ERIE, Pa. – The Crimson Hawks of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) intercepted four Mercyhurst passes on Saturday afternoon, returned three for touchdowns, and defeated the Lakers 35-14 on Homecoming weekend at Tullio Field. The Lakers saw a ten-game winning streak, longest in program history, come to an abrupt halt as their record dropped to 3-1 overall and to 0-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. IUP improved to 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

The Crimson Hawks were the last team to defeat the Lakers, back on September 27 of last season, when they handed Mercyhurst a 41-7 loss at Indiana. It was the fifth straight loss for the Lakers against their PSAC West rivals after winning two of the first three meetings between the two programs.

The Crimson Hawks drove 70 yards on the game's first possession, but the Lakers' defense stiffened and IUP was held to just a yard on fourth-and-goal from the two. One play later, however, the visitors silenced the Homecoming crowd when sophomore defensive back Takhi Turner intercepted Mercyhurst redshirt senior quarterback Brendan Boylan's pass at the Mercyhurst seven and returned it for a touchdown. Boylan was hit as he attempted to throw. Junior Ryan Stewart converted the extra point.

The lead grew to 14-0 late in the first when IUP drove 61 yards in four plays. The drive was capped by a six-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Lenny Williams to redshirt sophomore tight end C.J. Jackson. Stewart added the point after.  The Crimson Hawks outgained the Lakers 137 yards to 35 in the opening 15 minutes. Mercyhurst also hurt itself with four penalties for 32 yards.

The Lakers settled down on both sides of the ball in the second quarter and put together a nine-play, 98-yard drive which culminated with Boylan's three-yard strike to senior tight end John Matarazzo. It was Boylan's tenth touchdown toss of the season and the third to Matarazzo. Junior Dylan Kondis kicked the extra point. 

Mercyhurst turned the tables on the Crimson Hawks in the second quarter, outgaining them 110 yards to 36. Most of the Mercyhurst damage came in the air as the running attack generated only four yards by halftime.

The second half began promising enough for the Lakers as they drove 44 yards – all via the air - in nine plays before disaster struck again. A Boylan pass was intercepted by IUP senior linebacker Dorian Lane and returned 80 yards for a score with 11:09 to go in the third. Sophomore running back Luigi Lista-Brinza then tallied on a 13-yard run with 6:50 to go in the quarter and the Crimson Hawks stretched their lead to 28-7.

The Lakers showed signs of life again later in the quarter and this time found paydirt on a Boylan-to-senior wide receiver Jaquan Williams 10-yard pass. The 70-yard drive took seven plays and consumed 2:58 of game time. But that was as close as Mercyhurst would get.

The Crimson Hawks sent the crowd home early when Boylan threw his third pick six, this time to junior defensive back Steve Franco, with only 3:25 left. It was Franco's second interception of the day.

The Lakers ran 61 plays, only six fewer than IUP but, unable to get anything going on the ground, were forced to the air 47 times. Boylan finished 25-of-46 for 344 yards and two touchdowns and four interceptions. He did set a school record with his eighth career 300-yard passing effort. Redshirt junior quarterback Zach Emerick relieved Boylan for one play after the Laker starter lost his helmet in the first quarter. Emerick completed his only pass attempt for 13 yards.

Senior wide receiver FJ Williams continued his torrid start the season, hauling in a game-high nine passes for 146 yards. Through four games in a Mercyhurst uniform, the Seton Hill transfer has 26 catches for 512 yards and four scores. Senior Jaquan Williams added six catches for an even 100 yards and a touchdown.

Redshirt senior running back Brandon Brown-Dukes, closing in on the schools' all-time rushing record, was held to a net eight yards in ten carries. Brown-Dukes is now 55 yards shy of the Laker record-holder, Richard Stokes, who amassed 3,381 rushing yards from 2005-08.

For IUP, Williams was an efficient 14-of-23 for 127 yards and a touchdown. Lista-Brinza carried 26 times for 164 yards and a score. The Crimson Hawks amassed 226 yards rushing and had more than nine minutes more of possession time.

Two defensive backs led the Lakers in tackling - both redshirt junior Tarique Ellis and redshirt senior Keith Robinson Jr. were credited with nine.

The Lakers will travel to unbeaten Clarion University (4-0, 1-0 PSAC West) next Saturday, October 3, as PSAC West play continues. Clarion beat Gannon, 47-31, on Saturday. Mercyhurst is 5-2 lifetime against the Golden Eagles but just 1-2 at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.