the top single game passing performances in program history; the 399 yards at Millersville is 6th (and most since 2001) and the 389 yards last week is 8th
• QBs Quinton Maxwell and Jalen Reese combined to throw for 7 touchdowns last week, a team single game record
• The IUP offense is in the top-15 of Division II in six categories, including 3rd in points (51.7) and 15th in total offense (480.0)
• Sr. LB Damon Lloyd is 11 tackles away from 300 for his career
• The IUP defense ranks in the top 25 of Division II in eight categories, including 1st in sacks (14.0), 6th in scoring (9.0) and 8th in total defense (217.3)
• 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 entered the year as 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
