IUP defense saves the day as special teams and miscues almost down the Hawks in opener!

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Greg Ricupero | August 31, 2023

The Crimson Hawks played a very good Ashland team and tried to gift wrap them a win. The defense had other ideas.

The IUP special teams were in a word terrible.

-They muffed the opening kickoff.

-Their first two punts were blocked, the first after a fumbled snap and the second in their own end zone when the punter decided to run sideways before punting, setting up the Eagles first touchdown, a one yard drive.

-They missed a field goal.

-The fumbled and lost a punt return at their own two. The defense came up big and held the Eagles to a field goal.

-They let several punt returns roll.

They had six penalties for 58 yards, one of them a facemask negated a red zone interception and Ashland scored on the next play.

The offense played well at times. 

-They had 366 total yard but turned it over twice, allowed Karst Hunter to be sacked five times and had 163 of those yards on just 3 plays.

But the defense which wasn’t the unit mentioned in the newspaper saved the day.

-They allowed just 17 points despite the Eagles starting two drives inside their two yard line.

-The Ashland offense had just 189 yards and only one play of over 20.

-They held Eagle quarterback Trevor Bycznski to 101 yards passing on 30 attempts and two interceptions(three if not for the penalty)

-They sealed the victory with an interception.

#12 Ashland Eagles              7-0-0-10=17

#16 IUP Crimson Hawks    7-7-0-10=24

I-Derek Lockhart 3 pass from Karst Hunter xp Nick Andrasi (0-7) 3:36

IUP 7-0 3:36 @PaFootballNews @IUPfootball @AshlandFB pic.twitter.com/FHQm2KWARC

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) August 31, 2023

A-Larry Martin 1 run xp AJ Rhodes (7-7) 0:14

After a blocked punt Eagles tie the game 7-7 0:14 @PaFootballNews @AshlandFB @IUPfootball pic.twitter.com/GLuTdYBQmx

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) August 31, 2023

I-Quinn Zinobile 2 pass from Hunter xp Andrasi (7-14) 0:23

IUP scores after 73 yard pass play 14-7 0:23 pic.twitter.com/8mFyHPuih8

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) September 1, 2023

A-Dezmin Lyburtus 8 run xp Rhodes (14-14) 14:14

Eagles tie it at 14! ⁦@PaFootballNews⁩ ⁦@AshlandFB⁩ ⁦@IUPfootball⁩ pic.twitter.com/ggr7GrcNed

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) September 1, 2023

A-Rhodes FG 18 (17-14) 8:12

8:12 to go Eagles 1st lead 17-14 after another IUP miscue @PaFootballNews @IUPfootball @AshlandFB pic.twitter.com/Bxszm20emJ

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) September 1, 2023

I-Andrasi FG 27 (17-17) 4:00

4:00 Tied again @PaFootballNews @AshlandFB @IUPfootball pic.twitter.com/yCrr6z7quS

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) September 1, 2023

I- Zinobile 46 pass from Hunter xp Andrasi (17-24) 1:20

⁦@PaFootballNews⁩ ⁦@IUPfootball⁩ ⁦@AshlandFB⁩ IUP takes 24-17 lead with 1:20 to go! pic.twitter.com/09rnW9pdlY

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) September 1, 2023

Game sealing interception!

IUP will win! @IUPfootball @AshlandFB @PaFootballNews 0:34 pic.twitter.com/poRMVSQ1YQ

— Gregory Ricupero (@GregoryRicupero) September 1, 2023

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