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Friday, November 08, 2002

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

IUP has faced numerous obstacles on the road to the NCAA Division II playoffs, but the biggest could be a rock -- Slippery Rock.

The Indians (9-1, 5-0), who complete their regular season at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Slippery Rock, can clinch their ninth Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division title and secure their 13th trip to the playoffs in Coach Frank Cignetti's 17 years.

IUP has won nine consecutive games since a season-opening, 37-34, loss to Findlay for the school's longest winning streak since 1994. The school record is 13, set in 1993 when IUP was undefeated before losing to North Alabama in the national championship game.

The Rock (6-3, 3-1) is on a roll with a three-game win streak and a solid defense that will challenge IUP's high-octane offense led by quarterback Brian Eyerman, one of 24 regional finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy awarded to the top player in Division II. His 29 touchdown passes this season is a school record and the third most in Division II.

IUP's offense also features wideout Carmelo Ocasio, whose 16 touchdown catches is second in the country, and tailback Elice Parker, a senior transfer from LSU who has rushed for 972 yards and can become the sixth player in school history to reach the 1,000-yard plateau in a season.

Other games

Duquesne (9-0, 6-0 MAAC) at Canisius (2-7, 2-5), 1:30 p.m. -- The Dukes, ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major, can clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and a spot in the ECAC Classic, Nov. 23 at the home of the Northeast Conference champion. The Dukes have won 22 consecutive games against MAAC opponents. They are 6-0 this season, outscoring the opposition, 235-27. ... The Dukes have beaten the Golden Griffins 10 consecutive times, the past three by an average of 50 points. ... Duquesne is one of three unbeaten teams in I-AA, along with Montana (9-0) and Bethune-Cookman (9-0). ... Duquesne is ranked No. 1 in the country in total defense (173.8 yards per game), second in pass defense (102 yards per game) and scoring defense (10.1 ppg), and third in rushing defense (71.8 ppg). ... This is the final home football game for Canisius, which is dropping the program after the season.

Robert Morris (3-5, 2-3 NEC) at Stony Brook (6-2, 4-2), 1 p.m. -- RMU's four-game losing streak is its longest since the formation of the program nine years ago. ... The Colonials have allowed 29 sacks during the losing streak, including six in a 32-7 loss to Albany last week. ... If quarterback Shawn Martin can't play because of a knee injury, freshman Drew Geyer (Deer Lakes) could start. He was 7 of 9 for 161 yards passing against Albany and threw his first collegiate touchdown pass, a 75-yarder to Ricky Daldo, the longest this season for the Colonials. ... The Seahawks have won three consecutive games and are assured of their first winning season since 1996. ... They are still in contention with Albany for the Northeast Conference title and a berth in the ECAC Classic. ... RMU leads the series, 3-0.

St. Francis (1-7, 0-5) at Monmouth (1-7, 1-4), 1 p.m. -- Coming off a 23-16 victory against LaSalle last week that snapped a 30-game losing streak, St. Francis is looking for its first two-game win streak since victories against Bethany and Mercyhurst midway through the 1994 season. The losing streak was fourth-longest in Division I history, behind Prairie View A&M's 80 from 1989-98, Columbia's 44 from 1983-88 and Northwestern's 34 from 1979-82. ... Junior tailback Michael Hall, who rushed for 247 yards and two touchdowns against LaSalle, is NEC Offensive Player of the Week.

Edinboro (3-6, 0-4 PSAC West) at California (6-3, 1-3), 1 p.m. -- John Luckhardt, who returned to coaching this season after a three-year hiatus, has guided the Vulcans to their first winning season since 1987. ... Edinboro has lost six consecutive games, the past three by a combined 14 points.

Newport News Apprentice (5-4) at Washington and Jefferson (6-2), 1:30 p.m. -- No. 14 W&J needs an impressive victory to keep its faint hopes alive for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Carnegie Mellon (5-3, 1-1) at Washington, Mo. (5-4, 3-0), 1 p.m. -- The Tartans will rely on the stingiest defense (16.1 ppg) in the University Athletic Association against first-place Washington. CMU can clinch a 28th consecutive winning season with a win or a tie.