Published: September 06, 2008 11:56 pm            

IUP blanks C.W. Post in opener

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — IUP scored on three plays of 74 yards or more in posting a 41-0 shutout over C.W. Post in the 2008 season opener Saturday at Hickox Field.

The game was the PSAC debut for the Pioneers and marked the first meeting between the two teams since 1981.

After Craig Burgess kicked a 26-yard field goal to give the Crimson Hawks a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, IUP exploded for three touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 24-0 lead into halftime.

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah got the touchdown parade started with a 74-yard interception return less than two minutes into the quarter, marking the first such IUP touchdown since Garrett Majors brought back a Clarion interception 45 yards for a score in 2005.

The Andrew Krewatch-to-Ken Witter combination which was so successful at the end of the 2007 season picked up where it left off. The two hooked up for scores of 85 and 27 yards just 3:25 apart.

Witter had four catches for 142 yards against the Pioneers on Saturday, while Krewatch completed 13 of 25 passes for 241 yards.

Witter has 44 catches for 630 yards and 10 touchdowns in his past five games dating back to last season.

Tobias Robinson made a successful comeback after missing last season with a broken leg by rushing for 178 yards on 14 carries. He gave the Crimson Hawks a 31-0 lead in the third quarter on an 85-yard touchdown dash, the second longest running play in school history.

        

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