The Indiana University Crimson Hawks football team (9-1) captured their 19th Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Football Championship with a 24-21 victory over Shepherd University (10-1) in the PSAC State Game Saturday, from Indiana, Pennsylvania.
The Hawks took advantage of some rainy conditions and forced a couple of key turnovers for the win while relying on quarterback Mak Sexton who played outstanding earning PSAC Championship Game’s Player of the Game. He finished 16-of-29 for 169 yards and 3 TDs.
Not only was it a huge win for the Crimson Hawks for the championship, but they also knocked off a Top-5 team in No. 3 Shepherd according to the most recent American Football Coaches Association Poll.
The Crimson Hawks struck first with a touchdown just a minute and four seconds into the game with a great drive and score. Shepherd was driving down the field to try and tie the game on the ensuing possession, but quarterback Tyson Bagent’s ball was tipped and intercepted leaving the score at 7-0 in favor of IUP.
IUP would later tally a field goal prior to the half and Shepherd eventually got on the board with 4:25 remaining in the 2nd when Bagent threw a touchdown to Rodney Dorsey. The PAT was good and IUP took a 10-7 lead into the break.
Most of the second half was controlled IUP including a big third quarter. Sexton shined in the third with a couple of touchdown passes with one to Daniel Deabner, and another to Cole Laney. IUP took a 24-10 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Rams eventually made it a game again in the fourth with a pair of scoring drives of their own. Running back Ronnie Brown plunged one touchdown. And they scored another TD with 4:23 remaining in the contest. However, IUP drove down the field eventually taking a knee, holding on for the win, 24-21.
With the win, IUP punches their ticket into the NCAA Tournament, while Shepherd will likely get in, but will have to await their fate as the NCAA Selection Show will be Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
ABOUT THE PSAC
Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 18 institutions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The member institutions are Bloomsburg, California (Pa.), Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Gannon, Indiana (Pa.), Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Mercyhurst, Millersville, Pitt-Johnstown, Seton Hill, Shepherd, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester
Shepherd University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania will meet in the 2022 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship game Saturday, November 12 at 3 p.m., on the campus of IUP in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
The Shepherd Rams will play in their first PSAC Championship game since joining the PSAC in 2019. The Rams are currently ranked third the American Football Coaches Association’s DII Football National Poll.
The Rams are undefeated this year with a 10-0 overall mark and a 7-0 PSAC record. They did have a couple tough battles in the year with a 42-35 win over Kutztown in league play and a big-time overtime win over California (Pa.), 26-23.
Shepherd is the top offensive team in the PSAC averaging 45.3 points per game. They’re led by 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy Winner Tyson Bagent. Bagent surpassed the all-time DII passing touchdown record with his 149th at East Stroudsburg Saturday. This year, he has thrown for 3,265 yards, 33 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
For IUP, they share a the PSAC West regular season crown with Slippery Rock and Gannon, with all three tallying 6-1 records. The Crimson Hawks lost against Gannon last week and bounced back with a 45-0 shutout of Clarion to solidify their chance to play in the State Game.
IUP is tied for 17th in the AFCA Coaches Poll and is looking for its first PSAC Championship Title since 2017 and looking to tie the all-time PSAC football championship record held by West Chester with possibly earning their 19th championship.
The Crimson Hawks will likely be led by one of the best wide receivers in DII in Duane Brown. Brown leads the PSAC In receiving yards and touchdowns with 1,045 yards on 66 receptions and he’s totaled 16 TDs.
The 2022 PSAC Football Championship game will be played Saturday at 3 p.m. at IUP. The game will be broadcasted on the PSAC Sports Digital Network.
Original source can be found here.
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