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Sept. 20, 2008 IUP scored on offense, defense and special teams in the second half to break open a 7-7 tie, and the Crimson Hawks went on a post a 45-7 victory over Lock Haven in the PSAC West opener for both teams Saturday at Miller Stadium. IUP, ranked 12th in the American Football Coaches Association poll, improved to 3-0 overall while Lock Haven dropped to 0-4. IUP has defeated Lock Haven 27 consecutive times, and the Bald Eagles remained winless in Indiana since 1961. The Crimson Hawks have outscored their first three opponents by a 149-10 margin. A two-yard touchdown run by Ibrahim Smith on the first play of the second quarter proved to be Lock Haven's only points of the game and the lone touchdown surrendered by IUP so far this year, and the Crimson Hawks held the Bald Eagles to just 80 yards in total offense. Lock Haven held the high-powered IUP offense in check during the opening 30 minutes, with an 84-yard touchdown run by Tobias Robinson with 4:45 left in the first quarter providing the Crimson Hawks with more than half of their 158-yard output. Robinson has a pair of touchdown runs longer than 80 yards in two games, adding to his scoring run from 85 yards out in the opener against C.W. Post. The story was markedly different in the second half as IUP scored on four of its offensive possessions and added a defensive and special teams touchdown to turn the game into a rout. The Crimson Hawks took the opening kickoff and went 56 yards in five plays, with Robinson scoring his second touchdown from two yards out with less than two minutes gone in the third quarter to put IUP in front for good at 14-7. Robinson, who entered the game ranked fifth in the nation with an average of 139.5 rushing yards per game, finished with 175 yards on only 18 carries Saturday. As a team, IUP rushed for 246 yards and gained 433 yards in total offense. After Robinson's touchdown, IUP forced a punt and proceeded to march 68 yards on five plays capped by a 13-yard scoring hookup from Andrew Krewatch to Ken Witter to make it 21-7 with 8:52 left in the third quarter. On Lock Haven's next possession, Mark Jackson stripped quarterback Jarryd Burkett of the ball, and Donta Green returned the fumble 55 yards for a touchdown. Following a Ceasar Westbrook interception at the Lock Haven 32, IUP put the finishing touches on its 28-point third quarter on its first play, with Krewatch connecting with Witter to give the Crimson Hawks an insurmountable 35-7 lead after the third quarter. After struggling to find his rhythm in the first half, Krewatch caught fire after halftime and finished the game completing 10 of 20 passes for 165 yards. He was 5 of 7 for 125 yards in the second half. Witter caught four passes for 100 yards and came within one catch of becoming the 13th player in IUP history with 100 career receptions. Witter has 13 touchdown catches in his past seven games. IUP added 10 more points in the fourth quarter on a 35-yard field goal by Craig Burgess and a Westbrook 25-yard touchdown return of a Lock Haven punt that was blocked by Kraig Walker to round out the scoring. Terrence Jackson led the Crimson Hawks with nine tackles while Dale Boston had seven tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage and a sack. Rob Plowman added a second sack for IUP. IUP faces its first real test of the 2008 season Saturday when the Crimson Hawks hit the road to face PSAC West preseason favorite California beginning at noon. |
