IUP posted a top 10 finish in 2012 with a record of 12-2 and 6-1 in the PSAC West for a first place finish in the division. Going into 2013, the Crimson Hawks are returning eight starters on offense and seven on defense. With their starting quarterback,a thousand yard running back and wide receiver all coming back, IUP will be looking for a similar fate coming into this season, but with a deeper run in the NCAA tournament.
Here’s a preview of what to look for for the Crimson Hawks in 2013.
PSAC WEST PRESEASON POLL RANKING : 1
OFFENSE
QB – Mike Box – Box played in 14 games last season for the Hawks. He threw for 1,747 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2012. The Crimson Hawks didn’t pass much, but Box threw for over 200 yards on two different occasions last year. He had a 51.87 completion percentage and only threw 4 interceptions while averaging 124.79.
RB – De’Antwan Williams – Williams was ranked as the #76 player in Division II coming into the 2013 season. Williams comes into the 2013 season as the starter, after playing behind standout rusher Harvie Tuck. Last season, both of the backs rushed for over 1,000 yards. Williams played in all 14 games and racked up 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year. He finished with 6 games over 100 yards last season, including five in a row to finish the season. He also hauled in 13 passes for 121 yards. Williams averaged 5.6 yards per carry and 94.6 yards per game. Williams was named to 2012 All-Super Regional 1 and PSAC West second teams. Williams is currently awaiting a decision from the NCAA to see if he will be granted an extra year of eligibility due to an injury he sustained while at Rutgers. He’ll be able to practice with the team until that decision is made.
WR – Terrill Barnes – Barnes was ranked as the #71 player in Division II coming into the 2013 season. Barnes played in all 14 games last season, hauling in 43 passes for 764 yards and 8 touchdowns. Barnes had three games with over 100 yards receiving last season and he caught a touchdown in each of those games. His biggest game of the season came against Shippensburg when he caught 7 passes for 124 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also carried the ball twice for 53 yards in the 41-10 win over Shippensburg.
OL: The Crimson Hawks have three returning starters on the offensive line. All three are seniors. Nick Carnicella, Mike Charmo, Byron Dovales are all returning to bolster an offensive line that helped the Hawks rush for 259.3 yards in 2012. Carnicella has started 35 straight games and Charmo has started 33 of 35 games over the past three seasons. Carnicella was named a 2012 Don Hansen All-American Honorable Mention and named to the 2012 All-Super Region 1 and All-PSAC West first teams.
DEFENSE
LB – Carl Fleming – Flemming was ranked the 33rd best player in Division II football coming into 2013. He was the PSAC Championship MVP last season. He recorded 88 tackles, including 11.5 for a loss, and 2.0 sacks. He also picked off two passes and returned them both for touchdowns, one for 77 yards and one for 40 yards. He posted double digit tackles during three games last season. Flemming was named a 2012 Don Hansen All-American Honorable Mention and named to the 2012 All-Super Region 1 and All-PSAC West first teams.
LB – Alexander Berdahl – Berdahl bolsted the defense for the Hawks last season, registering a team-leading 103 total tackles. Berdahl played in all 14 games last season, recording 10 tackles-for-loss, including 6.0 sacks. He also picked off three passes. He posted double digit tackles in three games in 2012, including 12.0 solo tackles against New Haven in the playoffs. He also had 2.0 sacks in the game. Berdahl was named to the 2012 All-Super Region 1 and All-PSAC West first teams.
DB – Jerrell McFadden – McFadden finished fifth on the team in tackles with 60 tackles. McFadden picked off one pass and recovered two fumbles. He comes back as the third leading tackler on the team, patrolling the secondary for the Hawks. McFadden was named to the 2012 All-PSAC West second team.
DL: The defensive line returns two lineman, including redshirt-junior Shane Meisner who led the team in sacks last season with 8.0. Meisner recorded 59 tackles, with 16.0 of them being for a loss. The other returner is Akeem Smith who recorded 36 tackles and 3.0 sacks. Smith was named to the 2012 All-PSAC West second team.
Photo Credit: IUP Athletics
