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September 22, 2007
IUP scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams while limiting Millersville to only 141 yards of total offense as the Crimson Hawks coasted to their third win without a loss, a 45-0 shutout of the Marauders at Miller Stadium. IUP, ranked 22nd in the American Football Coaches Association poll, is 3-0 for the first time since 2003 and recorded its first shutout since a 17-0 win over ninth-ranked Shippensburg on October 2, 2004, a span of 29 games. Millersville, which has not scored an offensive touchdown in its first four games, dropped to 1-3. IUP snapped a two-game losing streak to the Marauders. Andrew Krewatch completed 16 of 29 passes for 243 yards and hit Mychal Skinner on a 60-yard scoring pass on the final play of the third quarter. Skinner has two touchdown catches this year and is averaging 51.2 yards on each of his four receptions. Anthony Cellitti led IUP with eight catches for 86 yards, all in the first half. Kareem Dutrieuille scored his fourth and fifth touchdowns of the season, an 11-yard run that opened the scoring just 2:34 into the contest and another 11-yard tally with 5:52 left in the third quarter that gave IUP a 31-0 lead. The Crimson Hawks also scored on the ground when Anthony Guerra, a starting defensive tackle, went in from one-yard out while lining up as a fullback in IUP's short yardage package. IUP's special teams found the end zone on a 52-yard punt return by Akwasi Owusu-Ansah in the first quarter. Ken Evans got the defense in the scoring act when he scooped up a fumble that was forced by Thomas Lindsay and went in from 31 yards out to produce the final margin. The touchdowns were the second of the year for both Owusu-Ansah and Evans. Owusu-Ansah had an 81-yard kickoff return and Evans had a 14-yard fumble return, both in the opener against Cheyney. Matt McNelis hit a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter, tying his career long that was first set against James Madison in the 2004 Division I-AA playoffs while kicking for Lehigh. McNelis and Craig Burgess were both 3-for-3 in extra points, and a missed 37-yard field goal attempt by Burgess is the only misfire by the IUP kicking duo in 26 placement attempts this season. Poohbear McNeal carried only eight times but led the Crimson Hawks with 55 rushing yards. He was followed by Pat McDanel with 52 and Dutrieuille with 42 as IUP rushed for 160 yards as a team and had 414 yards of total offense on the afternoon. Brad Lantz rushed for 124 yards on 27 carries against an IUP defense that led the nation in rushing defense entering the game, allowing an average of just 14.0 yards per game on the ground. But Lantz was the only Marauder who was effective offensively as quarterback Jamal Smith completed only 4 of 15 passes for 16 yards and was sacked three times. Guerra was in on all three sacks, including a solo stop and two assists with Matt Scott. Cosie Spigelmeyer also had a sack while leading the Crimson Hawks with 10 tackles. Brandon Shelton led Millersville with 10 tackles and Dan McClellan starred in the secondary, breaking up four passes. IUP hits the road next week for its PSAC West opener at Slippery Rock beginning at 6 p.m. The Crimson Hawks will be looking to avenge a 21-17 loss to The Rock last season at Miller Stadium, a defeat that likely cost IUP a spot in the playoffs. Millersville is at East Stroudsburg next Saturday for a 1 p.m. game. |
