IUP Drops Season Opener to Millersville

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Juan Jones rushed 31 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns to make the head coaching debut of Joe Trainer a success as Millersville raced away from IUP for a 28-9 victory in the opener for both teams at Miller Stadium.

Trainer became the first Marauder coach to win his first game in 82 years.  Millersville snapped a three-game losing streak against IUP and handed the Indians just their third loss in the past 23 home openers.  The defeat also denied IUP head coach Frank Cignetti his 100^th career home victory in his 20-year career at the school.

Millersville won its season opener for only second time in the past six years.  Dating back to the end of the 2004 campaign, the Marauders have won five of their last seven contests.

Dan Csencsitz complemented the Millersville ground attack by completing 11 of 23 passes for 135 yards.  His two-yard touchdown run following a Walt Hawkins interception and 47-yard return to the IUP six gave the Marauders a 7-0 lead just 2:20 into the contest.  Csencsitz did throw two interceptions, both by Mike Reid.

Chris Morgan carried 33 times for 132 yards and the lone touchdown of the evening for IUP.  Andrew Krewatch, a true freshman who won the starting quarterback job last week, hit on just 13 of 35 passes for 155 yards and was intercepted twice.

Millersville built its lead to 14-0 at the outset of the second quarter.  A 32-yard pass from Csencsitz set up a 15-yard scamper on an end around by Omar Sanders.  IUP finally got its offense clicking, marching 69 yards, including 49 on the ground by Morgan, the final seven finding the end zone and pulling IUP to within 14-7 with 4:08 left before halftime.

But the Marauders got a huge break just prior to intermission.  A third-and-goal pass from Csencsitz to Ryan Clift came up two yards short of paydirt, but a roughing the passer call against IUP provided Millersville with an automatic first down at the one.  Jones went in on the next play to make it 21-7 at halftime.

The Marauders put it out of reach on their first possession of the second half, driving 66 yards in six plays, with Jones scoring from 25 yards out with 12:32 left in the third quarter. 

IUP had four more possessions in Millersville territory but were unable to score.  An intentional safety taken by Marauder punter Kyle Hartman with 2:50 left in the game provided the final points.

Millersville last defeated IUP in 2001, a 30-26 upset over the No.2-ranked and undefeated Indians.  The loss was just the ninth in 39 games against the PSAC East for IUP under Cignetti.

Millersville hosts Glenville State in its home opener next Saturday at 1:00.  IUP is off next week before traveling to ninth-ranked West Chester on Sept. 10 at 1:00.