After beating Seton Hill last Saturday, IUP moved up to number eleven in the nation in the new AFCA Coaches Poll. That’s two spots higher than last week for the 7-0 Crimson Hawks. Grand Valley State remains number one, followed by Angelo State and the PSAC’s Shepherd, in third. Ouchita Baptist is fourth and IUP quarterback Mak Sexton’s former team, Pittsburg State, is fifth. IUP’s PSAC West rival, Slippery Rock, is 13th.
IUP is one of ten teams named in the first release of the NCAA Division II Regional rankings. The teams are listed alphabetically this week and will be ranked numerically when the second rankings come out next week.
Others joining IUP in the Super Region One rankings are Ashland, Assumption, Bentley, Concord, Kutztown, New Haven. Notre Dame (of Ohio), Shepherd, and Slippery Rock. All of the ranked teams in the region are undefeated except for Assumption and Slippery Rock.
IUP plays at 6-2 Gannon on Saturday afternoon. On last night’s edition of Hawk Talk on U92 and Renda Digital TV, coach Paul Tortorella broke down last week’s win over Seton Hill and previewed the much tougher matchup coming this week.
Tortorella said Gannon has played well in almost every game.
The coach said Gannon is an all-around good team which is a handful to prepare for because it’s diverse on both sides of the ball.
Saturday’s game kicks off at noon on U92.
Freshman punter Aiden Spitler yesterday was named the PSAC West Special Teams Athlete of the Week. He made his debut against Seton Hill on Saturday and punted five times for a 42-yard average, including a 69-yarder on his first collegiate punt. He also had a 59-yarder in the game he put four inside the Griffins’ 20-yard line.
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