MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Millersville was its own worst enemy in Saturday's 42-14 Homecoming to IUP. Capitalizing off of turnovers and special teams play, IUP started six drives inside Millersville territory and scored touchdowns on five of them. 

IUP, now 3-0, went 2 of 9 on third down conversions and totaled just 269 yards of offense but the visiting Crimson Hawks were the benefactors of two interceptions, a Millersville fumble, three personal foul penalties as well as a punt return that started a drive on the Millersville 1. Of IUP's 11 offensive drives, only two began deeper than the IUP 41. IUP scored TDs with drives starting at the Millersville 32, IUP 41, Millersville 22, Millersville 29, and Millersville 1 (twice). 

"Self-inflicted. We're beating ourselves" said Millersville head coach J.C. Morgan. "We are not giving ourselves a legit chance to win a football game because we are beating ourselves. I told (the players) in the locker room that I'd like to see what we could do when we don't hurt ourselves with the mistakes we are making. It's everyone having turns with that across the board. There is talent and ability there. At times today we did some things that we set out to do. But our mistakes are killing drives. Our opponents are getting great field position, and that was the story of the day."

IUP's three second-half scoring drives consumed a grand total of 31 yards. Only one of the six touchdown drives was longer than 32. The miscues started early. On Millersville's second drive, a third-down pass sailed through the hands of a receiver and was intercepted by Ian Amegatcher at the Millersville 32. IUP's Nico Marchitelli connected with Daniel Deabner for 30 yards on the next play, and J.D. Younger rushed in from the 2 one snap later. 

Trailing 14-0 early in the second quarter, Millersville drove to the IUP 19 before stalling, and missing a 40-yard field goal try. IUP missed its own field goal attempt on the ensuing possession, and looking for a spark, Millersville inserted sophomore quarterback Ryan Zeltt into the lineup. On his first play, he was hit in the pocket, causing his pass to flutter short of its target, and landed into the waiting arms of Charles Ingram at the Millersville 22. IUP built a 21-0 lead four plays later. A Millersville unsportsmanlike penalty carried over into the second half, and Cyair Clark took the opening kick 55 yards to the Millersville 29, setting up another score. QB Rob Footman Jr. and Jaheim Morris hand-off at the Millersville 1 mid-way through the period. At the end of the third, the Marauders were again backed up, and a 35-yard punt was returned 39 yards to the Millersville 1, leading to IUP's final score. 

Millersville's offense found some success in the second half. After totaling just 20 passing yards in the first half, turning the ball over on downs and losing a fumble on the first two drives of the third quarter, Zeltt was again inserted into the lineup. He complete a pair of passes, and Jose Lopez and Jaiden Abrams combined for 34 yards rushing on a 75-yard touchdown drive. Lopez scored his first touchdown as a Marauder on a two-yard run. Zeltt quarterbacked an 89-yard touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter, connecting on three passes of 12 or more yards. He found Isaac Sines from 21-yards out to cap the drive. 

Millersville ran 33 plays for 84 yards in the first half and finished the game 315. Zeltt went 10-of-16 for 128 yards and a touchdown. 

"It felt like the move at the time," Morgan said of putting Zeltt into the game. "Ryan is a good quarterback with some qualities we like. It felt like a chance to give him some snaps and see what he could do. He made some throws and made some good decisions, but we all have work to do."

IUP's Marchitelli finished the game 15-of-23 for 181 yards and two touchdowns. The Crimson Hawks were limited to just 2.8 yards per carry on the ground, while Millersville rushed for a season-high 163 yards on 56 carries. Abrams totaled 60 on 12 carries, and Lopez finished with 51 yards on nine carries. 

Despite starting 0-3, Millersville has a chance to start anew as PSAC East play begins with a trip to Lock Haven on Sept. 28. 

"It's a new season," said Morgan. "It's a seven-game season to win the East. In this division a lot of teams can beat a lot of teams. Where we are right now, the focus has to be getting better and giving ourselves a chance. Through three games, we have not done that. I would love to see what we can do when we give ourselves the best chance. Our focus has to be putting together a complete game. Then, the wins will take care of themselves."