Top-Ranked IUP's Defensive Pressure Sparks Shutout Win
Top-Ranked IUP's Defensive Pressure Sparks Shutout Win
GRR's #1-ranked men's D2 college team IUP defeated Kent State Saturday 63-0 in a game that was more competitive than the score indicates.
Kent State had multiple scoring opportunities in the first half especially but couldn't quite connect all the dots to make it happen. IUP's superior kicking game and quickness over the ball allowed them get out of some dicey situations, and the Hawks built on that with some excellent defensive pressure in the second half.
Kent State, with flyhalf Luke Kastelic finding some runners out wide, including center Luke Blasko, was able to get into IUP territory early. IUP's discipline suffered and penalties got Kent State in position to score, but a miscue on the second phase gave IUP a reprieve.
IUP continued to be aggressive on defense, trying to take time and space away from Kastelic, and being very quick to poach the ball. And with flyhalf Barry Ashway booming kicks downfield they relieved pressure effectively.
Ashway had a long-range penalty attempt early on that drifted wide, but from the ensuing 22-meter dropout, wing Joey Cosnek fielded the ball cleanly and galloped down the right-hand sideline to score in the corner.
Up 5-0 IUP were shaken when their All-American and captain RJ Beach had to leave the game with a shoulder injury. That shook up their lineup and seemed to shake up the Hawks emotionally as well. They were a little frantic with the ball, but somehow did get into penalty range again. This time the touch judges did not raise their flags, but Kent State's Kastelic overruled them, showing great sportsmanship in informing the referee that the kick was good.
As the first half rolled on IUP started to piece things together.
Kent State was threatening but a jackle by fullback Brian Arnold and a smart kick down the field resulted in a penalty for IUP, a tap, and big lock Colton Moyer was through. As the half ended Kent State was in excellent position to get one back and perhaps garner some momentum, but a penalty in the ruck gave IUP a chance. They tapped it in side their own 22, went wide, and soon were in Kent State territory. A couple of phases later No. 8 Trent Stalling thundered up the middle, and Tyler Johnson's conversion made it 20-0 at halftime.
At this point Kent State were certainly ruing those missed chances. Some better precision in the backline and one more big clearout up front might have made the difference.
The second half did not go well for Kent State. Three times restarts failed to go 10 meters. They didn't get out of their half until about seven minutes to go, and they had all sorts of trouble consolidating possession in trying to get out of trouble.
IUP's first try of the half was indicative of how it all would go. The Hawks defense came up quickly, they stole the ball, and sent it wide quickly to go over. Ashway converted and it was 27-0. Right after that a weak clearance kick from Kent State was punished quite severely by Dan Miller. then an attempted grubber was blocked and one offload later IUP was in again.
Now it was 39-0.
The Hawks defenders ripped the ball free and scored again, once more taking a turnover and sending it immediately to teammates in space. Johnson went over, as did Arnold, and the Hawks kept it up to the tune of 63-0.
For Kent State, flanker Austin Croft was tireless on defense and was physical and active on attack as well. For IUP, Moyer led a strong forward effort, and freshman hooker Vinny Scott was very active and gave his side good go-forward.
The backline adjusted well to the loss of Beach with Johnson running powerful lines and Arnold finding space all over the field—he scored three tries while Joey Cosnek, Dylan McAnulty, Santino Fishchio, Ashway, Layne Walles, Johnson, and Moey scored tries.
