November 8th, 2025 2:00pm
From IUP sports information:
CLARION, Pa. – In a high-scoring thriller Saturday afternoon, the IUP football team outlasted Clarion 45-42 at Memorial Stadium, improving to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in PSAC West play. The Golden Eagles dropped to 6-4 overall and 2-4 in the conference.
Quarterback Matthew Rueve led the Crimson Hawks' offense, completing 30 of 46 passes for 355 yards and six touchdowns, tying his own single-game record. IUP finished with 432 yards of total offense on 67 plays, while Clarion piled up 516 yards on 62 plays.
Clarion jumped ahead early behind a pair of long touchdown runs — a 69-yarder by Anthony Guercio and a 21-yard score from Khalon Simmons — to take a 21-14 lead after one quarter. IUP kept pace with scoring drives of its own, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Connor Shamany and a 27-yard field goal from Nick Andrasi that knotted the score at 28-28 in the third quarter.
Rueve and Shamany connected twice more in the fourth quarter, on passes of 27 and 5 yards, to give IUP a 45-35 lead midway through the final period. Clarion answered with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Ray Jackson, but the Crimson Hawks' defense held firm down the stretch to seal the win.
Devin Whitlock led IUP receivers with 11 catches for 143 yards, while Shamany added six receptions for 98 yards and three touchdowns. Maurice Massey contributed five catches for 55 yards and two scores.
Clarion's rushing attack shined, with Guercio running 19 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns, and Simmons adding 11 carries for 60 yards and two scores.
The Crimson Hawks forced three turnovers, including one interception and two fumble recoveries, to help preserve the victory.
The win gave the Crimson Hawks the PSAC West Championship, and IUP will travel to Kutztown next Saturday to take ont eh Golden Bears for the PSAC Championship.