WACO, TX – After improving to 3-0 on the season, IUP has moved up one spot to No. 7 in the newest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Monday.
The Crimson Hawks defeated Seton Hill 26-0 in Greensburg on Saturday night despite five turnovers and 286 yards of total offense. Erik Finklea (Cincinnati, OH/Woodward) ran for 76 yards and two touchdowns and Dorian Lane (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) had a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The Crimson Hawks received 581 points in the voting, 66 behind Missouri Western State for sixth. The top five teams remain the same, with Valdosta State earning 29 first place votes to stay atop the poll. Minnesota State-Mankato with a pair of first place votes is second, with Northwest Missouri State third, West Texas A&M fourth and Colorado State-Pueblo fifth. Henderson State (eighth), Grand Valley State (ninth), and Carson-Newman, round out the top 10.
IUP is among three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schools in the top 25, with Bloomsburg coming in at No. 11 and West Chester is 19th.
The Crimson Hawks face their first test of the season as they host rival California (PA) in the fifth annual Coal Bowl on Saturday at 1 p.m. at George P. Miller Stadium.
