No. 3 IUP Downs West Chester, 44-10, In NCAA 2nd Round

INDIANA, Pa. – Third-ranked Indiana (Pa.) was impressive from the first snap of the ball Saturday en route to a 44-10 victory over West Chester in an NCAA DII Playoff game at George Miller Stadium.
 
West Chester (9-4) could do nothing right while IUP (12-0) did nothing wrong, jumping out to a 30-0 lead by halftime.
 
The No. 3 team in the country looked unbeatable on the opening drive of the game, marching 75 yards on eight plays to take a 7-0 lead. After holding the Golden Rams to a three-and-out on West Chester's first attempt with the ball, IUP drove deep into West Chester territory and kicked a 37-yard field goal to take a 10-0 advantage.
 
Before the West Chester faithful could blink, it was 24-0 early in the second quarter. IUP tacked on a couple of field goals right before halftime, and the route was on 30-0 with the Golden Rams heading into the locker room to lick their wounds.
 
"They outclassed us today," WCU head coach Bill Zwaan said. "They got up on us early and just put their foot on the pedal. They are the kind of team that once they get rolling, it's hard to stop them."
 
West Chester mustered just 38 yards of total offense and only two first downs in that disasterous first half. Sr., WR Tyler Karpinski (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Twp.) caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Paul Dooley (Philadelphia, Pa./Springford-Chestnut Hill) late in the third quarter, and Andrew Chegia (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) kicked a 36-yard field goal. But, it was much too little and way too late in a game dominated by the hosts.
 
IUP advances to the Super Region 1 championship where the Crimson Hawks will host Assumption College (Mass.) next Saturday.
 
Morrissey led the Golden Rams' defense with 15 tackles, 10 unassisted, in the game. He took over the lead in the PSAC in tackles with 137.
 
"They are a good team," WCU linebacker Tyler Morrissey said afterwards. "Last time, they ran stretches, and getting over the top was there. But, today, they were keeping us honest. They allowed (IUP quarterback) Lenny Williams to run the ball, and that really slows down a defense on the backside. They had a very good scheme today."
 
Tyler Karpinski caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Paul Dooley with 3:33 left in the third quarter to finally put West Chester on the board. However, IUP's Lenny Williams followed up with a 52-yard TD pass to Walt Pegues on the Hawks' first play from scrimmage after the Rams' score.
 
"(IUPs) front seven are strong," WCU running back Jarel Elder said. "Things that are there for a lot longer against other teams aren't there for very long against them."
 
West Chester tacked on a 36-yard field goal in the fourth quarter from Andrew Chegia that made it a 44-10 ballgame.
 
Elder finished with 59 yards on 14 carries for the Golden Rams while backup QB A.J. Long led the team with 71 yards rushing on 14 totes. Dooley went 9-for-25 for 111 yards and the one score to Karpinski.