Other than a win, Paul Tortorella says his IUP Crimson Hawks got what they wanted from their game against Ashland last Thursday.
If nothing else, the Eagles put a spotlight on what the Crimson Hawks need to improve upon, which is something IUP probably wouldn’t have gotten if it had scheduled a cupcake for the season opener.
“In the short term, it might’ve been better to play someone not as good, especially with our young offensive linemen, new quarterback, new offensive system, and new running backs,” Tortorella said Tuesday, five days after the Crimson Hawks opened the season with a 13-9 home loss to Ashland. “But long-term, playing Ashland will make us a better team. We know what we need to work on.”
The main things come on offense, where IUP had one of its worst statistical games in years. The Crimson Hawks, under the guidance of first-year offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr., struggled mightily against an Ashland front six that boasts talent and experience. IUP gained only 206 total yards, including a stunning minus-15 rushing yards, and never reached the red zone (its lone touchdown came on a 55-yard pass and run from Matthew Rueve to Randy Washington).
The Crimson Hawks managed just seven first downs, their fewest in any game in 55 years, since they had six against California in a 14-6 loss on Halloween 1970.
“The mismatch was their (defensive) front against our offensive line,” Tortorella said. “We had three new starters, and if you look at last year, (RT Wyatt) Koval only started the first four games, (C Matthew) Nelson started the last four. So really, we had almost four new starters. Of our top seven linemen, only one had played a lot of football. They had nine guys and two linebackers who’d played a lot. That was the difference.
“We couldn’t run the ball, and once that happened, they teed off on us. That was the issue—couldn’t run it, couldn’t protect. Their strength showed. Everywhere else, I think it was pretty even.”
So it seems the Crimson Hawks’ task this week is to ensure Lock Haven, which comes to town Saturday (4 p.m.) for the annual Hall of Fame Game, does not win the battle at the line of scrimmage when the IUP offense is on the field.
Although the front line has more new faces than veterans, Tortorella said he thinks the unit will gain something positive from playing Ashland, which was picked as the preseason favorite to win the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
“You can’t judge off one game or one series,” he said. “Especially against a good team. If this was game six, I’d expect more. But for game one, some of those guys got thrown to the wolves. That might end up being a good thing. Better to learn now than play someone weak and think you’re better than you are.”
ANOTHER BONUS: Playing Ashland was also a good measuring stick for the rest of the schedule.
“I don’t think we’ll play a better defense than Ashland’s,” Tortorella said. “We’ll face good ones, but I’m not sure they’ll be better. Same with offensive lines and running backs. They’re well-coached, don’t take a lot of penalties, and make you beat them. They look like a team that could do damage in the region. They improved their secondary, added length and size. Their front six is really good. Their defensive end (Michael Shimek) might be the best we’ll face all year. He wrecked the game—three sacks, blocked an extra point, disrupted the run game. He was dominant.”
NO DECEPTION: Teams are required to provide a two-deep chart to each other, and IUP sent its depth chart to Ashland six days before the game. In it, IUP listed starters at a couple of positions that were not reflected by the starters once kickoff came around.
IUP had Kellen McDonough starting at left tackle, Pierce Cannon at right guard, and Ian Amegatcher at field cornerback, but Anthony Shovlin, Tanner Fuchs, and Davon Willie started at those positions. When asked on Tuesday if the changes were part of some gamesmanship between the schools, Tortorella said there was a good explanation for all of it.
“We sent out the depth chart the Friday before the game, but we made final decisions on Tuesday (Sept. 2),” he said.
INJURY UPDATE: Tortorella says the Crimson Hawks are relatively healthy. Defensive end Randy Okungu missed some time in the second half against Ashland because of a full-body cramp, but is expected to be ready for Saturday. Tortorella said a few other players have some minor injuries to deal with, but nothing notable.
There is only one player listed as out for the season with an injury: offensive lineman Kalechi Okoro, who tore his ACL in the first week of preseason camp.
