INDIANA, PA – De’Antwan Williams (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge) ran for 167 yards and Terrell Holloway (Penn Hills/Penn Hills) had three interceptions as the seventh-ranked IUP football team defeated rival California (PA) 20-7 in the fifth annual Coal Bowl at George P. Miller Stadium on Saturday.
Williams added two touchdowns on the ground as he was named the Coal Bowl’s Player of the Game.
The win by IUP snapped its six-game losing streak to the Vulcans, improving to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division. It was California’s first loss of the year, falling to 3-1, 1-1.
Holloway picked off his first pass of the game on the Vulcans second possession, grabbing a Cody Schroeder pass out of the air after it was tipped by a blitzing Marco Pecora (Johnstown/Richland). Five plays later, Williams ran it in from three yards out to help give the Crimson Hawks a 7-0 lead with just under seven minutes on the clock in the opening quarter.
California then put together a 14-play drive, moving the ball all the way down to the IUP six-yard line with a steady mix of runs and passes. On a third-and-goal, Holloway came up big again as he picked off Schroeder in the end zone to end the threat.
The Vulcans got good field position midway through the second, starting at their own 45-yard line after an IUP punt. A facemask call on the Crimson Hawks and a 23-yard pass play from Schroeder to Kowan Scott gave the Vulcans a first down at the IUP 13-yard line. Five plays later, on a third-and-goal at the IUP six, Holloway made his mark on the game again, wrestling away the ball in the end zone, coming up with his third interception of the game.
The Crimson Hawks started off the third quarter hot, getting a 24-yard rush by Williams followed by an eight-yard carry to get to the California 43-yard line. Three plays later on a third-and-three, Mike Box(Lawrenceville, GA/Collins Hill) connected with Terrill Barnes (Gettysburg/Gettysburg) on a 35-yard catch-and-run for a score, helping to put IUP on top 14-0.
After a three-and-out by the Vulcans on the ensuing drive, the Crimson Hawks drove down to the California 29-yard line. However, a third-and-10 pass by box was picked off by Dewey McDonald and returned 80 yards for a touchdown as the Vulcans narrowed it to 14-7 at the end of the third quarter.
The teams would trade possessions before the Crimson Hawks put together their final scoring drive of the game. Taking over at their own 29-yard line, Box found Barnes for plays of 17 and 13 yards to get into California territory. Williams then went to work, rushing six times on the drive, finishing it off with an untouched, eight-yard score. The point after was blocked, giving IUP a six-point lead.
The Vulcans had two more chances, both ending with interceptions by the IUP defense. Eric Williams (Yardley/Pennsbury) got the first with a leaping pick at the IUP 25-yard line with 2:58 remaining and Pecora got the other with 1:49 left at the Crimson Hawks eight.
The IUP defense forced five California turnovers, all interceptions, and limited the Vulcans to just 205 yards of total offense. Schroeder and his replacement, James Harris, combined to go 13-of-29 for just 130 yards through the air. The Vulcans were also limited to just 75 yards on 28 carries.
Williams 167 yards came on a career-high 38 carries. Erik Finklea (Cincinnati, OH/Woodward) added 21 yards on the ground as the Crimson Hawks finished with 199 rushing yards.
Barnes caught six passes for 96 yards and that touchdown. Drew Carswell (Pittsburgh/Sto-Rox) and Tyler Dummermuth (New Philadelphia, OH/New Philadelphia) added receptions of 26 and 21 yards, respectively. Box finished the day 9-of-13 for 151 yards and a score.
Carl Fleming (Reisterstown, MD/Franklin) returned to the lineup and finished with a game-high 12 tackles. Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) added nine stops, and Jerell McFadden (Manassas, VA/Osbourn)had six.
The Crimson Hawks won the time of possession battle as well, owning the ball for 36:51. They held an advantage of 24:15-5:45 in the second half alone.
IUP will welcome PSAC East foe Millersville (0-4, 0-2) to Miller Stadium next weekend for Homecoming. The school will also honor former coach Frank Cignetti, Sr., as the field will be named after him in a celebration during the game.
