IUP 27, Saginaw Valley State 23
November 23, 2002
George P. Miller Stadium ** Indiana, Pa.
NCAA Division II Playoffs -- First Round Game
Brian Eyerman completed 23 of 32 passes for 377 yards, the fifth highest
single game figure in school history, to carry IUP to a 27-23 victory
over Saginaw Valley State in the first round of the NCAA Division II
football playoffs at George P. Miller Stadium.
The win was the 11th in a row for the Indians (11-1) since suffering a
season-opening loss to Findlay and moves them into the Northeast Region
final next Saturday at Grand Valley State. The Lakers advanced with a
62-13 rout of C.W. Post in another first round contest. Saginaw Valley
State finishes the year with a record of 9-3.
In addition to moving on in the playoffs, IUP also avenged one of its
most disappointing defeats in school history. The Indians held a 32-7
halftime lead over Saginaw Valley State in their postseason opener last
season before seeing the Cardinals rally for a 33-32 win.
IUP snapped a three-game losing streak in the playoffs and won at home in
the postseason for the first time since defeating Grand Valley State in
1994. The Indians now own a 15-12 record in the playoffs, all under
17th year head coach Frank Cignetti.
IUP entered the game ranked sixth in the AFCA national poll while Saginaw
Valley State was 14th. Grand Valley State has been the nation’s No. 1
team all season.
Carmelo Ocasio had eight catches for 126 yards for IUP before leaving the
game late in the second quarter with a back injury. LeRon McCoy added
five catches for 116 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown reception with
12:05 remaining in the third quarter that enabled IUP to overcome a 13-6
Saginaw Valley State halftime lead.
Matt LaFleur, playing the final game of a record setting career for the
Cardinals, completed 15 of 26 passes for 217 yards one touchdown. Backup
quarterback Mark Radlinski also had a scoring pass for the Cardinals.
Keath Bartynski rushed 21 times for 127 yards as Saginaw Valley State
compiled 163 yards on the ground while limiting IUP to 76. Overall, the
Indians held a 453-402 advantage while converting 9 of 15 third down
conversions.
The game was tied at 20 before IUP took the lead for good on a six-yard
touchdown run by Aaron Cochran with 13:34 left in the game, capping a
10-play, 65-yard drive. Saginaw Valley State cut its deficit to four on
its next possession, driving 68 yards to IUP 10 before settling for a
27-yard field goal by Eric Houle with 10:15 remaining.
IUP was in position to put the game out of reach on the ensuing drive,
marching from its 15 to the Cardinal two. But Justin Spence fumbled the
ball away, keeping Saginaw Valley State alive.
A sack by IUP defensive end Jamien Harvey on a 3rd and 10 play forced
the Cardinals to punt with 1:23 left, but IUP was unable to get a first
down, and a Brian Burke punt gave Saginaw Valley State the ball at its 38
with 58 seconds left on the clock.
Mike Howard had a big hit on a pass to Ruvell Martin down the middle that
prevented the Cardinals from reaching deep into IUP territory. Saginaw
Valley State did move to the Indian 37, but a final pass from LaFleur to
Bartynski was caught at the 27 as the clock expired.
Josh Telenko kicked two first half field goals for IUP, both from 27 yards
out, but the Cardinals countered with a 35-yard field goal by Houle and a
five-yard pass from Radlinksi to Glenn Martinez, both in the second quarter,
to take a 13-6 lead into intermission.
The Eyerman-to-McCoy hookup tied the game, and Saginaw Valley State gave
the ball right back to the Indians when Damion Bridges fumbled after
catching a shovel pass, and Harvey recovered at the Cardinal 12. Three
plays later, Eyerman threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Pat Liebert to give
IUP the lead back at 20-13 with 8:55 left in the third quarter.
Saginaw Valley State reached the IUP 36, but a Radlinski pass out of punt
formation was picked off by Howard. The Cardinals did tie the game on their
next possession when Martinez hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass down the
Saginaw Valley State sideline to tie the game with 2:43 left in the third
stanza.
IUP has never lost to Grand Valley State in six all-time meetings, including
two in the playoffs. The Indians won by a score of 34-24 in 1989 and 35-27
in 1994. The teams have not met since IUP posted a 28-25 win in Allendale,
Mich., in the 1995 season opener.