Published: October 12, 2008 12:05 am            

IUP takes big hit with loss

EDINBORO — Trevor Harris threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Gary Nolen with 4 1/2 minutes remaining to lift No. 18 Edinboro to a 24-17 win over No. 16 IUP.

The loss all but eliminates the Crimson Hawks (4-2, 2-2 PSAC West) from playoff contention.

Edinboro, ranked 18th in the nation and sixth in the Super Regional One, improved to 6-1 and 3-1 in the division. The Crimson Hawks, unranked in the region poll last week, must win out and get a lot of help to make the NCAA postseason tournament for the second consecutive year.

Harris, facing fourth-and-7, found Nolen on a short pattern, and Nolen negotiated his way through the IUP defense for the touchdown.

That spoiled a stellar comeback bid by the Crimson Hawks, who scored 17 points in a span of 6:47 in the fourth quarter.

The loss was the first in three games for IUP coach Lou Tepper against the team he coached from 2000-05.

Edinboro led 14-0 at halftime on touchdown runs of 1 and 3 yards by Ulysee Davis and expanded its advantage to 17 on a 39-yard field goal by Merle Bouchat with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter. But the Crimson Hawks then turned to their hurry-up offense and began to move easily through the Fighting Scots defense.

IUP drove 80 yards in just six plays, with Andrew Krewatch throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Lestochi on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The next possession was just as productive. Krewatch completed five passes then used his legs to score from the Edinboro 7 to make it 17-14 with 11:04 left in the game.

Craig Burgess kicked a 36-yard field goal to tie the game with 8:06 left.

IUP’s offense had two more chances after Nolen’s touchdown catch, but turned it over on the first, then saw a drive stall at midfield.

Krewatch completed 22 of 38 passes for 313 yards, with nine completions for 97 yards going to Ken Witter. Krewatch moved ahead of Scott Woods and into fourth place on the IUP career passing yardage list with 6,223 and third place in career completions with 467, 15 ahead of Tony Aliucci. Witter moved up to seventh in career receptions with 122 and ninth with 1,670 receiving yards.

Donta Green and Myke Wells led the defensive effort with 11 tackles.

Harris completed 26 of 36 passes for 290 yards. Nolen had six receptions for 86 yards, including the game-winning touchdown.

        

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