Gameday Central | Complete Game Notes (PDF) 

PREVIEWS
Hawks Catching Their Second Wind - Matt Burglund, Indiana Gazette
D. Williams Feature - Bob Cohn, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
PSAC Weekly - Head Coach Curt Cignetti interviewed by Todd Bartley (Video)

THE GAME: The Crimson Hawks advance to the quarterfinals of the 2012 NCAA Division II Football Championships as they travel to face Winston-Salem State on Saturday afternoon. IUP moves on after a 17-14 victory at New Haven in the second round while the Rams defeated Shippensburg 37-14 at home last week. IUP enters the Super Region One Championship as the third seed while Winston-Salem is the top seeded school in the region.

ON THE AIR: The game will air live on WQMU-FM 92.5 with Jack Benedict serving as the play-by-play announcer and John Flickinger at his side as the color analyst. The two will be joined by sideline reporter Greg Drahuschak. A special extended version of the pregame show begins at 11:00 a.m. You can also listen live on the internet at RedZoneMedia.com. IUP-TV will again webstream the game live on IUP.NMTVSports.com with commentators Anthony Scherer and Mike Nicastro.

HEAD COACH CURT CIGNETTI: Curt Cignetti (West Virginia, '82) has IUP back into the playoffs in just his second year of a rebuilding plan. After going 7-3 and finishing second in the PSAC West with a 5-2 record in 2011, Cignetti has led the Crimson Hawks to the national semifinals, a 12-1 overall record and a conference championship in 2012. This is Cignetti's 30th year of coaching, with previous stops at Alabama (07-10), NC State (00-06), Pittsburgh (83-84, 93-99) Temple (89-92), Rice (86-88) and Davidson (85). Two of his most notable pupils have been WR Julio Jones at Alabama and QB Philip Rivers at NC State.

THE SERIES: This will be just the second all-time meeting between these two schools, with IUP defeating the Rams 48-0 in the opening round of the 1990 NCAA Division II playoffs.

RANKINGS: The Crimson Hawks finished the regular season ranked 11th in the AFCA coaches poll and 12th by the D2Football.com media poll. Winston-Salem is ranked 2nd by the coaches and 3rd by the media.

PLAYOFFS: IUP is back to the NCAA postseason for the 15th time in program history and first in five years. IUP has an all-time record of 18-14 in the Division II playoffs, advancing to the national championship game in both 1990 and 1993. With six national semifinal appearances (1989-91, 1993, 1994, 1999), IUP has an all-time road playoff record of 8-11. (Full playoff history on page 7)

PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP: For the first time since 1987 (the title game was suspended from 1988-2007), IUP won the PSAC championship with a 41-10 blowout of Shippensburg three weeks ago. IUP has 3 title game wins and 17 PSAC West titles.

HAWK TALK

PLAYOFFS: WHAT'S NEXT... With a win over Winston-Salem, IUP would advance to play either Colorado State-Pueblo or West Texas A&M in the national semifinals on Saturday, December 8 at an undetermined location. The game would be broadcast live on a channel on the ESPN family of networks. IUP has reached the semifinals six times, with the last being in 1999.  

GROUND AND POUND... The Crimson Hawks have one of the best running games in the nation, averaging 269.0 yards per game, 10th in the nation. Their 3,497 net yards this year are a program record, breaking the previous mark of 3,211 set in 1993.

DYNAMIC DUO... IUP boasts arguably the top running tandem in the region, with Sr. RBs Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) and De'Antwan Williams (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge). Both have gone over the 1000-yard mark with Tuck rushing for 1,651 yards and 16 TDs this season while Williams has 1,215 yards and 9 TDs.

TUCK'S TRUCKIN'... Named the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year, Tuck at one point led Division II with an average of 175.5 yards per game before battling an injury. Averaging an impressive 6.3 yds/carry, he's surpassed 200 yards in a game 4 times and was one of 24 original candidates for the Harlon Hill Award.

THE ROCKET... Williams has filled in admirably for Tuck, averaging 133 yards with 3 TDs in the last 4 games. “The Rocket” has hit the 100-yard mark 5 times this year, including 4 straight, and had a career-high 158 on 16 carries against Slippery Rock.

CLUTCH CATCHES... So. WR Salath Williams (Harrisburg, Pa. /Bishop McDevitt) has come up with some big catches over the last 2 games, including a 41-yard catch on 3rd and 3 that led to the go-ahead TD against New Haven. He also had an 18-yard catch on 3rd and 5 against New Haven and a 36-yard catch on 2nd and 7 against Shepherd.

OUT OF THE BOX... Taking over behind center against Cal, Jr. QB Mike Box (Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) is 9-0 as the starter, throwing for 12 TDs and 2 picks since. He had a very productive 5-game stretch, completing 58 pct of his passes (45-77) for 747 yards, while throwing 9 TDs with just one pick. Averaging 16.6 yards per completion, he's completed 11 passes of 25-plus yards over that same 5-game span. 

SILENT DOOM... Having a quiet but productive year is Jr. TE Tyler Dummermuth (New Philadelphia, OH/New Philadelphia), who had the go-ahead 6-yard TD catch against New Haven. He's had 6 catches for 81 yards and 2 TDs in the last 3 games and 13 for 204 yards and 3 scores this season.

BEST DEFENSE IN THE NATION... IUP boasts arguably the best defense in Division II, ranking 1st in the nation in total and scoring defense by allowing 251.69 yards and 11.85 points per game. The Crimson Hawks are 5th in the nation in rushing defense (82.62 per game) and 11th in passing defense (169.08), while also ranking 1st in first down defense (14.46), 9th in pass efficiency defense (99.22) and 11th in turnovers (33).

SUFFOCATING... That IUP run defense hasn't been friendly to opponents, giving up just 82 yards per game this season. Opponents have rushed for over 100 yards just 4 times and have totaled 8 TDs while averaging just 2.6 yards per carry on 410 attempts.

TACKLE MACHINES... The Crimson Hawks own probably the best linebacking corps in the region in Jr. LBs Alexander Berdahl (Ashburn, Va./Bishop O'Connell) and Carl Fleming (Reisterstown, MD/Franklin). IUP's top two tacklers with 98 and 79 stops respectively, Berdahl has 9 TFL and 5 sacks while Fleming has 8.5 TFL.

LINE PLAY... The IUP defensive line has also been dominant as the four starters have combined for 45 TFL and 20 sacks. So. DE Shane Meisner (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield ) leads the team with 14.5 TFL while Sr. DT Carl Thornton (Beaver Falls/Beaver Falls) has a team-high 7 sacks. Jr. NT Akeem Smith (Philadelphia/Frankford) has added 10 TFL and Sr. DE Greg Meisner (Greensburg/Hempfield ) has 9.5 TFL.

QB OF THE DEFENSE... An all-around player and team leader for the IUP defense is Sr. S Johnny Franco (Altoona/Tyrone). One of the nation's leaders with 6 interceptions, he's 3rd on the team with 58 tackles and has 3.5 TFL and 5 passes broken up.

WINNING THE BATTLE... IUP is also one of the top teams in the nation in turnover margin, ranking 2nd in Division II with a +21 this season. Forcing 33 turnovers this year (19 int, 14 fum), IUP has forced 3+ turnovers in a game 8 times, and have forced 13 in the last 5 games.

NOT PASSING FRIENDLY... Giving up just 169 yards a game through the air, IUP has several other talented DBs alongside Franco. Combining for 26 pass breakups and 6 picks is Jerrell McFadden, Terrell Holloway (Penn Hills/Penn Hills), Marvens Toussaint (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Port Charlotte) and Chris Brown (Altoona/Bishop Guilfoyle). Opposing QBs have completed just 48.2 pct. of their passes this year and have thrown for over 200 yards on 3 occassions.

ALL-PSAC... The Crimson Hawks boast 15 PSAC West postseason honorees, including Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti and Offensive Player of the Year Harvie Tuck (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary). Joining Tuck on the 1st team were OTs Byron Dovales (Reading/Muhlenberg) and Dan Matha (Erie/McDowell); OG Nick Carnicella (Greensburg/Hempfield); DT Carl Thornton (Beaver Falls/Beaver Falls); LBs Alexander Berdahl (Ashburn, Va./Bishop O'Connell) and Carl Fleming (Reisterstown, MD/Franklin); DB Johnny Franco (Altoona/Tyrone) and K Brett Ullman (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall). 2nd team recognition went to RB De'Antwan Williams (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge); WR Pat Brewer (Coatesville/Coatesville); C Anthony DiPasquale (Pittsburgh/Pine-Richland); NT Akeem Smith (Philadelphia/Frankford); and DB Jerrell McFadden.

SCOUTING THE RAMS

OVERALL... The winners of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the Rams enter this Saturday with a perfect 12-0 record after defeating Shippensburg 37-14 in the opening round of the NCAA playoffs. Winston-Salem State outscores its opponents by an average of 44.5-15.9 with its closest game being a 28-22 win over UNC-Pembroke in the season opener. This will be just the Rams second game against a ranked opponent this season, with its first being against the Red Raiders last week. 

OFFENSE... The Rams lead the CIAA in total offense, rushing offense and points per game and feature talented QBs in Kameron Smith and Anthony Carrothers. Smith passed for 2778 yards and 39 TDs before he went down in the CIAA title game, also running for 286 yards and 3 scores. Carrothers has been on fire since taking over, throwing for 455 yards and 6 TDs. Whoever is taking snaps will have a trio of dynamic WRs in Jameze Massey, Jahuann Butler and Jamal Williams. Massey and Butler each average over 20 yards per catch on 49 receptions while the three have combined for 36 TDs through the air. RB Maurice Lewis averages 76.0 yards per game on the ground with 11 TDs.

DEFENSE... Winston-Salem boasts a top 10 defense nationally, giving up just over 80 yards per game on the ground. One of the top units in Division II with 39 total takeaways, the Rams have grabbed 21 interceptions, with 3 each coming from DBs Darryl Pulliam, Curtis McGill and Dominique Tate. MLB Mike Fields is by far the team's leading tackler with 87 on the season, notching 6.0 TFL, a pick, and 6 broken up passes. WLB Daniel Mungin makes a lot of plays in the opponent's backfield with 9.0 TFL and 4.5 sacks to go along with 3 forced fumbles. The Rams have 17 fumble recoveries on the year, getting at least 1 from 14 different players. 11 players have combined for the team's 24 sacks.

SPECIAL TEAMS... Massey has been the Rams best returner this year, averaging 21.8 yards on 11 kickoff returns and 20.6 yards on 9 punt returns, including a long of 58. Winston-Salem has not attempted many FGs this year, with Alejandro Suarez hitting 1-3 while Landen Thayer is 1-2. Suarez has handled most of the XP attempts, going 61-67 while Thayer has 14 touchbacks on 90 kickoffs and averages 39.0 yards on 47 punts.