IUP gets a rare in-season break this weekend after drawing a bye for the first round of the NCAA Division Two football playoffs. The Crimson Hawks are the top seed in Super Region One and are one of four teams in the nation to get the extra week of rest, which will allow some of IUP’s injured players to heal. They played Saturday without All-American wide receiver Duane Brown and lost leading rusher Dayjure Stewart in the first quarter.
On last night’s edition of Hawk Talk on U92 and Renda Digital TV, coach Paul Tortorella discussed Saturday’s win over Shepherd for the PSAC championship and the road ahead. He said he believes that any of the seven teams in Super Region One could win the regional, but he likes IUP’s position.
IUP will play the winner of this Saturday’s game between Notre Dame of Ohio and Ashland, another Ohio team, on November 26th. The team worked out yesterday and will have practice again on Wednesday, focusing on Notre Dame, and on Thursday, concentrating on Ashland. Then after a weekend off, they are back to work next week.
Tortorella outlined his practice schedule.
IUP quarterback Mak Sexton is the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week. He was the conference championship game MVP, going 19-for-29 passing for 169 yards and three touchdowns. It is Sexton’s second weekly Offensive Player of the Week honor this season. He leads the PSAC in passing efficiency, with a rating of 173.5. He is also sixth in the nation in passing touchdowns.
Tortorella talked about last Saturday’s quarterback matchup, with IUP’s Mak Sexton facing off with Shepherd All-American and Harlon Hill-winning QB Tyson Bagent. Tortorella said Sexton is a cool customer.
Despite beating Shepherd, IUP can’t seem to get much respect in the AFCA coaches poll. This week’s rankings were released yesterday and the Crimson Hawks climbed only four spots, to number 15 in the nation. On the heels of their loss to IUP, Shepherd dropped to number 11. Of IUP’s potential foes in the first round, Ashland is number 12 and Notre Dame is tied for 24th. Slippery Rock fell to number 20.
The top five in the nation are Grand Valley State, Angelo State, Ouachita Baptist, Pittsburg State, and Ferris State.
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