IUP Football 2014, Eye on the Hawks

A Preview of the 2014 IUP Football Season

EYE ON THE HAWKS Coach Curt Cignetti and the Crimson Hawks are poised for another high-flying season Special supplement to

The Indiana Gazette Thursday, September 4, 2014

2 — Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

• A student group is out to

raise school spirit at home games Pages 3 and 17

2014 SCHEDULE ST. AUGUSTINE’S Noon, Sept. 6 Frank Cignetti Field All-time series: First meeting

@KUTZTOWN • Rebuilt offense hopes to

achieve goal of being balanced Pages 4 through 7 • New faces have defense

feeling optimistic Pages 8 through 11 • News, notes and tidbits

about the PSAC Pages 12 and 13 • Last year’s final PSAC

statistics; this year’s schedule Page 14 • PSAC notebook: Crossover games to count in divisional standings Page 15 and 22 • Kicker Brett Ullman is hoping for a recordbreaking senior season Page 16 • Defensive coordinator Paul Tortorella continues to adapt to changing times Pages 18 and 19 • Key information about IUP’s 11 regular-season opponents Page 20 and 21 • Meet the team: the 2014

IUP football roster Page 23

1:05 p.m., Sept. 13 University Stadium, Kutztown All-time series: IUP leads, 9-0-1

@LOCK HAVEN Noon, Sept. 20 Hubert Jack Stadium, Lock Haven All-time series: IUP leads, 55-15-3

MERCYHURST 4 p.m., Sept. 27 Frank Cignetti Field All-time series: IUP leads, 4-2

@EDINBORO 2 p.m., Oct. 4 Sox Harrison Stadium, Edinboro All-time series: IUP leads, 55-22-4

SETON HILL 2 p.m., Oct. 11 Frank Cignetti Field All-time series: IUP leads, 1-0

@CALIFORNIA 1 p.m., Oct. 18 Adamson Stadium, California All-time series: IUP leads, 56-23-2

SLIPPERY ROCK 1 p.m., Oct. 25 Frank Cignetti Field All-time series: IUP leads, 45-35-2

CLARION 1 p.m., Nov. 1 Frank Cignetti Field All-time series: IUP leads, 58-23-3

@GANNON Noon, Nov. 8 Gannon University Field, Erie All-time series: IUP leads, 4-2

WEST CHESTER 1 p.m., Nov. 15 Frank Cignetti Field All-time series: IUP leads, 12-6

ON THE COVER Coach Curt Cignetti is in his fourth season at IUP, and he has a 28-7 overall record, with one NCAA Division II playoff berth. Among the senior players he will be counting on this season to lead the way are, from top left: defensive end Shane Meisner, kicker Brett Ullman and wide receiver Drew Carswell. (Gazette photos by Teri Enciso)

It’s a Long Road So you want to talk about the playoffs?

Let’s take this one game at a time. Here’s what Curt Cignetti had to say when he was asked to break down the 2014 schedule:

“

I think we have a big one at the beginning.

St. Augustine’s is really big, really fast, from Raleigh, N.C. They’re very scary to me. … And then we go on the road to Kutztown, which won three of their last four games and has everybody back on both sides of the ball. They didn’t lose anybody of significance. They’re a good football team. …

Lock Haven won three games last year and they’re getting better every year. … Then we come home for Mercyhurst, who has always been a good football team. … Then we go up the road and play Edinboro, which beat us last year at home and has their sixth-year quarterback back, Cody Harris, who is an all-conference type of player. … Then we come home for Seton Hill, who returns their all-conference quarterback who did not play last year. So they’ll be an improved football team. … And then we’ve got Cal and Slippery Rock, back to back — enough said. … Then we’ve got Clarion, who returns 20 of 22 players. … Then we go up to Gannon, who is the best fifth-rated team in any conference in America. I think they are, potentially, a very scary football team. They have a lot of veterans who have played a lot of games. … And then we play West Chester, at home, and they were one of the final four teams in the country last year and is picked to win the (PSAC) East. … Now, the last two years, the PSAC championship has been played by two teams that were supposed to play each other anyway. I’d love to see that happen again this year, and make it three years in a row. But there are a whole lot of stories you’re gonna write between now and then.

“

INSIDE

— CURT CIGNETTI, at PSAC media day, Aug. 11, 2014

Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 — 3

THE CRIMSON HAWKS: A to Z For ANOTHER year of IUP football. This will be the Crimson Hawks’ 86th season. The university fielded its first football team in 1927 and has an all-time record of 522-256-23. The school did not have a team in 1943 and 1944, because of World War II.

A:

For BLOOMSBURG, the only PSAC East school to beat IUP during the Curt Cignetti era. The Crimson Hawks, who play Lock Haven, Kutztown and West Chester in crossover games this season, are 8-1 against teams from the PSAC East since 2011.

B:

For CALIFORNIA, the only team to beat IUP in overtime since the extra-session rule was implemented by the NCAA in 1996. The Vulcans beat the Crimson Hawks, 18-15, in 2010. Otherwise, IUP is 8-0 in overtime games.

C:

TERI ENCISO/Gazette

THE STUDENT SECTION at Frank Cignetti Field was packed during last year’s Homecoming game. A group of students, calling themselves the “Hawks Nest,” are encouraging more students to come out to games this year.

Rock the House Student group hopes to boost school spirit

By MATTHEW BURGLUND mburglund@indianagazette.net

For as much success as the IUP football program has had over the years, there’s one thing the Crimson Hawks haven’t been able to accomplish: build a relatively strong and vocal student section for home games at George P. Miller Stadium.

But a small group of IUP undergrads is trying to change that. In a grassroots campaign that has spread across the campus, the group — collectively known as the “Hawks Nest” — has pushed its peers to either start turning out for football games or give a good explanation why they won’t.

“We are IUP students,” said Travis Spagnolo, one of the group’s cofounders. “Our loyalty is to the Crimson Hawks.”

Over the years, the vast majority of

“WE WANT to create that atmosphere that people want to be a part of.”

Dylan Gruse, Hawks Nest member

people who attended games were either friends and family of the players or members of the local community.

Students didn’t come out en masse, and up until a few seasons ago, when they did attend games, they were forced to sit on the visitor’s side of the stadium, where they rarely made a scene.

Spagnolo and a friend, Dylan Gruse, were shocked when they arrived on campus and saw how little attention

the IUP student body paid to the football team.

“When I came here, I just expected the intensity to be incredible,” Spagnolo said. “But it wasn’t. It was disturbing to me to see that the students just didn’t care.”

Spagnolo and Gruse got some other friends together, and they formed a group that started encouraging other students to show up for football and basketball games, and word slowly spread.

They were mostly prominent at basketball games, where they called themselves the “Crimson Crazies,” but now they have turned their attention to the football games.

Now seniors, Spagnolo and Gruse can’t wait any longer, so they’ve taken extra steps to push their peers into attending games.

Continued on Page 17

For DOUGHNUTS, or shutouts. The Crimson Hawks have held at least one opponent to zero points in each of the past seven seasons. Last year, they held Cheyney (49-0) and Seton Hill (26-0) scoreless.

D:

For EDINBORO. The Fighting Scots are the only team to beat IUP at Miller Stadium the past two seasons. Edinboro beat the Crimson Hawks, 36-30, last season. The rematch is Oct. 4, at Sox Harrison Stadium.

E:

As in FRANK. This will be the first full season the Crimson Hawks will play their home games on Frank Cignetti Field.

The turf at Miller Stadium was dedicated in honor of the legendary former IUP coach, right, in the middle of last season. He won 182 games at IUP.

F:

Continued on Page 4

4 — Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

EYE ON THE HAWKS: Offense

Reloaded group hopes to achieve balance

By MATTHEW BURGLUND

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

mburglund@indianagazette.net

The names on the depth chart might change, and the players who will make up the IUP offense this year might have different strengths and weaknesses than their predecessors, but that doesn’t really matter at all.

The goal is still the same, and it’s one that won’t change as long as Curt Cignetti is the boss.

In an age when a lot of offenses use spread alignments and elements of the option to play with finesse, the IUP Crimson Hawks are looking for a street fight. They have an offensive line that prides itself on beating up its opponents, running backs who prefer to deliver hits than avoid them, and receivers who can take short routes and turn them into long plays at the blink of an eye. And at quarterback, the Crimson Hawks have a trigger man who protects the ball and doesn’t take unnecessary chances.

How the IUP offense fared last season in the PSAC: Scoring 6th (36.4 ppg.)

Rushing 3rd (216.7 ypg.)

Passing 8th (202.1 ypg.)

Total 7th (418.8 ypg.)

Those elements are the same as last season, even if only two of the 11 starters on offense from last year are back. And the goals? To possess the football longer than the opponent, to consistently avoid turnovers and most importantly: be so balanced between the run and the pass that nobody can predict what’s coming.

It’s a formula Cignetti brought with him in 2011 when he was hired away from Alabama. Under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide have consistently featured offenses that

are balanced between the run and the pass. And in the three seasons since Cignetti arrived on campus, the Crimson Hawks have also been pretty balanced: They have averaged 225.5 rushing yards and 173.5 passing yards per game in the 35 contests from 2011 to 2013.

But with so many new starters this season, the chemistry and production won’t come overnight.

“We’re a work in progress,” Cignetti said, “but I’m excited to see how we develop.”

QUARTERBACKS Although the Crimson Hawks don’t put a game in the hands of their signal caller and ask him to win it, the position is still the most important on the field.

So it was been interesting to watch in preseason camp as three quarterbacks fought for the starting job — freshman Eddie Stockett, sophomore Logan Weaver and junior Chase Haslett.

When camp opened the second

week of August, Cignetti said this about the competition: “I’m going to sit back, watch it, evaluate it and see how it unfolds,” he said. “I have no idea how it’s going to turn out or how long it’s going to take. It’s based on somebody separating themselves, and as soon as I see that separation starting to occur and I feel good about it, chances are, that’ll be our guy.”

Well, a few weeks later, there wasn’t much to report. With a week to go before the opener, as the team was preparing for its opener against Saint Augustine’s, the only thing that was clear was that Cignetti was still keeping things close to the vest.

Weaver and Haslett were splitting reps with the first-team offense, while Stockett seemed to have fallen back to the third team.

On the depth chart released for Saturday’s game, Cignetti has Weaver and Haslett listed as the starter, with the word “or” separating them.

So if Cignetti has made up his mind, he isn’t telling anyone.

Haslett, the son of former IUP All-American Jim Haslett, transferred to the program over the summer after spending three seasons with Illinois, where he did not see any game action. Weaver, a graduate of Indiana High School, started fall camp as the first-team quarterback, but his grip on the job was tenuous as he had to fend off Stockett and Haslett. Come noon on Saturday, the new quarterback will make his first appearance. Until then, Cignetti said this Aug. 21, when the team had its first intra-squad scrimmage: “I think coming into the scrimmage, they all had done some good things and they all had some good days and some bad days,” he said. “Eventually we’ll have to make a decision. But right now, I’m not going to make a decision until we have a clear-cut decision to make.”

Continued on Page 5

THE CRIMSON HAWKS: A to Z For GOAL LINE. That’s something IUP opponents crossed only 23 times last year, which was tied for the lowest figure in the PSAC. The Hawks allowed the same total in 2012.

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For INJURY. The Crimson Hawks welcome back allPSAC linebacker Alexander Berdahl and big-play receiver Salath Williams, who missed almost all of last season because of injuries.

I:

As in JERSEY. The Crimson Hawks have retired four of them over the years: Frank Cignetti (20), Michael Mann (33), Chris Villarrial (75) and Jim Haslett (86).

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Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 — 5

EYE ON THE HAWKS: Offense

Reloaded group aims to be balanced Continued from Page 4

OFFENSIVE LINE Like most teams, the Crimson Hawks realize their skill players need a push up front to get going. This year’s team has three new starters, but a wealth of experience to work from.

The projected starters are: Bruce Atkins (left tackle), Ethan Cooper (left guard), Matthew Sasson (center), Tony Morgante (right guard) and Jorge Vicioso (right tackle).

Sasson and Vicioso were starters last season, and the other three all have starting experience. Also, the five starters got time to jell during spring drills, when they all lined up together.

“We made strides in spring, but we’ll only get better in fall camp,” said Sasson, a twoyear starter at center who also can play both guard positions. “I’m excited to see how good we get. … I’ve been a part of some good (lines) and I’ve seen some good ones.

But the potential is there to be good. We’ve got to get better, all five of us.”

The good news is that there is some depth to work with. For a long time, the line knew it couldn’t afford an injury because there wasn’t anyone ready to play if needed. But this year, there are several young players who could see playing time this fall, including freshman Dan Charmo, the brother of former IUP guard Mike Charmo; feisty true freshman Keydus Woldeyes, who can play tackle; and sophomore Matt Reams, who knows the interior spots. There are also a number of freshmen who are expected to develop into solid linemen down the road.

“I feel good about the line,” Cignetti said.

“We’ve only got two starters back but we’ve got five guys who have started games. Matt Sasson is the quarterback of the line. He’s a four-year player for us. Jorge Vicioso, the last half of (last) year was as good as any tackle in the conference. Ethan Cooper has started games, and Bruce Atkins and Tony Mor-

“THERE’S NOTHING better than being in the fourth quarter, running the ball and being able to tell that a guy has had enough, when you know he wants to go home.”

Matt Sasson, IUP center

gante (have played a lot). We’re going to be a little bit deeper than we have been in the past. We’re going to have more numbers. We signed six (freshmen) linemen, and then we’ve got some guys who have played in games and are returning. So it’ll be interesting. I think there will be a lot of competition there. But as the line goes, we go.”

And the way to tell if the offensive line has done its job? Just look at the other team’s defense late in the game.

“There’s nothing better than being in the fourth quarter, running the ball and being able to tell that a guy has had enough,” Sasson said, “when you know he wants to go home, that he wants to stop. You just go after him on every single play and you go harder each time. … That’s the ultimate. That’s the best feeling an offensive lineman can have.”

RUNNING BACKS It’s been a long time since the Crimson Hawks had a stable of backs like this. Heck, even in the spring, there were hardly enough of them to even split carries in practice.

But with the infusion of a key transfer and several talented true freshmen, Cignetti and his staff have plenty of choices when it comes to deciding who will get the ball. The good news is that IUP has traditionally tried Continued on Page 6

THE CRIMSON HAWKS: A to Z For KICKER. IUP’s choice is senior Brett Ullman, a preseason All-American who has made 37 of 52 field goals and 135 of 141 extra points in his career. He needs 11 field goals and 21 PATs this year to set IUP career records in those categories.

K:

For LEGACY. Few football programs can match the winning tradition that IUP has. The Crimson Hawks have had only one losing season since 1983, and they have been to the NCAA Division II playoffs 14 times since 1988.

L:

TERI ENCISO/Gazette

WIDE RECEIVER Drew Carswell, shown here catching a pass last year against Slippery Rock, is the Crimson Hawks’ top returning pass catcher from 2013.

6 — Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

EYE ON THE HAWKS: Offense

Reloaded group aims to be balanced

JAMES J. NESTOR/Gazette

JARED DeSENSI, left, is one of a large stable of running backs who could see playing time this year. DeSensi, a former transfer from NCAA Division III school Otterbein, joined the team in spring drills.

Go Hawks.

IT’S TIME FOR AN AMAZING SEASON OF FOOTBALL.

We’re honored to support our local sports teams.

Because working as part of a team instills ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ěǯ

Continued from Page 5 to get several players some carries to keep them fresh throughout the season. Two years ago, Harvie Tuck and De’Antwan Williams each went over 1,000 yards, so there’s evidence that this plan works.

This year, sophomore Izzy Green enters as the favorite to be the starter, but there are a whole host of guys willing to take his job.

Green is the only one with significant playing time under his belt. In fact, he’s the only running back on the roster that has had a carry in a college game.

Last year, Green was the No. 3 tailback, behind two seniors, Williams and Erik Finklea, and he gained a respectable 336 yards on just 66 carries, for an average of 5.1 yards per carry.

Also in the mix will be transfer Donte Harrell, who has four years of eligibility after taking a redshirt at Tennessee-Martin; sophomore Darian Bradley, who saw some playing time last year on special teams; junior Jared DeSensi, who transferred in during spring ball from Division III Otterbein (Ohio); and three true freshmen who at times in preseason camp showed skills that had the team abuzz: Luigi Lista-Brinza, Shannon Jackson and Chris Temple.

Be it Green, Harrell or whomever, the running back who gets the majority of carries will have a tough task replacing the production of Williams, who was nicknamed “Rocket” for his speed and ability to penetrate defenses. “(We have) no Rocket, but maybe we’ll find a missile,” Cignetti said. “We’ve got Izzy Green back. He had a nice freshman year.

We’ve got four newcomers there and we’re going to be young, but we’ll have some talent.

But usually, the better the line blocks, the better the backs run, so to me that’s the key.”

At fullback, sophomore Nick Dubowski returns after being the backup to Dom Maggio last year, and he is expected to be the starter.

Redshirt freshman Rex Pearce also is expected to contribute.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS Whoever the starting quarterback ends up being, he won’t be able to complain about the guys he will have to throw the ball to.

Although the top two pass catchers from last year, Terrell Barnes and Pat Brewer, have graduated, there’s a lot of talent left. The likely starters this year are Drew Carswell and Salath Williams, both of whom are former transfers from Pitt who have battled injuries in their time with IUP. “Drew had a good spring for us,” Cignetti said. “He’s a big target — 6-4, 220 pounds.

Salath Williams returns for us. He missed a lot of time last year, but he made some big plays for us at the end of the year, two years ago. He’s a 6-3 guy. I’m looking for them to step up and have big senior years for us.”

Carswell and Williams will be backed up by a host of players with talent, some of whom have game experience. There’s redshirt junior Sean McVay, who came on strong last year; fifth-year senior Trey Campman, who had a great spring; and three talented true freshmen, all of whom could be difference-makers if they get the ball: Jordan Brown, Tristan Davis and Walt Pegues.

Cignetti is especially excited about the young receivers, all of whom will get playing time this fall.

“We have a lot of freshmen coming in here that have talent,” Cignetti said. “This is the most talented class we’ve signed, and I don’t think it’s even close. I suspect we’ll have a lot of freshmen play for us this year.”

The Crimson Hawks are also deep at tight end. One of the top offseason acquisitions is 6-foot-5 senior Brock DeCicco, who transferred from Wisconsin for his final season of football.

His big frame, plus ball skills and speed, will make him an invaluable target. There are also two young tight ends that will push DeCicco for playing time, Kevin Edwards and C.J. Jackson, and both could be on the field when the Crimson Hawks use a double tight end set.

THE CRIMSON HAWKS: A to Z For MINUTES, as in time of possession.

Since Cignetti took over, the Crimson Hawks have been among the PSAC leaders in keeping the football.

M:

FCB Member FDIC.

For NEW FACES. The Crimson Hawks have 38 players joining the team this fall either as a freshman or a Division I transfer. That’s 39 percent of the 98-man roster.

N:

Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 — 7

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THE CRIMSON HAWKS: A to Z For ONCE, the number of times, since 2000, that IUP has been beaten when it rushes for at least 200 yards in a game.

It is 59-1 in such games, with the lone loss coming to California in 2012.

O:

For PENALTIES. It’s been a maddening trend for the Crimson Hawks for the past few decades — IUP was penalized an average of 91.9 yards per game last season, the most in the 16-team PSAC.

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8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

EYE ON THE HAWKS: Defense

New blood keeps defense optimistic

By MATTHEW BURGLUND mburglund@indianagazette.net

JAMES J. NESTOR/Gazette

DEFENSIVE TACKLE Bryce Gilbert, a transfer from Wisconsin, could make an immediate impact along the Crimson Hawksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defensive line.

Depth isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something a football team can build overnight. It comes with time, with the development of the right players who accept their roles and flourish in them.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the path the IUP defense has been following, and four seasons into the Curt Cignetti era, the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coach feels like the plan is coming to fruition. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talent on the defense, there are some transfers who lend it instant credibility, and there are some incoming freshmen who appear ready to play, just a few months

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS How the IUP defense fared last season in the PSAC: Scoring 1st (15.4 ppg.)

Rushing 3rd (126.4 ypg.)

Passing 2nd (181.1 ypg.)

Total 1st (307.5 ypg.) after graduation from high school.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough to make Cignetti believe he has a team that can rely on its defense week-in and week-out because it will be that good.

And considering the Crim-

son Hawks had the best defense in the country only two years ago, that says a lot. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our numbers speak for themselves,â&#x20AC;? Cignetti said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and we have a chance to have a really good defense this year. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really excited about the players that we have and the new additions that can help us on defense.â&#x20AC;?

But how good can it be?

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guess. The Crimson Hawks had a pretty good defense last year â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it finished fifth in the country in scoring defense and 17th in total defense â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and they return seven players with starting experience.

Continued on Page 9

THE CRIMSON HAWKS: A to Z As in RETURNS for touchdowns. Since 2000, the Crimson Hawks are a perfect 16-0 when they bring back a fumble for a score and 16-1 when they return an interception for a touchdown. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re 2-0 when they do both.

R:

For STATE GAME. If the Crimson Hawks win the PSAC West title, they will play in the annual Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the â&#x20AC;&#x153;State Gameâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at Cignetti Field on Nov. 15, at 1 p.m.

S:

As in TRANSFERS. IUP welcomes six former Division I players to the fold: TE Brock DeCicco (Wisconsin), LB Waylon Fink (Buffalo), DTs Karon Gibson (Delaware) and Bryce Gilbert (Wisconsin), RB Donte Harrell (Tennessee-Martin) and QB Chase Haslett (Illinois).

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Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 9

EYE ON THE HAWKS: Defense

Crimson Hawksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new blood keeps defense optimistic Continued from Page 8 They also have the infusion of a couple transfer linemen who will see a lot of playing time, and there are a few freshmen in the secondary who seem to have more experience than they really do. Plus, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the added motivation of a 9-2 record last season that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t good enough to get the Crimson Hawks into the NCAA Division II playoffs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously, last season was disappointing,â&#x20AC;? said defensive end Shane Meisner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last season is the motivation. That was unacceptable here.â&#x20AC;?

So thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reason to be optimistic that the IUP defense will be good this year, maybe even great. Maybe, just maybe, one of the best ones IUP has ever had. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we can be good,â&#x20AC;? said senior linebacker Dorian Lane. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the best ever? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll let the season dictate that. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make any predictions, but I feel like we can be a pretty good defense. But I know we have, in no way at all, reached our peaks. We are going to keep learning every day and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll keep getting better.â&#x20AC;?

DEFENSIVE LINE Like most defenses, it all starts up front.

Cignetti believes this is the deepest line the program has had in a number of years. IUP has the return of ends Meisner and Ali Muhammad, both of whom started last season, plus veteran backup Jordan Batts, who might have overtaken Muhammad for the starting job in preseason camp.

In defensive coordinator Paul Tortorellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4-2-5 scheme, emphasis is put on the defensive ends to pressure opposing quarterbacks, and those three

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I THINK we can be good. One of the best ever? I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll let the season dictate that.

I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make any predictions, but I feel like we can be a pretty good defense.â&#x20AC;?

Dorian Lane, IUP linebacker

are certainly capable of that. Meisner had a team-high 5.5 sacks last season, while Muhammad and Batts had 2.5 apiece.

Meisner, the son of former NFL defensive end Greg Meisner, is expecting more production this season, thanks to the arrival of assistant coach Bryant Haines, who joined the team in the spring after serving as an assistant at Ohio State. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m kind of playing a new technique that Coach Haines has implemented,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having him really helps. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned a lot. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the staff.â&#x20AC;?

The talented Muhammad has battled injuries since he transferred from Rhode Island last summer, but he has provided a spark when heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been on the field. Batts came on strong late last season and had a solid spring, and he could become a bookend to Meisner if he continues to develop. IUP can also get some help from sophomores Mason Tortorice and Matthew Mowad, both of whom have shown signs of improvement.

On the interior line, the Crimson

Hawks boast talent and depth.

It starts with junior Jeff Palmer, a former transfer from Akron who has steadily worked his way up the depth chart. In preseason camp, Palmer was at defensive tackle, with Bryce Gilbert, a 6-foot-2, 305-pound transfer from Wisconsin, at nose guard.

Gilbert, a fifth-year senior, was a breakout performer in fall camp. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shown the ability to wreck offensive lines with his size and strength, and he also has the tenacity to make things difficult for anyone trying to block him.

Palmer and Gilbert have also shared time with another transfer, Karon Gibson, who came aboard after starting two seasons at Delaware. A bit smaller than Gilbert, Gibson has shown the same kind of skills that will make him a force to be reckoned with.

Waiting in the wings are two freshmen who have impressed the coaching staff, Jemal Averette and Justin Weldon, both of whom should see a lot of playing time this fall.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough to have Cignetti thinking the front line can be the anchor the coaching staff hopes it can be. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited about them on paper,â&#x20AC;? he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and I definitely think it can be a potential strength of this football team.â&#x20AC;?

U:

For VICTORIES. Curt Cignetti has more of them after three seasons on the job (28) than any previous IUP coach had in his first three years. Cignetti is 28-7 overall and 14-3 in home games.

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LINEBACKERS The big news is the return of fifthyear senior Alexander Berdahl, who missed all but two quarters of the 2013 season.

He suffered a broken wrist in the season opener at Southern Connecticut and ended up taking a medical redshirt.

Continued on Page 10

THE CRIMSON HAWKS: A to Z As in UNDERDOG, a title the Hawks probably wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be saddled with this year in the regular season. They were picked by the coaches for the third year in a row as the favorites to win the PSAC West.

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10 — Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

EYE ON THE HAWKS: Defense

Hawks’ new blood has defense optimistic Continued from Page 9 The injury ended up being a blessing in disguise for the Crimson Hawks. Without Berdahl, Lane had to step in and slide over from Carl Fleming’s backup at middle linebacker to the weakside spot. Fleming has graduated, but Lane is still around, and he and Berdahl team up to make a pretty solid pair of linebackers to cover the middle of the defense. Meisner said he appreciates what Berdahl and Lane can do.

“I think we definitely have the potential to be really good,” he said. “We have two linebackers who know the system better than anyone else.”

Berdahl said the year on the sideline gave him an appreciation for the sport, and he won’t let anything distract him during his final season of football. He still has a bitter taste in his mouth about having to watch IUP miss the playoffs last year, and he wants to go out a winner.

“I know this is my last year,” he said. “This is another chance, and a great chance. Last year wasn’t what we wanted, but this is another chance to get it right.”

Redshirt sophomore Kevin Clarke will back up Berdahl and Lane, and he has seen enough playing time that the IUP defense probably wouldn’t have much of a dropoff if

he is on the field.

Also waiting to get a shot at making some tackles is freshman Diamond Jones, who has shown flashes of being a standout linebacker when he fully develops.

The key to it all, though, is Berdahl. A former walk-on who played his way into a scholarship, Berdahl has taken on the role of being a vocal leader as one of the few seniors on the team, and he won’t take any of these moments for granted.

“That was a tough (injury) last year,” Cignetti said. “He is always around the ball.

He makes the other 10 guys (on defense) better.”

Berdahl said he is just happy to have another chance to take the field.

“It was very tough to watch (last year),” he said. “We were prepared as a defense, but I just wanted to jump on the field and get in there. So I’m very excited to come back.”

DEFENSIVE BACKS If there is a concern on IUP’s defense, this is it. But that’s not because the Crimson Hawks lack talent — they have plenty of that in the secondary. It’s just that most of that talent lacks experience: Of the five starters in the scheme, only senior cornerback Jerell McFadden has more than one season of

playing experience.

But McFadden isn’t concerned, and neither are the coaches. The secondary might have some growing pains, but it will eventually develop into a strength.

“We can be real good,” said McFadden, who has four career interceptions. “The chemistry is starting to come together. We have some young guys who can step right in and play. If a guy goes down, we’ve got a young guy who can step right in. That’s why I think we can do some big things this year.”

McFadden has one cornerback spot nailed down, but the other one could end up being in the hands of a freshman. Jay Watkins, who won the starting job last year as a true freshman himself, has been hampered by injuries in preseason camp, and his availability is in question. Without Watkins, Eric Doe, a freshman from Darby, has filled in and looked ready for the weekly grind in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

At the “star” position, a hybrid linebackersafety spot, Ackeno Robertson has taken the job from the graduated Terrell Holloway, who was a three-year starter. Robertson, small but athletic, will be backed up by Myles Catlin, who switched from linebacker to defensive back and should also see some playing time.

The real question comes at safety. Last year, Eric Williams and Marco Pecora were the starters, but Williams is academically ineligible this year and Pecora graduated. So Steve Franco, who was a backup quarterback last season, moved over to defense in the spring, and he’ll man the free safety spot.

Jake Campbell started preseason camp as the top strong safety, but he was limited in camp by a knee injury, and true freshman Takhi Turner has stepped in and could be the starter when the season opens Saturday against Saint Augustine’s.

“We’ve got some athletes in the secondary,” Cignetti said. “Everybody we’ve got back there can really run. I think the team’s athleticism in general has improved.”

That’s a skill that is necessary in today’s college football, where the majority of offenses try to spread out defenses and take advantage of mismatches.

“The league has become much more wide open with the spread offense, as most of college football has,” Cignetti said. “People are spreading you out, not huddling, with different tempos, running the quarterback a lot.

It’s changing football.

“I do think it’s put more pressure on defenses to defend the entire field and defend against more plays.”

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Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 — 11

PROJECTED DEFENSIVE STARTERS COORDINATOR Paul Tortorella

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THE CRIMSON HAWKS: A to Z As in split end, the wide receiver opposite the side where the tight end lines up. For the Crimson Hawks, senior Drew Carswell is the first-string “X” receiver, and he will be backed up by Sean McVay.

X:

For YARDS allowed.

The Crimson Hawks gave up just 307.5 per game last season, the best in the 16-team PSAC. They gave up 258.6 yards per game in 2012, which was also the best in the PSAC.

Y:

As in ZERO, the number of times IUP has been beaten in the month of November since Curt Cignetti became head coach.

The Crimson Hawks are a perfect 9-0 in November games since 2011.

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t’s the equivalent to the ace starting pitcher in baseball or the multi-talented point guard in basketball. In football, having a good, steady quarterback means everything.

If you don’t have one, you better be great on defense and special teams to have a chance for a special season.

Otherwise, you’ll go as far as your limited quarterback will take you.

That’s the consensus among coaches in the 16-team Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

“It’s where it all begins, at the quarterback position,” said Edinboro coach Scott Browning, who has the luxury of bringing back QB Cody Harris this season. A sixth-year senior, Harris, right, was granted another year of eligibility after missing almost all of last season with an injury.

Edinboro is one of just a few SCOTT schools in the league that enters the BROWNING 2014 season without questions at the quarterback position. IUP and Slippery Rock are starting over after the graduation of last year’s starters, and California, Clarion and Mercyhurst have guys who have played in games, but their grip on the starting job is tenuous.

Gannon coach Brad Rzyczycki doesn’t have those doubts. He welcomes the MIKE return of 6-foot-6 junior Liam Nadler, who KELLAR passed for 2,859 yards and 16 touchdowns last season while also rushing for 287 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“I’ve never, in my years in coaching, been around a quarterback this good,” Rzyczycki said. “He’s a big kid — 6-foot-6 — but he’s so cerebral. A lot of kids are cerebral, but they don’t have enough athletic ability to get the ball where they want to. But Liam Nadler has everything. He has one B on his report card and the rest are A’s He’s just special He’s a great leader He

I

Coaches Agree: If You’ve Got A Good Quarterback, You’ve Got A Chance

Arms Race

PREVIEWING THE PSAC

+/-0.6 n/a +3.0 -4.2 +4.2 +0.8 +2.4 +2.2 -2.7 -0.4 +2.6 +1.8 +0.2 -0.2 +0.4 -2.8

Clarion Kwaku Asamoah, DB, Indiana Zach Newquist, DL, Indiana IUP

AREA PLAYERS IN THE PSAC

Note: Gannon, Mercyhurst and Seton Hill are private schools. The rest are state-owned universities that cannot use tax dollars for scholarships. They must gain the money through their own fundraising. The NCAA maximum is 36 scholarships. The +/- figure is a comparison to 2012 numbers.

2013 34.63 33.86 33.18 27.73 25.69 22.43 12.09 12.08 11.96 10.03 9.23 8.61 8.55 5.49 5.26 4.91

SCHOLARSHIPS Rank, School 1. Mercyhurst 2. Seton Hill 3. Gannon 4. California 5. IUP 6. Slippery Rock 7. E.Stroudsburg 8. Bloomsburg 9. Edinboro 10. West Chester 11. Clarion 12. Shippensburg 13. Kutztown 14. Lock Haven 15. Cheyney 16. Millersville

12 — Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

Team Div. All Slippery Rock 6-1 9-3 IUP 5-2 9-2 California 4-3 7-4 Mercyhurst 4-3 7-4 Gannon 4-3 6-5 Edinboro 3-4 5-6 Clarion 2-5 4-7 Seton Hill 0-7 1-10 PSAC EAST Team Div. All Bloomsburg 6-1 10-2 West Chester 6-1 13-2 Shippensburg 6-1 7-4 East Stroudsburg 4-3 7-4 Kutztown 3-4 4-7 Lock Haven 2-5 3-8 Millersville 1-6 1-10 Cheyney 0-7 0-11 State Game Bloomsburg 42, Slippery Rock 38 NCAA Division II Playoffs First Round Winston-Salem 27, Slippery Rock 20 West Chester 38, American Int’l 7 Second Round West Chester 40, Bloomsburg 38 Quarterfinals West Chester 28, Shepherd 7 Semifinals Lenoir-Rhyne 42, West Chester 14

PSAC WEST

The home team has won every State Game since the PSAC championship was brought back in 2008.

RANDOM FACT

Since 1980

2013 Bloomsburg 42, Slippery Rock 38 MVP: Franklyn Quiteh, RB, Bloomsburg 2012 IUP 41, Shippensburg 10 MVP: Carl Fleming, LB, IUP 2011 Kutztown 21, Slippery Rock 14 MVP: Marshall Vogel, QB, Kutztown 2010 Mercyhurst 56, Bloomsburg 37 MVP: Trevor Kennedy, WR, Mercyhurst 2009 Shippensburg 42, California 35 MVP: Chad DiFebbo, QB, Shippensburg 2008 California 47, West Chester 36 MVP: Kevin McCabe, QB, California

Record 11-2 11-3 6-4 10-2 9-3 10-3 10-2 7-4 8-4 13-2

IUP: 28 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• West Chester: 27 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Bloomsburg: 24 •••••••••••••••••••••••• Edinboro: 24 •••••••••••••••••••••••• Slippery Rock: 23 ••••••••••••••••••••••• Millersville: 20 •••••••••••••••••••• East Stroudsburg: 19 ••••••••••••••••••• Shippensburg: 17 ••••••••••••••••• Mercyhurst: 16 •••••••••••••••• California: 15 ••••••••••••••• Clarion: 12 •••••••••••• Kutztown: 11 ••••••••••• Gannon: 10 •••••••••• Lock Haven: 1 • Seton Hill: 1 • Cheyney: 0 —

Yards 4,747 4,571 3,831 3,826 3,736 3,725 3,633 3,628 3,613 3,569

STATE GAME RECAP

Year 2012 2005 1996 2004 2013 2011 2010 2007 1994 2013

MOST WINNING SEASONS

School Shippensburg East Stroudsburg East Stroudsburg East Stroudsburg Slippery Rock California Kutztown Edinboro West Chester West Chester

2013 STANDINGS

Rank, Player 1. Zach Zulli 2. Jimmy Terwilliger 3. Damian Poalucci 4. Jimmy Terwilliger 5. Nigel Barksdale 6. Peter Lalich 7. Kevin Morton 8. Trevor Harris 9. Dave MacDonald 10. Sean McCartney

For the quarterbacks who have sported the most passing yards in a single season, team wins have followed

SUCCESS, MEASURED IN YARDS

report card and the rest are A’s. He’s just special. He’s a great leader. He has the respect of his teammates.”

Down at California, Vulcans coach Mike Kellar has settled on James BRAD Harris as the starter. Last year, Harris and Cody Schroeder went backRZYCZYCKI and-forth, and the team ended up with a sub-par 7-4 record. Kellar is determined to avoid that again this year.

“Nothing against Cody or James, but it is what it is,” Kellar said. “I’ve always said that when you have two quarterbacks, you really have none.”

That’s a problem Rzyczycki and Gannon are thrilled not to have.

“The big thing about (Nadler) is that the kids rally around him,” he said. “Having that kind of kid at that position is very important.”

— Matthew Burglund

Denny Douds, ESU............. 244 Danny Hale, WCU/Bloom.... 213 Gene Carpenter, Millers.......212 Frank Cignetti, IUP...............182 George Mihalik, SRU...........176

CAREER WINS

PSAC WEST School (first-place votes) 1. IUP (5) 2. California (3) 3. Slippery Rock 4. Mercyhurst 5. Gannon 6. Edinboro 7. Clarion 8. Seton Hill PSAC EAST School (first-place votes) 1. West Chester (7) 2. East Stroudsburg (1) 3. Bloomsburg 4. Shippensburg 5. Kutztown 6. Lock Haven 7. Millersville 8. Cheyney

PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Note: Gannon, Mercyhurst and Seton Hill do not release salary information. ... Mihalik and Douds are under faculty contracts and earn salaries as professors as well as coaches. The salary listed is for coaching only. ... Source: PASSHE.

Coach, School Salary Curt Cignetti, IUP $134,611 Bill Zwaan, WCU $118,692 George Mihalik, SRU $110,038 Mike Kellar, Cal $109,505 Greg Breitbach, Mill $97,000 Scott Browning, Edin $96,346 M.Maciejewski, Ship $94,023 Paul Darragh, Bloom $93,048 Jim Clements, Kutz $90,000 John Allen, LHU $84,935 Jay Foster, Clarion $83,749 Denny Douds, ESU $78,202 Anthony Johnson, Chy $35,723

COACHES SALARIES

Al Lane, DL, Indiana Logan Weaver, QB, Indiana Slippery Rock Tyler Matusak, K, Derry

14 — Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

2013 PSAC TEAM STATISTICS SCORING OFFENSE G 1. Slippery Rock 12 2. East Stroudsburg 11 3. Bloomsburg 12 4. West Chester 15 5. Shippensburg 11 6. IUP 11 7. Gannon 11 8. Mercyhurst 11 9. California 11 10. Kutztown 11 11. Edinboro 11 12. Clarion 11 13. Lock Haven 11 14. Seton Hill 11 15. Cheyney 11 16. Millersville 11 NCAA Division II leader: Henderson American Conference), 53.3 ppg.

RUSHING OFFENSE Pts. 520 449 474 564 411 400 361 361 313 306 246 238 194 157 120 120 State

Avg. 43.3 40.8 39.5 37.6 37.4 36.4 32.8 32.8 28.5 27.8 22.4 21.6 17.6 14.3 10.9 10.9 (Great

G Pts. 1. IUP 11 169 2. California 11 187 3. Mercyhurst 11 230 4. West Chester 15 325 5. Bloomsburg 12 276 6. East Stroudsburg 11 280 7. Slippery Rock 12 312 8. Shippensburg 11 305 9. Edinboro 11 310 10. Clarion 11 320 11. Kutztown 11 348 12. Lock Haven 11 352 13. Gannon 11 369 14. Cheyney 11 422 15. Seton Hill 11 478 16. Millersville 11 496 NCAA Division II leader: Indianapolis (Great Valley Conference), 13.3 ppg. allowed.

Avg. 15.4 17.0 20.9 21.7 23.0 25.5 26.0 27.7 28.2 29.1 31.6 32.0 33.5 38.4 43.5 45.1 Lakes

SCORING DEFENSE

TOTAL OFFENSE G Rush Pass 1. Slippery Rock 12 2187 4251 2. E.Stroudsburg 11 2084 3505 3. Bloomsburg 12 3762 2133 4. Shippensburg 11 1432 3685 5. West Chester 15 2812 4130 6. Gannon 11 1891 2859 7. IUP 11 2384 2223 8. Mercyhurst 11 2616 1810 9. Kutztown 11 1093 2960 10. California 11 1352 2604 11. Clarion 11 1967 1500 12. Edinboro 11 1237 2210 13. Lock Haven 11 1164 1944 14. Millersville 11 1142 1517 15. Seton Hill 11 929 1566 16. Cheyney 11 1259 1169 NCAA Division II leader: Henderson American Conference), 576.4 ypg.

Tot. 6438 5589 5895 5117 6942 4750 4607 4426 4053 3956 3467 3447 3108 2659 2495 2428 State

Avg. 536.5 508.1 491.3 465.2 462.8 431.8 418.8 402.4 368.5 359.6 315.2 313.4 282.5 241.7 226.8 220.7 (Great

3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS

G Att. Yds. Avg. Yds/G 1. Bloomsburg 12 566 3762 6.6 313.5 2. Mercyhurst 11 459 2616 5.7 237.8 3. IUP 11 468 2384 5.1 216.7 4. E.Stroudsburg 11 412 2084 5.1 189.5 5. West Chester 15 583 2812 4.8 187.5 6. Slippery Rock 12 538 2187 4.1 182.3 7. Clarion 11 483 1967 4.1 178.8 8. Gannon 11 433 1891 4.4 171.9 9. Shippensburg 11 359 1432 4.0 130.2 10. California 11 405 1352 3.3 122.9 11. Cheyney 11 421 1259 3.0 114.5 12. Edinboro 11 424 1237 2.9 112.5 13. Lock Haven 11 350 1164 3.3 105.8 14. Millersville 11 388 1142 2.9 103.8 15. Kutztown 11 363 1093 3.0 99.4 16. Seton Hill 11 451 929 2.1 84.5 NCAA Division II leader: Lenoir-Rhyne (South Atlantic Conference), 370.9 ypg.

G Conv. Att. Pct. 1. East Stroudsburg 11 72 149 .483 2. Bloomsburg 12 72 152 .474 3. IUP 11 63 135 .467 4. West Chester 15 78 187 .417 5. Slippery Rock 12 82 199 .412 6. Kutztown 11 74 181 .409 7. Mercyhurst 11 55 137 .401 8. Shippensburg 11 72 181 .398 9. Gannon 11 60 152 .395 10. Edinboro 11 70 191 .366 11. California 11 54 152 .355 12. Millersville 11 55 158 .348 13. Clarion 11 53 163 .325 14. Cheyney 11 41 150 .273 15. Lock Haven 11 38 149 .255 16. Seton Hill 11 38 178 .213 NCAA Division II leader: Chadron State (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference), .519 pct.

RUSHING DEFENSE

OPP. 3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS

G Att. Yds. Avg. Yds/G 1. Bloomsburg 12 371 1069 2.9 89.1 2. Slippery Rock 12 476 1461 3.1 121.8 3. IUP 11 433 1390 3.2 126.4 4. Mercyhurst 11 392 1437 3.7 130.6 5. Kutztown 11 400 1482 3.7 134.7 6. California 11 446 1617 3.6 147.0 7. West Chester 15 563 2211 3.9 147.4 8. Shippensburg 11 434 1733 4.0 157.5 9. Cheyney 11 429 1858 4.3 168.9 10. Clarion 11 450 1886 4.2 171.5 11. E.Stroudsburg 11 399 1956 4.9 177.8 12. Seton Hill 11 476 2086 4.4 189.6 13. Millersville 11 431 2228 5.2 202.5 14. Edinboro 11 509 2231 4.4 202.8 15. Lock Haven 11 481 2446 5.1 222.4 16. Gannon 11 457 2588 5.7 253.5 NCAA Division II leader: Shepherd (Mountain East Conference), 48.3 ypg. allowed.

G Conv. Att. Pct. 1. Slippery Rock 12 57 215 .265 2. Shippensburg 11 60 180 .333 3. Mercyhurst 11 46 138 .333 4. East Stroudsburg 11 48 142 .338 5. Bloomsburg 12 56 165 .339 6. IUP 11 56 161 .348 7. California 11 63 177 .356 8. West Chester 15 80 216 .370 9. Gannon 11 54 145 .372 10. Kutztown 11 58 153 .379 11. Clarion 11 58 150 .387 12. Cheyney 11 57 145 .393 13. Edinboro 11 68 172 .395 14. Seton Hill 11 68 164 .415 15. Lock Haven 11 65 149 .436 16. Millersville 11 73 137 .533 NCAA Division II leader: Winston-Salem State (CIAA) and Shepherd (MEC), 0.222 pct. allowed.

PASSING OFFENSE

TURNOVER MARGIN

G Yds. 1. Slippery Rock 12 4251 2. Shippensburg 11 3685 3. East Stroudsburg 11 3505 4. West Chester 15 4130 5. Kutztown 11 2960 6. Gannon 11 2859 7. California 11 2604 8. IUP 11 2223 9. Edinboro 11 2210 10. Bloomsburg 12 2133 11. Lock Haven 11 1944 12. Mercyhurst 11 1810 13. Seton Hill 11 1566 14. Millersville 11 1517 15. Clarion 11 1500 16. Cheyney 11 1169 NCAA Division II leader: Henderson State American Conference), 428.4 ypg.

Avg. 354.3 335.0 318.6 275.3 269.1 259.9 236.7 202.1 200.9 177.8 176.6 164.5 142.4 137.9 136.4 106.3 (Great

G 1. East Stroudsburg 11 2. Mercyhurst 11 3. Bloomsburg 12 4. West Chester 15 5. Edinboro 11 6. IUP 11 7. Seton Hill 11 8. Kutztown 11 9. Clarion 11 10. Lock Haven 11 11. Gannon 11 12. California 11 13. Shippensburg 11 14. Slippery Rock 12 15. Cheyney 11 16. Millersville 11 NCAA Division II leader: St. Cloud Sun Intercollegiate Conference), +22

+ 25 21 27 31 27 27 29 25 20 21 18 21 12 24 17 9 State

— Dif. 11 +14 13 +8 19 +8 24 +7 21 +6 21 +6 25 +4 21 +4 17 +3 21 0 22 -4 25 -4 24 -12 37 -13 30 -13 32 -23 (Northern

TOTAL DEFENSE

PASSING DEFENSE

TIME OF POSESSION

G Rush Pass Tot. Avg. 1. IUP 11 1390 1992 3382 307.5 2. California 11 1617 1885 3502 318.4 3. Mercyhurst 11 1437 2321 3668 333.5 4. Shippensburg 11 1733 2081 3814 346.7 5. West Chester 15 2211 3039 5250 350.0 6. Slippery Rock 12 1461 2849 4310 359.2 7. E.Stroudsburg 11 1956 2163 4119 374.5 8. Cheyney 11 1858 2353 4211 382.8 9. Kutztown 11 1482 2784 4266 387.8 10. Bloomsburg 12 1069 3585 4654 387.8 11. Edinboro 11 2231 2094 4315 392.3 12. Clarion 11 1886 2595 4481 407.4 13. Seton Hill 11 2086 2397 4483 407.5 14. Millersville 11 2228 2307 4535 412.3 15. Lock Haven 11 2446 2566 5012 455.6 16. Gannon 11 2588 2500 5088 462.5 NCAA Division II leader: Winston-Salem State (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association), 233.6 ypg. allowed.

G Yds. Avg. 1. California 11 1885 171.4 2. IUP 11 1992 181.1 3. Shippensburg 11 2081 189.2 4. Edinboro 11 2084 189.5 5. East Stroudsburg 11 2163 196.6 6. West Chester 15 3039 202.6 7. Mercyhurst 11 2231 202.8 8. Millersville 11 2307 209.7 9. Cheyney 11 2353 213.9 10. Seton Hill 11 2397 217.9 11. Gannon 11 2500 227.3 12. Lock Haven 11 2566 233.3 13. Clarion 11 2595 235.9 14. Slippery Rock 12 2849 237.4 15. Kutztown 11 2784 253.1 16. Bloomsburg 12 3585 298.8 NCAA Division II leader: Clark Atlanta (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), 142.1 ypg. allowed.

G Avg. 1. Mercyhurst 11 32:47 2. Kutztown 11 32:18 3. Bloomsburg 12 32:11 4. East Stroudsburg 11 31:09 5. Gannon 11 31:06 6. Clarion 11 30:39 7. IUP 11 30:32 8. Millersville 11 30:25 9. West Chester 15 30:10 10. Cheyney 11 29:55 11. Seton Hill 11 29:14 12. California 11 28:23 13. Lock Haven 11 28:09 14. Edinboro 11 27:42 15. Shippensburg 11 27:04 16. Slippery Rock 12 26:42 NCAA Division II leader: Missouri Southern State (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association), 35:14.

TERI ENCISO/Gazette file

IUP COACH Curt Cignetti made his point with the officials during last year’s game against Gannon, on Nov. 9.

2014 PSAC COMPOSITE SCHEDULE Thursday, Sept. 4 Livingstone (N.C.) at Millersville, 6 p.m.

Shippensburg at Seton Hill, 7 p.m.

Cheyney at Lincoln, 7 p.m.

Edinboro at Carson-Newman, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 6 Mercyhurst at Bentley, noon St. Augustine’s at IUP, noon Southern Connecticut at Gannon, noon West Chester at New Haven, 1 p.m.

Bloomsburg at Stonehill, 1 p.m.

East Stroudsburg at LIU Post, 1 p.m.

Clarion at Saint Francis (Pa.), 1 p.m.

Virginia State at California, 1 p.m.

Lock Haven at West Virginia St., 1 p.m.

Kutztown at Slippery Rock, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13 Edinboro at Shippensburg, noon Mercyhurst at West Chester, noon Gannon at Cheyney, 1 p.m.

IUP at Kutztown, 1:05 p.m.

California at Bloomsburg, 2 p.m.

Seton Hill at Lock Haven, 3 p.m.

Clarion at Millersville, 4 p.m.

Slippery Rock at East Stroudsburg, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 20 Bloomsburg at Mercyhurst, noon East Stroudsburg at Edinboro, noon California at Shippensburg, noon IUP at Lock Haven, noon Kutztown at Gannon, noon Clarion at Cheyney, 1 p.m.

Slippery Rock at Millersville, 4 p.m.

West Chester at Seton Hill, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 27 Edinboro at California, 1 p.m.

Gannon at Clarion, 2 p.m.

Seton Hill at Slippery Rock, 2 p.m.

Shippensburg at Bloomsburg, 2 p.m.

Lock Haven at East Stroudsburg, 3 p.m.

Mercyhurst at IUP, 4 p.m.

Millersville at West Chester, 6 p.m.

Cheyney at Kutztown, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 4 Lock Haven at West Chester, noon East Stroudsburg at Shippensburg, noon Bloomsburg at Cheyney, 1 p.m.

Clarion at Mercyhurst, 1 p.m.

IUP at Edinboro, 2 p.m.

California at Seton Hill, 3 p.m.

Kutztown at Millersville, 4 p.m.

Gannon at Slippery Rock, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 9 West Chester at Kutztown, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 11 Mercyhurst at Gannon, noon Millersville at Bloomsburg, 2 p.m.

Seton Hill at IUP, 2 p.m.

Shippensburg at Lock Haven, 3 p.m.

Slippery Rock at California, 3:30 p.m.

Edinboro at Clarion, 6 p.m.

Cheyney at East Stroudsburg, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 16 Gannon at Edinboro, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 18 Slippery Rock at Mercyhurst, 1 p.m.

Lock Haven at Cheyney,1 p.m.

IUP at California, 1 p.m.

Bloomsburg at Kutztown, 1 p.m.

Shippensburg at West Chester, 2 p.m.

East Stroudsburg at Millersville, 2 p.m.

Clarion at Seton Hill, 3 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 23 Edinboro at Mercyhurst, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25 Seton Hill at Gannon, noon Cheyney at Shippensburg, noon Slippery Rock at IUP, 1 p.m.

California at Clarion, 1 p.m.

Millersville at Lock Haven, 2 p.m.

West Chester at Bloomsburg, 2 p.m.

Kutztown at East Stroudsburg, 3 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1 Mercyhurst at Seton Hill, noon Cheyney at West Chester, noon Clarion at IUP, 1 p.m.

Edinboro at Slippery Rock, 1 p.m.

Gannon at California, 1 p.m.

Lock Haven at Kutztown, 1 p.m.

East Stroudsburg at Bloomsburg, 2 p.m.

Shippensburg at Millersville, 4 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 8 Kutzown at Shippensburg, noon Slippery Rock at Clarion, noon Millersville at Cheyney, noon IUP at Gannon, noon California at Mercyhurst, noon Seton Hill at Edinboro, noon Bloomsburg at Lock Haven, 1 p.m.

West Chester at East Stroudsburg, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 15 East Stroudsburg at Gannon, noon Bloomsburg at Seton Hill, noon Shippensburg at Mercyhurst, noon Kutztown at Clarion, noon West Chester at IUP, 1 p.m.

Cheyney at Slippery Rock, 1 p.m.

Lock Haven at California, 1 p.m.

Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 15

GOOD LUCK AREA TEAMS!

AROUND THE PSAC

Tough Road Gets Tougher

Burgers Pizza Wings

Crossover games will now count in division standings

By MATTHEW BURGLUND mburglund@indianagazette.net

No longer will those trips across the state to play a crossover game be considered more than just another game on the schedule. From now on, those games will count, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll mean a lot.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference board of directors voted in May to count all crossover games in all sports, including football. That means that division games will not be the only factor in determining the division standings.

Starting this year, each teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s division record will be made up of games within its own division, plus the three crossover games against teams from the other division. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were kind of all over the place in the sports,â&#x20AC;? said PSAC commissioner Steve Murray. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was proposed to be consistent across the board.â&#x20AC;?

Prior to this vote, most sports already counted crossover games in division standings, but football was not one of them. The PSAC football coaches made their feelings known during their annual meeting last December when â&#x20AC;&#x201D; knowing the proposal could be on the board of directorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; agenda â&#x20AC;&#x201D; took their own poll and voted 16-0 to reject the plan.

Unfortunately for the coaches, though, their opinion doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter on this subject, and the athletic directors approved the idea at their own meeting, and the board of directors gave it their stamp of approval soon after.

The coaches donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really like the idea because it could create a scenario where a team wins all of its division games, but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t earn a spot in the PSAC championship game because of a sub-par crossover record.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a for-instance: It could happen if California loses its two early crossover games, to Bloomsburg and Shippensburg, and then goes undefeated in the PSAC West. Meanwhile, IUP sweeps its crossover games, against Kutztown and Lock Haven, but goes 6-1 in the PSAC West, with a loss to California.

In that scenario, IUP would win the division title and play the PSAC East champ despite not having the best

CROSS (OVER) TO BEAR Starting this season, crossover games will count in the standings in the PSAC. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good news for some teams; bad for others. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s each teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s combined crossover record the past five seasons: Rank, School 1. Bloomsburg IUP 3. California Shippensburg 5. Kutztown Mercyhurst 7. West Chester 8. Edinboro 9. Slippery Rock 10. East Stroudsburg Gannon 12. Clarion 13. Millersville 14. Seton Hill 15. Lock Haven 16. Cheyney

Record 13-2 13-2 11-4 11-4 10-5 10-5 9-5 8-6 8-7 6-9 6-9 5-10 3-12 1-2 1-14 0-15

Notes: West Chester and Edinboro dropped their scheduled game against each other in 2011 in favor of nonconference opponents. ... Seton Hill joined the league in 2013. record against PSAC West opponents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The coaches are not happy,â&#x20AC;? Murray said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the importance of it is that the presidents â&#x20AC;Ś believe that the most important thing we focus on is when we play each other. We need to value that. And I think that decision reflects that.â&#x20AC;?

SCHEDULE SUCCESS: Depending on how you look at it, Murray is either very lucky â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or able to see the future.

The PSAC championship game â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;State Gameâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; was revived in 2008 by the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board of directors. But the only way to make the game fit into the schedule was to have a flexible final week of the season, meaning that the two division champs would meet for the conference title on the last Saturday of the regular season, even if they were scheduled to play

other teams.

The plan put in place was that if the two division champs were not scheduled to play each other, they would still play, and the teams they were supposed to take on would play each other.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Murray has looked like a genius in this process: In the six seasons since the state game was reinstated, it has worked out three times that the two teams in the championship game were scheduled to play that day anyway. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unbelievable because that rotation is almost 12 years coming,â&#x20AC;? Murray said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The schedule is done four years in advance, but the opponents are probably 12 years in advance, but what week the games are is a little more recent. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crazy how that happens.â&#x20AC;?

It first happened in 2009, when the conference schedule had Shippensburg playing host to California on the final Saturday of the regular season. It happened again two years ago, when IUP beat Shippensburg at George P. Miller Stadium, and it occurred again last year, when Bloomsburg edged visiting Slippery Rock.

Oddly enough, if the coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; preseason poll is accurate, the 2014 PSAC championship game is already on the schedule: West Chester at IUP on Nov. 15. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the coaches are right,â&#x20AC;? Murray said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;it will happen again.â&#x20AC;?

NEW BOSSES: There are two new head coaches this season in the PSAC. At Kutztown, Jim Clements takes over after spending the past eight seasons at Division III Delaware Valley College, where he had a strong 66-24 overall record. Clements replaces Drew Folmar, who resigned after only one season to become the offensive coordinator at Lehigh.

At Cheyney, Anthony Johnson is the interim head coach, replacing Ken Lockard, who resigned this spring.

Johnson spent the past four seasons as Cheyneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offensive coordinator.

GREATLY EXAGGERATED: California coach Mike Kellar just smiles and politely disagrees when he gets asked about the decline of Vulcans football.

Continued on Page 22

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16 — Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

EYE ON THE HAWKS: Special Teams

Senior Ullman seeking record-setting season

By MATTHEW BURGLUND mburglund@indianagazette.net

TERI ENCISO/Gazette

BRETT ULLMAN needs 11 field goals and 21 extra points this year to set IUP career records in those categories. Last year, he made 8 of 12 field goals and 46 of 49 PATs for a total of 70 points.

Brett Ullman is hoping his summer trip out West will help him go a long way — into the record books and beyond.

Ullman, IUP’s senior kicker, spent some time this summer in Arizona working with legendary coach Gary Zauner at one of the nation’s elite kicking camps. He came back with a new technique, one that he hopes will help him avoid the kind of injuries that have hampered him the past few years. Ullman wasn’t his normal self the past two seasons, when he dealt with a pulled groin muscle in 2013 and a hip flexor injury in 2012.

“Coach Zauner told me that I was crunching a lot and it was putting a lot of tension on my groin,” said Ullman, a native of Baltimore. “So when he looked at film of me, he said, ‘I bet you have had a lot of injuries.’

Ever since that, I fixed it and I haven’t had any injuries.”

If Ullman is able to stay healthy and produce the way he has the first three years of his career, he will likely leave IUP as its most prolific kicker. He trails Craig Burgess (200710) by 10 field goals on the all-time list, with 37; is 20 extra-points behind Burgess for the school record for PATs made (155); and is fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 246 points, behind only Jai Hill (198891, 250 points), Burgess (276) and Michael Mann (1990-93, 312).

Ullman said he’s aware of his place in the record books, but he’s concerned with only one record: the Crimson Hawks’ won-loss mark.

“First things first,” he said. “I’m trying to help the team win. But if the records come, hopefully I can break them and go down in IUP history.”

Ullman is the most experienced member of an IUP special teams unit that will take the field this season with some pressure to perform until the offense and defense hit high gear. Junior Matt Spegal is back to handle the punting duties, but he is the only other key member of special teams that has much playing time to boast.

The long snapper will be a new one, with the loss of Connor Jackson. During preseason camp, quarterback-turned-safety Steve Franco got most of the reps as the long snapper, but it has been mostly a five-man race, with several freshmen getting a crack at the job.

“It’s been a real concern at times, but right now we’ve got five or six guys who have done it,” said IUP coach Curt Cignetti. “Right now, Stevie Franco is probably the best of the bunch. So he’s gone from being a quarterback to our starting free safety and long snapper.”

BRETT ULLMAN

MATT SPEGAL

Spegal has stepped in as the holder, a spot held the past two seasons by quarterback Mike Box. Ullman said there have been some growing pains in the operation from snapper to holder to kicker, but that’s to be expected.

“We’ve had some mishaps, but from Day One until now they’ve gotten better,” Ullman said. “But I’m real confident that by (the season opener), they’ll be fine.”

Spegal, a native of Bethel Park, is coming off a solid 2013 season. He has a career average of 38.9 yards per kick, which is tied for the second-best average in school history.

He wrestled the job away from Pat Smith late in 2012 and has been a mainstay since.

“Brett Ullman and Matt Spegal are all-conference-type players,” Cignetti said. “I’m counting on Brett to have a huge year this year, same as Matt. In those tight ball games, those guys are invaluable.”

As for returns, Cignetti and the coaching staff have a lot of options. IUP has had several players audition for the job returning punts and kickoffs, including senior wide receiver Sean McVay and two freshmen listed as “athlete” on the roster — Walt Pegues and Jordan Brown.

“We’ve got three or four guys who were excellent returners in high school, so I’m going to give those guys a look,” Cignetti said. “As long as they can catch it and we have the ball at the end of the play, that’s the most important thing. Both (Pegues) and Jordan Brown have something that we haven’t really had here in a while, in terms of their open-field ability. But they’re young, and we’ll find out how they are, day to day.”

Ullman is also taking things day to day. He is finally healthy and he expects to have another big season.

He’s going to keep his eye on the record books, but his attention is mainly on helping the Crimson Hawks back to the playoffs — and beyond.

“I’m hoping to have the best year of my career,” Ullman said. “I feel like I fixed a lot of my problems and if I can stay healthy, I’ll be able to help the team get some wins this year.”

Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 17

Student group hopes to boost school spirit

Good Luck To All Area Football Teams!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;WE WANT to help bridge that gap between the community and the students.

We have a good crew of guys who have a lot of pride in our school.â&#x20AC;?

Travis Spagnolo, Hawks Nest member â&#x20AC;&#x153;But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very, very strong athletics program here. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one that needs the backing of the student body.â&#x20AC;?

The athletes agree. Senior linebacker Alexander Berdahl said a loud student section can have an impact on the game. He pointed to the 2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game for evidence. That day, an overflow crowd packed the stands at Miller Stadium, and the Crimson Hawks used the atmosphere to fuel a 4110 thrashing of previously unbeaten Shippensburg. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never forget that game,â&#x20AC;? Berdahl said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole stadium was packed. I get goose bumps thinking about it. It was so loud and it created a different environment. For players, we just love it. We get excited about having all the people here. We get really pumped up for the game when they come out.â&#x20AC;?

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a secondary issue at play. The Hawks Nest guys are out there not just hoping to improve school spirit, but to also change the perception many people in the

OOD Te W Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re

#1

surrounding community might have about IUP students. Spagnolo said he watched the reports last spring of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;IUPattyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dayâ&#x20AC;? events, where several parties reportedly got out of hand, leading to the Indiana Borough council to form a committee to keep these gatherings in check.

It was because of those negative reports on the local TV news that Spagnolo got the inspiration to do something positive for his university. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because of (IUPattyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day), the community didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the students in a good light,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Athletics pulls the community together, and so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to piggy-back off that bad image to create something good.

We want the community to back IUP athletics. We want to help bridge that gap between the community and the students. We have a good crew of guys who have a lot of pride in our school.â&#x20AC;?

It hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been an easy campaign, though.

Spagnolo and his cohorts thought the university would be thrilled with some of its

students creating a campaign to increase school spirit. But because of one issue or another, the Hawks Nest met some resistance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Part of the onus does fall on the university,â&#x20AC;? Spagnolo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do enough to promote athletics. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a problem all the way across the board.â&#x20AC;?

But the group did get some help from Tim Sharbaugh, the director of the IUP Co-Op Store.

The group approached Sharbaugh about the idea to sell T-shirts, and he helped provide the funding to have them printed and gave permission for the Hawks Nest to sell them outside the HUB. Thanks to Sharbaugh and the Co-Op Association, the Hawks Nest has gradually grown. And now with the season just days away, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reason to think just maybe the students will have an impact on the game itself, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OK with coach Curt Cignetti. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our guys really get excited when they see the stands full,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A tremendous crowd would only add to the energy of our football team.â&#x20AC;?

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what Spagnolo is hoping for.

And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a far cry from where things have been in the past, when students often seemed surprised to even know there was a football game on campus. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got people here who are trying to change perception,â&#x20AC;? Spagnolo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So join in and be a part of it.â&#x20AC;?

AL PATTIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FAMOUS

am

Th e

Continued from Page 3 â&#x20AC;&#x153;People watch games on TV and they say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wow, look at that student section,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; but we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have that here,â&#x20AC;? Gruse said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we do this. We want to create that atmosphere that people want to be a part of.â&#x20AC;?

During the opening weekend of the semester, the Hawks Nest started selling Tshirts outside the Hadley Union Building with the motto â&#x20AC;&#x153;Turn up or Transferâ&#x20AC;? printed on the front.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a phrase they came up with to encourage the student body â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with its more than 14,000 students â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to show some school spirit and attend some football games, especially the season opener, on Saturday against Saint Augustineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

But according to one of the Hawks Nest members, Jeremy Risinger, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more to it than just coming out to the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most kids just stay a couple quarters and leave,â&#x20AC;? Risinger said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want them to stay for the whole thing. We want a great crowd there.â&#x20AC;?

Spagnolo said in three days, he and his partners â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Gruse, Risinger, Michael Hanni, Phill Euston and Shane Pirl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sold roughly 220 shirts. That tells them that there are a lot of students willing to take the step and show their support for their schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teams.

But Spagnolo said school spirit should be a given. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Pitt or Penn State,â&#x20AC;? he said.

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18 — Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

Changing with the Times For defensive coordinator Paul Tortorella, staying a step ahead is the priority

By MATTHEW BURGLUND mburglund@indianagazette.net

In his 20 years as IUP’s defensive coordinator, Paul Tortorella has seen a lot of things.

The old-school Triple Option and the newschool Spread. The Wishbone, the Veer and some lesser-known schemes. Big-armed quarterbacks and small, shifty guys who rely on their legs. Maybe Tortorella hasn’t quite seen it all, but if there’s an offense to be tried, there’s a good chance Tortorella has already devised a plan to stop it.

That’s the reality in today’s college football: While offensive coordinators are in their labs cooking up the newest way to get the ball downfield, defensive coordinators are left to react to it all — and to try to keep pace.

“You’re a better coach tomorrow than you were today,” said Tortorella, who joined the IUP staff under Frank Cignetti in 1995 and has been a mainstay since. “Football is a game that’s always changing. I tell these young guys on the staff that you might learn something new every day, no matter how long you’ve been in it. The thing is this: As a coach, sometimes you have to change with the changes.

It’s a different game now.”

It clearly is. The days of the old “three yards and a cloud of dust” are long gone. Most quarterbacks don’t know what it’s like to be under center. The trend is to spread out defenses to take advantage of matchups, not to bludgeon defenses with a 240-pound fullback.

But Tortorella, 51, has adapted to the changes better than most. Although the scheme he uses now with IUP is far different than the one he first drew up 20 seasons ago, his defenses are just as successful. IUP has traditionally had one of the stronger defenses in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, and in 2012, he coordinated the top defense in all of NCAA Division II. For his efforts that season, Tortorella was named the footballscoop.com Division II coordinator of the year.

“He’s a smart guy,” said cornerback Jerell McFadden. “He definitely knows everything about defense. Every game we go into, we know we will be well-prepared because Coach Tort makes us prepared. He might be the best D-coordinator in D2 football.”

“He’s got a really good football mind,” said IUP coach Curt Cignetti. “He’s really sharp and he’s intense. He relates well to the kids. He can really sort of break down what’s important and what’s not important — to get to the heart of the matter. I think he’s a great leader on our defense and he’s done a really great job.”

But it’s a job that seems to be far from over.

Just when Tortorella seems to be ahead of the offenses, something new comes along and he has to start over. Most recently, he adapted from a base 4-3-4 scheme to a 4-2-5 in order

GETTING DEFENSIVE Paul Tortorella describes his defensive philosophy: “No. 1: We’ve got to play with great effort. That’s the very first thing we ask of our guys. No. 2: To be very physical, sort of like our offense is. The game has changed, to where it’s a finesse game, but we don’t really buy into that.

Defensively, we try to beat you up and be more physical than other defenses.

And then No. 3: We like guys who are smart. You’ve got to know what to do, when to do it and how to do it. A lot of our best players through the years have been guys with really high football IQs. … That’s what it’s about for us.” to match up better with teams using four- or five-receiver sets.

“You’re playing offenses where the guy is going to be removed from the box anyway, so you might as well move a DB than a linebacker,” he explained. “He’s not going to be in the box anyway. So why play with a third linebacker when you can play with a fifth DB? Football now is a situational game, it’s specialization at its finest.”

But it still comes down to the same idea.

“It’s not like basketball,” he said, “where you say, ‘OK, this is a great player. He’s going to score his 30, and we need to stop the other guys.’ In football, it doesn’t work like that. If they’ve got a great running back, we’ve got to stop him. If they have a great quarterback, we’ve got to limit what he does. If they have a great wideout, we have to take him away from them. We try to take their strengths away. If you do that, they start doing things they don’t really want to do.”

Because of the many changes in football over the years, Tortorella has ended up coaching a different kind of player. Defenses now rely on speed more than anything, and that’s what this year’s team is built on.

“You’ve got to have guys who run and play in space,” he said. “You’ll see our linebackers aren’t the biggest linebackers, but they are fast. They can play the whole field. They can cover backs out of the backfield; they can cover tight ends. They can run sideline to Continued on Page 19

JAMES J. NESTOR/Gazette

PAUL TORTORELLA has orchestrated some of the best defenses in the country during his 20-year tenure at IUP.

Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 — 19

Tortorella continues to adapt Continued from Page 18 sideline. That’s the difference. It’s not like the old days when you had linebackers in there who were crushing the run game and maybe on third down, they’d have to cover the field. Now, you’ve got to do it on every down.”

Tortorella credits his current boss, and one of his former bosses, for some of the knowledge he has acquired over the years.

One might think a defensive coach goes to other defensive coaches for advice, but Tortorella said he has received a wealth of information from Frank and Curt Cignetti, both of whom had backgrounds in offense before they became head coaches.

“You can learn a lot about defense from offensive guys, you really can,” Tortorella said. “We’ve had a lot of great coaches here. But the thing is I’ve probably learned more from both Frank and Curt because they’re offensive guys. Defensive guys, you all really know the same things. But offensive guys can give you a tip here and there on things they don’t like to see, or things they go after when they see it.”

Tortorella also credits Curt Cignetti’s offensive philosophy — to be balanced and physical — for helping his defenses become so successful.

“He understands how you can help the defense: Run the ball, don’t turn it over, don’t take chances that don’t need to be taken,” Tortorella said. “And really, as the defensive coordinator, that’s the best situation you could be in.”

But there’s more to Tortorella’s success than just devising where to put people on the field. He understands what motivates his players, and he knows how to fit them into his plan. And he does it all with a fiery disposition that he sometimes has trouble keeping under wraps on game days.

“He brings the intensity and toughness,” said defensive end Shane Meisner. “We don’t want to let him down.

If you screw up, there’s not

only a feeling that you screwed up for the team, but for him also. Considering how much he cares and how much time he puts into it, you want to do the best for him.”

Tortorella’s goal is to field a defense that can play well enough to help IUP win every week. Beyond that, he, like everyone else in the program, has his sights set on one major goal that has yet to be achieved at IUP. “For all us guys who have been here a long time, the only thing we talk about that we haven’t done yet is win the national championship,” he said. “I mean … you’ve always got to have something you’re working toward. You don’t get many opportunities, so when you do, you’ve got to take it. At this point, that’s what we’re all here to try to accomplish.

If you don’t strive for that, you’re just going through the motions. But this is a place where it can happen. I am certain of that.”

BEST DAYS Three of Paul Tortorella’s most memorable IUP games: 1. Youngstown State, 1999: Although IUP lost, 13-7, to the Division I-AA power, Tortorella’s defense held the Penguins to two first downs and 21 total yards in the second half. “That’s the best game we’ve had by any defense since I’ve been here,” he said. “(YSU coach Jim) Tressel came up to me and he said, ‘That’s as good as anybody has played against us defensively in three years.’

That told me something.”

2. Shippensburg, 2012: The high-scoring Red Raiders (who had averaged 52 points per game) came to town for the PSAC State Game undefeated — and left Indiana bruised and battered and on the bad end of a 41-10 loss.

“I don’t know if they had ever been behind that year,” he said. “So when we went up on them, I don’t know if they knew how to react.”

3. Slippery Rock, 1999: Six weeks after getting hammered by their rivals 52-14, the Indians paid them back in the playoffs with a 27-20 overtime win. “They were dangerous with (quarterback Randy) McKavish,” he said. “That guy was really dangerous.”

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20 — Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

OPPONENT CAPSULES ST. AUGUSTINE’S

IUP IU P FOOTBALL COVERAGE C Sunday: Complete coverage of Saturday's game Monday: Follow-up story Tuesday: Online chat with Matt Burglund, Assistant Sports p.m.

Editorr, 12:30 p at indianagazette.com Wednesday: Midweek update Friday: Full-page preview Catch updates throughout the season @IggyGazetteSpts

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Noon, Sept. 6 Frank Cignetti Field Nickname: Falcons Coach: Michael Costa (13th season, 39-61) 2013 record: 4-6 (3-4 CIAA) Starters returning: 11 Returning allconference players: QB A.J. Gilford, CB Dezmon Hopkins, DL Chris Roberts Last meeting: First meeting Of note: Costa is the only coach St. Augustine’s has had since it revived its football program in 2002. The Falcons have had three winning seasons since then. ... The team didn’t hire its offensive coordinator, Michael Morand, until mid-August.

LOCK HAVEN Noon, Sept. 20 Hubert Jack Stadium, Lock Haven Nickname: Bald Eagles Coach: John Allen (third season, 4-18) 2013 record: 3-8 (2-5 PSAC East) Starters returning: 13 Returning all-conference players: None Last meeting: IUP won, 42-0, in 2012 Of note: Lock Haven’s three wins last year were the program’s most since 2004. ... The Bald Eagles are struggling through a stretch of 31 straight losing seasons. ...

Lock Haven hasn’t beaten a team that ended the season with a winning record since it upset Bloomsburg (17-15), in 2003. ... The Bald Eagles were 154th in the country last year in total offense; 145th in total defense.

KUTZTOWN 1:05 p.m., Sept. 13 University Stadium, Kutztown Nickname: Golden Bears Coach: Jim Clements (first season, 0-0) 2013 record: 4-7 (3-4 PSAC East) Starters returning: 18 Returning all-conference players: LB Sam DixonDougan, DL Zach Greenwald, WR Kodi Reed Last meeting: IUP won, 34-32, in 2009 Of note: Clements is the program’s third head coach in as many years, following Drew Folmar, who left to go to Lehigh after one season, and Ray Monica, who left for Arkansas Tech in 2012. ... The Golden Bears won their final three games last year by an average of 29.3 points per game.

MERCYHURST 4 p.m., Sept. 27 Frank Cignetti Field Nickname: Lakers Coach: Marty Schaetzle (13th season, 62-70) 2013 record: 7-4 (4-3 PSAC West) Starters returning: 14 Returning allconference players: LB Pat Behm, RB Brandon Brown-Dukes, OL Ben Gysin, DB Colin Kimball, TE R.J. Miller Last meeting: IUP won, 28-6, in 2013 Of note: The Lakers are seeking their third straight winning season, something they haven’t done since 1987-89. ... After two seasons, Brown-Dukes is already third on Mercyhurst’s all-time rushing list, with 2,303 yards.

EDINBORO 2 p.m., Oct. 4 Sox Harrison Stadium, Edinboro Nickname: Fighting Scots Coach: Scott Browning (ninth season, 54-35) 2013 record: 5-6 (3-4 PSAC West) Starters returning: 13 Returning all-conference players: WR Ben Eisel, QB Cody Harris, WR Darren Massey, LB Mike Shansky Last meeting: Edinboro won, 36-30, in 2013 Of note: Coming off backto-back losing seasons, the Fighting Scots are hoping to avoid their first three-year string of losing seasons since 2000-02. ... This will be the eighth time in nine years that a member of the Harris family is the starting QB. Trevor started 2006-09, and Cody started 2010-12.

TERI ENCISO/Gazette

KEVIN CLARKE (top) and Ackeno Robertson teamed up for a tackle during last year’s loss to Edinboro. The rematch is Oct. 4.

Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 — 21

OPPONENT CAPSULES SETON HILL 2 p.m., Oct. 11 Frank Cignetti Field Nickname: Griffins Coach: Isaac Collins (second season, 1-10) 2013 record: 1-10 (0-7 PSAC West) Starters returning: 15 Returning all-conference player: LB Tyler Zimmer Last meeting: IUP won, 26-0, in 2013 Of note: Seton Hill claimed only one win in its first season in the PSAC. ...

The Griffins welcome back senior QB Andrew Jackson, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. He was an all-conference player in 2012, when Seton Hill was in the West Virginia Conference. ... Seton Hill has an overall record of 5-50 over the past five seasons.

SLIPPERY ROCK 1 p.m., Oct. 25 Frank Cignetti Field Nickname: The Rock Coach: George Mihalik 2013 record: 9-3 (6-1 PSAC West) Starters returning: 14 Returning allconference players: RB Teddy Blakeman, WR Jaimire Dutrieuille, RB Shamar Greene, TE Julian Harrell, DB Austin Miele Last meeting: Slippery Rock won, 42-16, in 2013 Of note: In the past 10 seasons, Slippery Rock is 38-17 in odd-numbered years and 28-27 in even-numbered years. ... The Rock was fourth in the nation in total offense last year, averaging 354.3 yards per game. ... Slippery Rock scored more than 50 points five times in 2013.

GANNON Noon, Nov. 8 Gannon University Field, Erie Nickname: Golden Knights Coach: Brad Rzyczycki (third season, 9-13) 2013 record: 6-5 (4-3 PSAC West) Starters returning: 20 Returning allconference players: RS Justin Caliste, OL Alex Davis, QB Liam Nadler, LB Luke Rankie, OL Kelson Patterson Last meeting: IUP won, 55-20, in 2013 Of note: Gannon had five players catch at least 30 passes last year. Four of those five return this season. ... Since reviving its program in 1989, Gannon has had 10 winning seasons. That’s 10 more than Cheyney and Lock Haven.

CALIFORNIA 1 p.m., Oct. 18 Adamson Stadium, California Nickname: Vulcans Coach: Mike Kellar (third season, 15-7) 2013 record: 7-4 (4-3 PSAC West) Starters returning: 14 Returning all-conference players: OL Jack Abercrombie, P Andy Cerett, RS Terrell Roberson, DB Aaron Terry Last meeting: IUP won, 20-7, in 2013 Of note: After going 56-12 (.824) from 2007 to 2011, the Vulcans have gone 15-7 (.681) since. ...

California has won four of the five Coal Bowl matchups with IUP. ... The Vulcans went 0-3 against ranked teams last season, with losses to IUP (20-7), West Chester (38-31) and Slippery Rock (35-17).

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CLARION 1 p.m., Nov. 1 Frank Cignetti Field Nickname: Golden Eagles Coach: Jay Foster (ninth season, 27-61) 2013 record: 4-7 (2-5 PSAC West) Starters returning: 19 Returning allconference players: DL Julian Howsare, DL Matt Shuey Last meeting: IUP won, 42-14, in 2013 Of note: The Golden Eagles have had just one winning season in the past 11 years. ... QB Darrelle Carson had the second-fewest number of completions (85) among PSAC QBs with at least 100 pass attempts. ... Only one non-QB (RB Bobby Thomas) had a 100-yard rushing game in 2013.

WEST CHESTER 1 p.m., Nov. 15 Frank Cignetti Field Nickname: Rams Coach: Bill Zwaan 2013 record: 13-2 (6-1 PSAC East) Starters returning: 15 Returning allconference players: WR Erik Brundidge, DL Andrew Cohen, OL James Colivas, LB Mike Labor, OL Derek Schatz, DB Al-Hajj Shabazz, LB Ronell Williams Last meeting: IUP won, 27-7, in 2011.

Of note: This game will be played if both, or neither team, wins its respective division. If only one of these teams wins its division, the schedule will change...

The Rams’ 13 wins last season is a school record. The previous high was 11, in 2004.

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22 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014

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Continued from Page 15 Over the past few seasons, since university president Angelo Armenti was fired, athletic director Tom Pucci retired and head coach John Luckhardt abruptly resigned, the general consensus has been that Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s days as the top spender in the PSAC were numbered.

But Kellar, who took over for Luckhardt, said his school is doing fine, and that a football programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success is determined on the football field, not in the talk of the town. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No matter what your budgets are, or how many scholarships you have, or what your uniforms look like, or how many coaches you have, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football,â&#x20AC;? Kellar said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the thing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not an argument game. They keep score. Your record is what it says it is. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the great thing about football: You settle it on the field. So it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter what people say.â&#x20AC;?

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IN PERSPECTIVE: The PSAC has long been known as the top dog in the region, but no team has ever got over the hump and won the NCAA Division II championship. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something Murray would love to see change, but he understands how difficult that task can be.

The issue is depth. Because Pennsylvania state-owned schools cannot use taxpayer money for scholarships, the 13 public schools in the PSAC have to do their own fundraising to get money for scholarships to stock the rosters. That makes things difficult on the national stage, considering most other Division II teams use state money for scholarships.

So when a PSAC team advances through the region and gets to the national semifinals, it is oftentimes playing a team that has much more depth. PSAC teams usually have walk-ons as backups.

Having said that, Murray believes the talent is there to bring home a national championship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do believe if you take our top teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 22 starters, we can go and play with the Northwest Missouris and Grand Valleys,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the problem our teams have is players 23 through 30. It changes quickly there.â&#x20AC;?

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desk. He needed to hire an offensive coordinator, and he wanted one with experience. So he was understandably excited when he saw a former NFL offensive coordinator was interested in joining his staff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I did a double take,â&#x20AC;? Browning said.

The Fighting Scots had an opening when Bryan Volk left the team, and Browning opened up a national search. He couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe it when he got a rĂŠsumĂŠ from Mike Miller, who was an assistant with the NFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arizona Cardinals from 2007 to 2012. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how serious he was until I received a call from a colleague of mine who assured me that he was serious about this,â&#x20AC;? Browning said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It made it an easy hire, to be honest with you. It was a no-brainer.â&#x20AC;?

Browning said Miller, who was also on Bill Cowherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staff with the Pittsburgh Steelers, will gradually expand the Fighting Scotsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; playbook over the course of the season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to do a lot of similar things to what we did before,â&#x20AC;? he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but if Coach Miller wants to expand, we certainly will do that. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m kind of excited about that.â&#x20AC;?

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Indiana Gazette IUP Football Preview, Thursday, September 4, 2014 — 23

2014 IUP ROSTER No. Name Pos. 1 Jordan Brown WR/RB 2 Jay Watkins DB 3 Jerell McFadden DB 4 Allen Wright DB 5 Eddie Stockett QB 5 Takhi Turner DB 6 Salath Williams WR 7 Tristan Davis WR 8 Drew Carswell WR 9 Izzy Green RB 10 Sean McVay WR 11 Swahneek Brown WR 12 Steve Franco DB 13 Paul Kafando DB 14 Chris David DB 15 Devin Atland WR 16 Logan Weaver QB 17 Kyler Smith DB 18 Chase Haslett QB 19 Miles Williamson WR 20 Luigi Lista-Brinza RB 21 Myles Catlin LB 22 Donte Harrell RB 23 Ackeno Robertson DB 24 Brian Wahl-Schwartz DB 25 Kevin Clarke LB 27 Chris Temple RB/LB 28 Andrew DeGol DB 29 Jake Campbell DB 30 Ronald Womack Jr. DB 31 Clayton Anderson DB 31 Zachary Woznichak DB 32 Shannon Jackson RB 34 Walt Pegues WR/RB 35 Darian Bradley RB 36 TJ Belle DB 36 Archibald Kormah Jr. DB 37 Rex Pearce FB 38 Nick Dubowski FB 39 James Ross DB 40 Jared Desensi RB 41 Eric Doe DB 43 Alexander Berdahl LB 44 Jordan Batts DL

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Hometown/High School (previous school) Chambersburg/Chambersburg Chester/Hyde School Manassas, Va./Osbourn McKeesport/McKeesport Dravosburg/McKeesport Harrisburg/Susquehanna Twp. Harrisburg/Bishop McDevitt (Pittsburgh) Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne Pittsburgh/Sto-Rox (Pittsburgh) Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison Miami, Fla./Miramar Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg Tyrone/Tyrone (Akron) Erie/Central Tech Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills Hanover/Delone Catholic Indiana/Indiana Camp Hill/Cedar Cliff Clayton, Mo./Clayton (Illinois) Houston/Chartiers-Houston McKees Rocks/Central Catholic Pittsburgh/Obama Downingtown/Francis Howell (UT-Martin) Philadelphia/Parkway Northwest Cranberry, Twp./Seneca Valley (Lake Erie) West Mifflin/West Mifflin Malvern/Great Valley Bellwood/Bellwood-Antis Sarver/Freeport Philadelphia/West Catholic Media/Penncrest McKees Rocks/Sto-Rox (Edinboro) Fairview/Fairview Philadelphia/Central Midland/Beaver Tobyhanna/Tobyhanna Philadelphia/George Washington McKeesport/Elizabeth Forward Erie/Cathedral Prep Pittsburgh/Seton LaSalle Beaver Falls/Riverside (Otterbein) Darby/Academy Prep Ashburn, Va./Bishop O'Connell Homestead/Jeannette

No. Name 45 Aidan Schaffer 46 Ali Muhammad 48 Dorian Lane 50 Daryl Stewart 51 Mason Tortorice 52 Matthew Sasson 53 Jordan Diven 55 Diamond Jones 56 Jeff Palmer 57 Joe Hampy 58 Dan Charmo 59 Ethan Cooper 60 Kidus Woldeyes 62 Devonne Barnes 63 Al Lane 64 Alec Petrillo 65 Tony Morgante 66 Matt Reams 67 Tomi McKelvey 68 Justin Weldon 69 Shane Meisner 70 Bruce Atkins 71 Tyler Wiegand 72 Seamus Bishof 73 Ed Bier 76 Jason Inks 77 Bryce Gilbert 78 Jorge Vicioso 79 Paul Mancini 80 Donivel Evans Jr. 81 Brock DeCicco 82 Trey Campman 83 Gabriel Diaz 84 Kevin Edwards 85 Matthew Mowad 88 Noah Bertram 89 C.J. Jackson 92 Jemal Averette 93 Karon Gibson 95 Tyler Blaniar 96 Brett Ullman 97 Matt Spegal 98 Derrick Turner 99 Waylon Fink

Pos. FB DL LB LB DL OL DL/LS LB DL LB OL OL OL DL DL OL OL OL OL DL DL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL WR TE WR TE TE DL TE/LS TE DL DL K/P K P DL DL

Yr. Fr. Gr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. R-Fr. Fr. R-Jr. R-Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. R-Jr. Fr. R-So. R-So. Fr. Fr. R-Sr. R-Sr. R-Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Gr. R-Sr. Fr. So. Gr. Gr. R-Fr. So. R-Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Jr. R-So. R-So.

Ht. 5-8 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-1 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-6 6-4 6-0 6-5 6-1 6-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-2 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-5

Wt. Hometown/High School (previous school) 205 Barto/Upper Perkiomen 234 Kingston/Wyoming Val. West (Rhode Island) 205 Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills/Duquesne 210 Accokeek, Md./Northpoint 230 Elizabeth/Elizabeth Forward 275 Pittsburgh/Fox Chapel 250 Coraopolis/West Allegheny 225 Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne 261 Cranberry Twp./Seneca Valley (Akron) 210 Erie/Cathedral Prep 260 Hamilton, Va./Loundon Valley 300 Steelton/Central Dauphin East 260 Lorton, Va./South County 272 Erie/Cathedral Prep 290 Indiana/Indiana (Lackawanna J.C.) 271 Glenmoore/Downingtown East 290 Mountain Top/Crestwood 298 Swoyersville/Wyoming Valley West 270 McKeesport/McKeesport 290 Easton/Easton 260 Greensburg/Hempfield (Rutgers) 260 Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills 290 Whiteford, Md./John Carroll (W.Va. Wesleyan) 280 Newtown/Council Rock North 265 Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan 305 Jefferson Hills/Jefferson Hills 305 Brookfield, Wisc./Central (Wisconsin) 305 Passaic, N.J./Passaic (Rutgers) 295 Bethleham/Bethlehem Central Catholic 170 Murrysville/Kiski Area 250 Jefferson Hills/Thos. Jefferson (Wisconsin) 178 Clearfield/Clearfield 260 Miami, Fla./Wiesbaden 230 Allison Park/North Allegheny 235 Easton/Easton 220 Allentown/Emmaus 230 Gibsonia/Pine-Richland 286 Upper Marlboro, Md./Lady of Good Counsel 285 Sicklerville, N.J./Woodbury (Delaware) 175 Ford City/Ford City 212 Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall 200 Bethel Park/Bethel Park 280 York/Northeastern 234 Greensburg/Greensburg Salem (Buffalo)

BRUCE ATKINS

TREY CAMPMAN

ALI MUHAMMAD

SALATH WILLIAMS

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