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Wednesday, November 27, 2002

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

How far IUP and Washington and Jefferson travel in the playoffs will be determined this weekend when they embark on long road trips to face two of the country's most potent offenses.

Sixth-ranked IUP (11-1) has an eight-hour bus ride to Allendale, Mich., to play top-ranked Grand Valley State (11-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the final of the Northeast Region of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Grand Valley State averages 47 points and 498 yards of offense per game with a wide-open, well-balanced attack.

No. 24 W&J (9-2) will hop on an airplane for the journey to San Antonio, where the Presidents will meet No. 4 Trinity University (11-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Trinity, which has scored 50 or more points five times, including a high of 66 against Pomona-Pitzer, leads the country with 48.6 points and 529.5 yards per game.

After watching the Tigers on film, W&J Coach John Banaszak offered a one-word answer to describe them, "Speed."

And everyone knows that speed kills.

W&J discovered that the last time they ventured into Texas for a 51-3 loss to Hardin-Simmons in the 1999 playoffs. Although senior quarterback Brian Dawson didn't play because of a broken ankle, the details of that loss are etched deeply in his mind and the minds of the other W&J seniors.

"We were a young, young football team when we went down there," said Banaszak, who was in his first season as head coach. "This team, myself and the coaching staff have come a long way."

The Presidents, making their fourth consecutive appearance in the playoffs under Banaszak, advanced with a 24-10 victory against Christopher-Newport last week.

"Trinity is by far the best team we've seen all year," Banaszak said. "What we have to convince our team is they're beatable. We have to erase all doubt.

"I like our role -- heavy underdog."

IUP finds itself in a similar situation against Grand Valley State, a 62-13 winner against C.W. Post last week.

IUP Coach Frank Cignetti, who has been coaching 16 seasons at IUP and twice has taken the Indians to the national championship game, compares Grand Valley State to the best teams he has faced.

The Lakers returned the core of a team that was national runner-up, led by quarterback Curt Anes, receiver David Kircus and running back Reggie Spearmon.

Anes has completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,897 yards and 39 touchdowns, Kircus has 55 catches for 958 yards and 27 touchdowns, and Spearmon has rushed for 1,216 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 288 yards and three scores.

Cignetti hopes history can repeat itself.

"We beat them in the first round of the 1989 playoffs when they were No. 1 in the country in offense," he said of a 34-24 victory. "For us to win, we've got to play better than any time we've played this year. We're capable of that, believe me."

IUP will be bolstered by the return of three players who were suspended and didn't play in the 27-23 victory against Saginaw Valley State last week -- defensive end Andre Battle, defensive tackle Craig Prince and wide receiver Ben Shaffer.

They were suspended by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Commissioner Steve Murray for their involvement in a postgame melee after a 34-28 overtime victory at Slippery Rock three weeks ago.

Dukes fall to No. 2

Duquesne, which held the No. 1 spot the past seven weeks after a 35-28 victory at Dayton, dropped to No. 2 behind Dayton in the final Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major poll voted on by the media and sports information directors. Dayton (11-1) received 20 of the 30 first-place votes and Duquesne (11-1), a 24-0 loser at Albany in the ECAC Classic, got seven. Albany (8-4) finished third with two first-place votes and Stony Brook (8-2) was fourth with one first-place vote.

Going bowling

California linebacker Kevan Scott and tight end Robin Brown (Penn Hills) will participate in the East Coast Bowl for seniors from NCAA Division II and III schools. The game will be Nov. 30 at Petersburg, Va. Scott led the Vulcans in tackles, and Brown had 15 catches for 143 yards.