INDIANA, Pa. – The 16th-ranked IUP football program overcame some costly miscues and delivered down the stretch with key plays over the final two minutes in dispatching No. 12 Ashland by a 24-17 count on Thursday night at Miller Stadium.
IUP (1-0) converted the go-ahead touchdown with 1:20 remaining in the contest as redshirt-junior QB Karst Hunter delivered a ball in stride to the 6’3″ graduate wideout Quinn Zinobile for a 46-yard pitch and catch. From there, the Crimson Hawks clamped down defensively once again as redshirt-freshman Noah Johnston dove to collect the game-clinching interception with just 34 seconds remaining.
CLARION 30, LINCOLN 20
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – The Golden Eagle football team held on for victory on the road on Thursday night, as Clarion defeated Lincoln (Pa.) 30-20 at LU Athletics Stadium. Clarion (1-0) built an early three-score lead and was able to make it stand for the remainder of the contest despite a late charge by the Lions.
Clarion struck first, scoring in the first quarter with a key third down throw from Will Alexander to Tony Powell. Facing a 3rd-and-9 on the Lincoln 19-yard line, Powell ran from the left wingback spot down the seam and Alexander hit him with a strike for the first score of the game. Andrew Kurtas booted through the extra point to give the Golden Eagles a 7-0 lead.
CHARLESTON 22, GANNON 13
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In a game that was expected to be a shootout between two-high powered offenses, it was the defenses that dominated most of the action. Unfortunately for Gannon, a great defensive effort was spoiled by a trio of big plays in the fourth quarter.
Charleston rallied for two touchdowns in the final four minutes to hand the Golden Knights a 22-13 loss in the season opener for both teams.
FERRIS STATE 54, MERCYHURST 12
Big Rapids, Mi. – Mercyhurst Football started their season on the road with a tough task as they faced the 2022 NCAA DII Champions, Ferris State. The Lakers came out hot in the early going and commanded the lead in the first, but in the end, fell by a final of 54-12.
