MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - No. 24 Indiana (Pa.) spoiled Millersville's home opener at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium on Saturday by scoring on each of their first five offensive possessions while also employing a suffocating defense. The Crimson Hawks won 54-0 to improve to 2-0 while Millersville evened its record at 1-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Crimson Hawks showed its balance early, forcing Millersville to a three-and-out and recording a sack on the game's first possession, and on their own first snap, Duane Brown took a sweep 46 yards down the Millersville sideline for a touchdown. That set the tone for the remainder of the game as IUP out-gained Millersville 560-26. The Crimson Hawks rushed for 161 yards and passed for 399. Three different Crimson Hawks scored on the ground while Brown and Cam Turner both caught two touchdown passes.
• The IUP defense held New Haven to 13 points, totaling four forced turnovers and four sacks in week one. Against Millersville, the Crimson Hawks totaled seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Dajour Fisher led the team with two sacks.
• IUP scored four touchdowns in the first quarter, totaling 26 points with 11 first downs and 220 yards offense in the opening 15 minutes. Millersville, meanwhile, was forced to punt on all three possessions. Of IUP's eight scores in the game, six were for more than 23 yards.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH MORGAN
• "We are playing a lot of young players, and we made a lot of mistakes. Against a quality team like IUP, you can't make those mistakes. When we go back and look at the film tonight I think we are going to see some basic fundamentals that we got away from. We have to get that back. It starts with me. I have to do a better job at getting us ready to play. We will get it fixed."
• "We have a lot of football to play. We do have some good football players. We ran into a tough match-up today. For where we are, it is part of our process and our journey. The love I have for (the players) is too big to let this afternoon ruin that. We'll be fine. We have a long way to go but we have an opportunity to play, we are a blessed program and we will keep doing that. We just have to keep our spirits high. I love those guys too much not to give them my best and I trust that they will give the coaching staff their best."
• "The sun shines tomorrow. We talk about playing hard no matter what and not letting this define us."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Millersville's starting quarterback
Collin Shank was knocked out of the game mid-way through the second quarter after a sack and did return for one possession just before halftime. He finished 4-of-11 for 30 yards. Freshman
T.J. Pergine made his collegiate debut, playing the entire second half, and went 2-for-17 with an interception. Freshman
Jon Haynes made the team's longest reception at 22 yards, and redshirt freshman
K.J. Cartwright led the team with two catches.
•
Christian Martir recorded a career-high 11 tackles, forced a fumble on a punt return and also recovered a fumble on IUP's final offensive possession.
Isaiah Onuschak made 10 tackles and two sacks, recording double-digit tackles for the second consecutive game.
NOTES
• Onuschak has three sacks on the season and at least one in each of the first two games.
• Millersville is now 5-15 all-time against IUP with the last win coming in 2001. IUP has won the last seven match-ups.
• IUP has won 11 of the last 13 games it has played against a PSAC East team. Millersville, meanwhile is 25-69-1 all-time against current PSAC West teams.
UP NEXT
• The schedule gets no easier for the Marauders as they travel to No. 11 Slippery Rock on Saturday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
