Warriors Woeful Against IUP

Senior wide receiver Tim Wilson makes a big catch.Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki Senior wide receiver Tim Wilson makes a big catch.
Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki

By Ronald Hanaki
Sports Editor

Last Saturday, the IUP Crimson Hawks defeated the ESU Warriors 38-14 in a nonconference football game at George P. Miller Stadium.

Two-time Harlon Hill Award candidate Lenny Williams, Sr. went 15-for-20 for 283 passing yards and two touchdowns in leading the Crimson Hawks.

IUP is ranked No. 6 in the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Division II Coaches’ Top 25 poll. IUP was also picked as the favorite to win the West in the PSAC preseason poll.

The Crimson Hawks were dominant in outgaining the Warriors 607 to 223 in total yardage.

The only time ESU led was when redshirt-junior tailback Jaymar Anderson scored a touchdown on a 28-yard run with just under three minutes left in the first quarter to make the score 7-3 Warriors.

The Crimson Hawks took control of the game after that. IUP scored the next four touchdowns to take a commanding 31-10 lead early in the third quarter.

Anderson would score his second touchdown on a 1-yard run later in the third quarter, but IUP would add another touchdown in the fourth quarter to make the final score 38-14 IUP.

Anderson has been a bright spot for the Warriors this season. He rushed the ball 25 times for 151 yards and was the only player to score for the Warriors.

Including the season opener at Fairmont State, Anderson has now rushed for 276 yards in two games for ESU.

Redshirt-senior quarterback Tim DiGiorgio was 8-for-22 for 81 yards and one interception in a dismal performance.

Senior wide receiver Tim Wilson has the pure speed to take the top off a defense. Unfortunately, he caught only two passes for 30 yards in this game.

Overall, ESU’s offense was 1-for-11 in third down conversions and only managed 15 first downs to 30 for IUP.

Defensively, it didn’t matter if the Crimson Hawks traveled by land or by air. ESU’s young defense gave up 324 rushing yards and 283 passing yards.

ESU (1-1) returns to the gridiron for its home opener against Mercyhurst (0-2) this Saturday evening.

Email Ronald at:
rhanaki@live.esu.edu