PREVIEW: IUP football set for season opener at Ashland

THE GAME
The IUP soccer program raises the curtain on the 2024 season Thursday night time when it travels to Ashland College for the primary of three consecutive highway journeys to open the marketing campaign. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Jack Miller Stadium at Martinelli Area in Ashland, Ohio. The Crimson Hawks are 4-0 within the all-time sequence in opposition to Ashland.

IUP put an exclamation level on the 2023 season with again to again highway wins to safe this system’s thirteenth consecutive successful season (6-5). Keen to show the web page, IUP incorporates a veteran-laden roster this fall together with eight starters again on offense and 6 extra on the defensive facet together with skilled switch additions. Six All-PSAC choices return and several other extra from 2022 are again within the combine. 

Ashland (9-3, 8-1) received its remaining eight video games final season, marking the second-longest streak in NCAA Division II as the brand new season begins – behind solely 2023 nationwide champion and preseason No. 1 Harding (19 in a row). The Eagles are 63-15 (.808) of their first 15 years (14 seasons) at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Area. 

 
QUICK NOTES/STORYLINES

• IUP has received 22 of its final 25 season openers courting again to 1998. This system has an all-time file of 56-33-3 (.625) within the first sport of a season.
• The Crimson Hawks haven’t misplaced a season opener on the highway to a non-conference opponent since falling to Findlay, 37-34 in 2002. (3-0 since)
• Thursday’s matchup between IUP and Ashland is the second in a four-year scheduling settlement by way of 2026. The Hawks will host the Eagles in 2025 and return to Ashland in 2026.
• IUP seems to be to stay undefeated within the all-time sequence in opposition to Ashland. All 4 earlier matchups have been determined by seven factors or much less.
• Paul Tortorella enters his eighth season as head coach and thirtieth general at IUP. His first head teaching victory got here in opposition to Ashland in 2017.
• Tortorella ranks third on this system’s all-time wins checklist (54), passing former IUP and present Indiana College head coach Curt Cignetti final fall with the season-finale victory over Bloomsburg.
• IUP will open with three straight highway video games for the primary time since 2016. IUP began 3-0 that season and superior to the NCAA Second Spherical.
• Since Tortorella took over this system in 2017, IUP has carried out barely higher on the highway (26-5) than at house (28-11). The Crimson Hawks dropped a number of highway video games final season (3-2) for simply the primary time since 2016 (5-2).
• The Crimson Hawks return their beginning QB (Karst Hunter) for the primary time since 2018.
• Final season, Hunter accomplished 60% of his passing makes an attempt whereas throwing for over 1,500 yards with 16 passing touchdowns and 6 dashing scores, regardless of lacking important time (3+ video games) as a result of damage.
• For his profession, Hunter has thrown a mixed 49 landing passes whereas dashing for 20 touchdowns.
• IUP has been chosen to complete third within the Western Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Convention (PSAC). The Hawks acquired one first-place vote.
• Gerald Comedy, Chad Layton, Cyair Clark and Hilton Ridley are all former All-PSAC honorees on offense.
• On the defensive facet of the ball, three-time all-league choice Darius Bruce is a part of a proficient secondary alongside former All-PSAC choices Kalen Frazier and Jaheim Howard. 

NOTEBOOK

TORTORELLA THIRD IN IUP HISTORY IN WINS 
IUP head coach Paul Tortorella was named the PSAC West Coach of the Yr for 2022, a mirrored image on the general power of this system beneath his management. Teaching his seventieth profession sport within the 2023 season finale in opposition to Bloomsburg and now in his seventh season, Tortorella is 54-16 (.771) general with a 32-10 mark in opposition to PSAC West opponents. His 54 wins on the completion of the 2023 marketing campaign surpassed Curt Cignetti (53) for third place. In his 62nd sport on Sept. 16, 2023, in opposition to Shippensburg, Tortorella develop into the second quickest coach to achieve 50 wins in IUP historical past, behind Frank Cignetti (59 video games). He reached 30 wins sooner than every other IUP coach (35 video games), and has three NCAA playoff berths (2017, 2019, 2022), two PSAC West titles, two PSAC Championships and a regional title. 

IUP IS NO STRANGER TO CLOSE GAMES 
IUP has seen its fair proportion of one-score video games, courting again to the 2021 season. Because the begin of 2021, IUP is 9-6 in one-score video games. IUP was 5-1 in one-score video games two seasons in the past, and now 6-3 for the reason that begin of the 2022 marketing campaign. The opening two matchups of the 2023 season (ASH/ESU) have been determined by a mixed margin of eight factors, whereas the Hawks fell by one rating in three of their 5 setbacks in 2023. 

IUP/ASHLAND SERIES HISTORY 
IUP and Ashland will meet for the fifth time general and simply the second time at Jack Miller Stadium when the 2 area powers kick off the 2024 season Thursday night time. The Crimson Hawks look to stay undefeated within the tightly-contested sequence, which options a mean margin of victory of solely 5 factors. The newest matchup noticed IUP overcome three turnovers and a fourth-quarter deficit for an exciting 24-17 triumph in final season’s opener. It was the biggest margin of victory within the sequence. IUP’s longest move play of the 2023 season was recorded within the Ashland sport, a 74-yard strike from Karst Hunter to Cole Laney to arrange IUP’s landing within the remaining minute earlier than halftime. The primary assembly (26-23 IUP) launched the Tortorella period in 2017 with the Crimson Hawks kicking a game-winning area aim as time expired. The 2 groups additionally met within the 2018 season opener (21-17 IUP) and 2022 Tremendous Area 1 Semifinals (19-13 IUP). 

QUICK GLANCE AT THE 2024 SCHEDULE 
IUP has simply 4 house video games on the schedule in 2024, shedding a sport after Mercyhurst made the soar to NCAA Division I. The Crimson Hawks open the season with three consecutive highway video games, together with a highly-anticipated opener in opposition to Ashland on Thursday, September 5 in Ohio. IUP opens the house slate on Saturday, September 28 with the annual Corridor of Fame Recreation in opposition to Clarion. From there, the Hawks play host to Slippery Rock for Homecoming on October 5 earlier than matchups with Seton Hill (Senior Day; October 19) and Kutztown (PSAC Championship Weekend; November 16). 

ROAD WARRIORS 
IUP has been significantly sturdy on the highway since Tortorella took over as head coach in 2017. IUP boasts a 26-5 (.838) mark in highway video games since 2017. IUP has a pair of undefeated seasons on the highway beneath the course of Tortorella, posting a 5-0 mark in 2017 and 2021. IUP closed the 2023 season with a pair of highway victories at Clarion (39-27) and Bloomsburg (31-0), which clinched this system’s thirteenth consecutive season with an general file above the .500 mark. 

PSAC PRESEASON POLL 
The IUP soccer program slotted third within the Western Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Convention (PSAC) preseason coaches’ ballot, a part of the league’s 2024 digital media day. The Crimson Hawks picked up one first-place vote within the PSAC West.

VETERAN HAWKS TO LEAD IUP OFFENSIVE ATTACK
IUP will depend on its veteran line and sign caller to guide the offense. The Crimson Hawks ranked fifth within the league in scoring offense (26.3) and second in dashing (178.2) final season. IUP is boosted by the return of its beginning QB for the primary time since 2018 in Karst Hunter (6,143 Go Yards, 49 TD, 22 Int; 1,060 Rush Yds, 20 Rush TD). Hunter ranked sixth within the league with 16 passing touchdowns regardless of lacking a number of video games as a result of damage. The South Dakota native ranks tied for second amongst D2 energetic profession leaders in whole TDs liable for (69). All-PSAC honorees Chad Layton (heart) and Gerald Comedy (proper guard) anchor the offensive line unit that returns 4 of 5 starters. Extensive receiver Hilton Ridley (103 Rec, 1,480 Yds, 16 TD), a 6-foot-3 redshirt-senior has hauled in 14 landing receptions over the previous two seasons. Ridley had a breakout efficiency at Seton Hill with a career-high 11 catches for 131 yards final fall. Redshirt senior Adam Houser (61 ATT, 1,198 Yds, 11 Rush TDs) and senior all-league switch Kaleb Monaco (2,172 Rush Yards, 399 Rec Yds, 11 Complete TD) will carry the majority of the load within the floor sport. 

SECONDARY SET TO PLAY PRIMARY ROLE
The IUP secondary incorporates a pair of returning All-PSAC honorees in Darius Bruce and Jaheim Howard with the duo lined up for his or her fourth season beginning collectively. Two-year starter Kalen Frazier additionally returns because the crew’s prime cornerback. The skilled trio will lead a Crimson Hawks unit that ranked second within the PSAC and thirty third nationally in scoring protection final season, permitting 19.7 factors per sport. IUP has saved the opponent scoring common beneath 20 factors per sport in back-to-back seasons. The Crimson Hawks allowed 11 passing touchdowns, the fewest since giving up 9 in 2018, with solely three of these surrendered contained in the pink zone final season. Key contributor Chuck Ingram has shifted to linebacker after showing in all 33 video games over the previous three seasons. Redshirt junior Isaiah Towler (33 profession video games) and redshirt freshman Ian Amegatcher are anticipated to step up into beginning roles. 

KEY TRANSFERS ADDED ON DEFENSE THROUGH THE PORTAL
Regardless of an enormous void left within the linebacker room from shedding main tackler Drew DiNunzio-Bliss and fellow senior Jay Holmes, IUP has added expertise by bringing in Millersville transfers Garrett Cox and Randy Okungu, together with Notre Dame Faculty switch Nathan Rosario-Santos. Cox, who’s a two-time first-team All-PSAC performer, led the league in tackles (114) final yr. He’s a former highschool teammate of Kalen Frazier. Okungu recorded 5.5 sacks for the Marauders final season. Rosario-Santos (67 tackles) is anticipated to develop into a heavy contributor after ramping up from preseason damage. 

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 26-1 SINCE 2011 WHEN THE DEFENSE SCORES A TOUCHDOWN
IUP has one defensive landing this yr – approaching a 21-yard scoop and rating by LB Jay Holmes in opposition to Shippensburg on September 16. The one defensive TD this season mirrors the crew’s output 2021, 2018 and 2014. In each different yr since 2011 the Crimson Hawks have had a number of defensive scores, together with 4 in 2017, 5 in 2016, and 6 in 2015. In 2022, IUP had a pair of defensive scores, together with a blocked punt within the postseason in opposition to Ashland’s first crew offense together with a pick-six at Shippensburg. 

COMEDY AND TORTORELLA NOMINEES FOR AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM
IUP soccer offensive lineman Gerald Comedy and head coach Paul Tortorella are among the many nominees for the 2024 Allstate American Soccer Coaches Affiliation (AFCA) Good Works Workforce. Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce acknowledges school soccer athletes for his or her unwavering dedication to neighborhood service and their “good works” off the sector. Comedy has been a key chief in IUP soccer’s neighborhood service all through his achieved profession, actively concerned socially and throughout the city of Indiana. Comedy and his teammates major neighborhood service initiative was serving to to beautify and clear up the woods at an space close to campus final spring. He has joined the soccer program to help with move-in, studying at numerous elementary colleges in Indiana County and volunteering as an assistant soccer coach as his schedule permits. Tortorella is the one NCAA DII head coach and certainly one of simply 11 head soccer coaches within the nation acknowledged as a Good Works Workforce nominee. The IUP head coach spearheads all neighborhood service initiatives throughout the program, which not too long ago included a cease on the Indiana Regional Medical Middle (IRMC) Wholesome Youngsters’ Camp in late June 2024.

A WINNING TRADITION
IUP has a protracted successful custom with its soccer program, recording 604 whole victories since 1927. IUP has 20 NCAA DII Playoff appearances, probably the most within the PSAC and fourth most all-time. Moreover, IUP is eighth in NCAA DII historical past with 23 playoff victories.

UP NEXT
IUP travels to Lock Haven for its Week 2 contest on Saturday, September 14 for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

FOLLOW
For protection of the IUP soccer program, comply with the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPfootball and on-line at IUPAthletics.com.