Hawks ground Eagles to advance to Super Region One Final!

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Greg Ricupero | November 27, 2022

NCAA Division 2 Football Playoffs

Super Region One Semifinal

#12 (#4) Ashland Eagles (10-1) at #15 (#1) IUP Crimson Hawks

IUP used a swarming defense and a strong running game to end the Ashland Eagles season Saturday 19-13. The Eagles entered the game with one of the nations top rushing attacks and rushing defenses. IUP nearly doubled the yards Ashland allows (172 to 91). The Hawks also held the Eagles to half the yards they usually gain (106 to 212). When you add in a time of possession advantage of 38 minutes to 22, you wonder how IUP didn’t win easily. They didn’t, this was a dog fight that went down to the final play.

The game started like it might to an offensive shootout. There were three touchdowns in the first quarter and five seconds. After forcing a three and out to start the game, IUP went 60 yards in eight plays mixing the run and the pass. The Hawks played the game without leading rusher Dayjure Staewart and a limping Duane Brown. Mak Sexton hit Hilton Ridley(4rec 41yd TD) for the games first score. The extra point was blocked, for the day the kickers were 2 for 5 on conversions.

The Eagles immediately responded by going 75 yards in 10 plays. The last half on a beautiful touch pass from Austin Brenner to Garrett Turnbaugh (7rec 88yd TD). The kick was good and the Eagles led 7-6.

The Crimson Hawks would respond immediately going 73 yards in 9 plays. Sexton hitting Brown (3rec 35yd TD) in the left corner for the touchdown. Again the extra point was no good, this time wide.

The rest of the second quarter saw the defenses making adjustments and forcing some turnovers. All three of the games turnovers occurred in the second quarter. Sexton (14-26 142 yd 2Td 2Int) who was sharp earlier threw two picks. Austin Brenner (18-30 183yd 1Td 1Int) threw an interception too. His pass bounced off a linemen’s helmet and was picked. We went to the lockers 12-7 IUP. The IUP cheerleaders and band had the week off.

The second half was a defensive struggle. IUP controlled the clock behind the rushing of Adam Houser (33rushes 138 yds). The only score in the third quarter occurred when IUP blocked an Ashland punt. The Eagles unorthodox punting formation. The backup quarterback Trevor Bycznski lines up in the shotgun and can either run a play or punt. He isn’t 15 yards deep like a normal punter. Raunya Mitchell broke thru and blocked the punt. Connor Kelly picked up the bal” and raced into the end zone for IUP’s only second half points, but they would be enough.

Ashland’s only scoring drive was an eight play, 87 yard hurry up march capped by Gei’vonni Washington’s (11rushes 48yd TD) touchdown run. The Hawks managed to keep the ball away from the Eagles most of the second half and their defensive line pressured Brenner into throwing incomplete.

Once again IUP came up with an impressive TEAM victory. The Hawks will host Shepherd University in a rematch of the PSAC championship game, which IUP won 24-21 three weeks ago.

Ash  7- 0- 0- 6=13

IUP  6- 6- 7- 0=19

I- Hilton Ridley 6 pass from Mak Sexton xp blk 9:36 (0-6)

A-Garrett Turnbaugh 38 pass from Austin Brenner xp AJ Rhodes 4:33 (7-6)

I- Duane Brown 1 pass from Sexton xp ng 14:55 (7-12)

I- Connor Kelly 25 blocked punt return xp Nick Andrasi 3:52 (7-19)

A-Gei’vonni Washington 9 run xp ng 8:05 (13-19)

Notes-Last Meeting 8/30/2018 IUP 21 at Ashland 17

IUP has agreed to a four game regular season series with Ashland.

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