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My take on yesterday's game:
* Gannon QB Kory Curtis was phenomenal -- hitting 23 of 28 passes for 342 yards, 4 TDS and 0 picks.
* Both defenses were poor. Gannon knew IUP couldn't run and still couldn't stop the pass. IUP couldn't stop anything.
* IUP's running game, despite the belief of some, is non-existent. Adam Houser's day to shine was a total flop (17 for 62). The others combined for 9 yards on 6 carries). Dayjure Stewart, currently suspended, is by far their best option. But, he hasn't even been running that well of late. JD Younger, who has provided sparks all year, was oddly given just two carries.
* IUP's pass game was superb and played well enough to win the game.
* Nazhir Taylor's incredibly awful roughing the punter penalty -- in my view -- changed the entire game. IUP came out of the half, got the ball, quickly scored and got the 2-pt conversion. Gannon gets the ball back and IUP forced a 3-and-out. The sideline was lively for the first time all day. And, then, of course, IUP whacks the punter for no reason. First down Gannon. Shortly after GU scores. That was the perfect start to the second half IUP needed and due to a stupid, self-inflicted penalty all the momentum was zapped.
* The secondary looked lost all day. It's hard to even grasp what was going on back there without watching the game 3-4 more times. IUP will give up the dink/dunk all day. Every team knows that. Gannon played it perfect. They did it so often in the first half that IUP finally adjusted -- somewhat -- to it. And, then, it was bombs away.
* IUP's pass rush was strong in the first half but vanished after halftime.
* IUP TE Cole Laney had three drops and then a very untimely false start. Somebody outside of Duane Brown and Hilton Ridley has to start contributing to this offense. He was lit up on the third one. But, the first two he has to catch.
* Adam Houser's best run yesterday was to the outside. IUP -- all year -- has continued to call runs up the middle. They just aren't there -- and these backs aren't power backs.
* The silver lining to this is they may come out better on the other side. Most undefeated teams come out better after their first loss. It's a reality check.
* Gannon wanted that game way worse yesterday. That was overly clear to anybody watching. IUP didn't match their intensity and that probably falls on Tort.
* Did the 7-0 start hide some flaws to the average observer? Absolutely. Luckily for IUP, they still control their own fate. Beat Clarion and Slippery Rock will hammer Edinboro. At that point, the Cal/GU game is irrelevant in regard to the State Game. That, of course, has the potential to be another defensive nightmare. But, worry about that when it gets here. There could be two inches of snow.
* So, the game yesterday is either going to linger, or, they'll come out better on the other side.
* Gannon QB Kory Curtis was phenomenal -- hitting 23 of 28 passes for 342 yards, 4 TDS and 0 picks.
* Both defenses were poor. Gannon knew IUP couldn't run and still couldn't stop the pass. IUP couldn't stop anything.
* IUP's running game, despite the belief of some, is non-existent. Adam Houser's day to shine was a total flop (17 for 62). The others combined for 9 yards on 6 carries). Dayjure Stewart, currently suspended, is by far their best option. But, he hasn't even been running that well of late. JD Younger, who has provided sparks all year, was oddly given just two carries.
* IUP's pass game was superb and played well enough to win the game.
* Nazhir Taylor's incredibly awful roughing the punter penalty -- in my view -- changed the entire game. IUP came out of the half, got the ball, quickly scored and got the 2-pt conversion. Gannon gets the ball back and IUP forced a 3-and-out. The sideline was lively for the first time all day. And, then, of course, IUP whacks the punter for no reason. First down Gannon. Shortly after GU scores. That was the perfect start to the second half IUP needed and due to a stupid, self-inflicted penalty all the momentum was zapped.
* The secondary looked lost all day. It's hard to even grasp what was going on back there without watching the game 3-4 more times. IUP will give up the dink/dunk all day. Every team knows that. Gannon played it perfect. They did it so often in the first half that IUP finally adjusted -- somewhat -- to it. And, then, it was bombs away.
* IUP's pass rush was strong in the first half but vanished after halftime.
* IUP TE Cole Laney had three drops and then a very untimely false start. Somebody outside of Duane Brown and Hilton Ridley has to start contributing to this offense. He was lit up on the third one. But, the first two he has to catch.
* Adam Houser's best run yesterday was to the outside. IUP -- all year -- has continued to call runs up the middle. They just aren't there -- and these backs aren't power backs.
* The silver lining to this is they may come out better on the other side. Most undefeated teams come out better after their first loss. It's a reality check.
* Gannon wanted that game way worse yesterday. That was overly clear to anybody watching. IUP didn't match their intensity and that probably falls on Tort.
* Did the 7-0 start hide some flaws to the average observer? Absolutely. Luckily for IUP, they still control their own fate. Beat Clarion and Slippery Rock will hammer Edinboro. At that point, the Cal/GU game is irrelevant in regard to the State Game. That, of course, has the potential to be another defensive nightmare. But, worry about that when it gets here. There could be two inches of snow.
* So, the game yesterday is either going to linger, or, they'll come out better on the other side.
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