By John Hartsock

jhartsock@altoonamirror.com

The Indiana University of Pennsylvania football team is attempting to reach uncharted waters later this month and become the first team in school history to win an NCAA Division II championship.

“We’ve never won a national title, and that’s our big thing this year — we want to get further than (any team in school history) has ever (gone),” said Johnny Franco, an Altoona native and former Tyrone Area High School and IUP standout who is in his fourth season as a secondary coach with the Crimson Hawks.

Top-seeded and undefeated IUP took the first step toward that goal last Saturday, defeating visiting Assumption, 27-22 in a quarterfinal-round playoff game to earn another home date against fourth-seeded West Florida this Saturday in the semifinals.

The winner of this Saturday’s noon game at George P. Miller Stadium’s Frank Cignetti Field will move on to face the survivor of the other semifinal between Harding College and Texas A&M-Commerce next Saturday, Dec. 16 in the Division II championship game in Kansas City, Kansas.

IUP improved to 13-0 after dispatching of Assumption in a (Super One division) regional championship game that served as a quarterfinal playoff last week.

IUP weathered four turnovers in the game and held on for the victory when the Hawks’ defense batted down a Hail Mary pass by Assumption at the goal line as time ran out.

“We faced some adversity, but we were pretty happy with the way our defense responded,” said Franco, who is coaching IUP’s safeties this season after spending three seasons as coach of the team’s cornerbacks.

IUP reached the NCAA Division II championship game in 1990 and 1993, but lost both times. Saturday will mark the program’s first appearance in the semifinal round since 1999.

Franco said that this team’s success doesn’t come as any surprise.

“This is where we expected to be at this time,” Franco said matter-of-factly. “This wasn’t a surprise. We had a lot of people with a lot of experience coming back, and a lot of key players who transferred here at positions where we had been lacking.”

IUP also has a standout quarterback in redshirt junior Lenny Williams, Jr.

“He’s the best player in the country, in my opinion,” Franco said of Williams, who has completed 206 of 311 passes for 2,703 yards and 30 touchdowns this season while rushing for another 382 yards and a touchdown. “He’s a dual-threat guy who can run and throw. Our offensive line has dominated all year, so we’ve been able to run the ball, and that has opened up the passing game.”

Franco is joined on head coach Paul Tortorella’s IUP coaching staff by his younger brother Stevie, a graduate assistant coach who is working with the defense and handling assignments like putting together the scout team playbook for the IUP players.

“He played with 70 percent of the current players, so he knows how to talk to these guys and he’s a nice go-between guy between the players and coaches,” Johnny Franco said of Stevie, a former all-state quarterback at Tyrone who started for three years as a safety at IUP after transferring there from the University of Akron. “He’s helped us a lot since he’s been in the system for so long.”

Stevie Franco said that he’s happy to be a part of this year’s team.

“There’s a big buzz around here,” Stevie said. “IUP hasn’t been in the Final Four since the 1990s, and there’s a lot of energy. It’s a big thing for me, having played four years here and not having been part of a playoff run like this.

“This is the reason I wanted to come back (as a grad assistant coach),” Stevie said. “I knew how much talent this team had, and how much potential, and to see the players take advantage of that talent and potential and make this run is great to be a part of, and exciting.”

Zack Weaver, a Hollidaysburg Area High School graduate, is a redshirt sophomore on the IUP team who has seen plenty of playing time on special teams.

“He gives his all on special teams and does a great job for us,” Johnny Franco said of Weaver. “He’s one of the hardest workers that we have on the team.”

It’s a team that could take another step toward making history this Saturday.

“We’re all excited about it,” Weaver said of the IUP team reaching the semifinals. “It shows that our hard work and dedication is starting to pay off, but we still have more work to do.”

Johnny Franco knows that all too well.

“Any time you reach the semis, both teams are going to be good, and West Florida is a good team,” Johnny Franco said. “Everybody here is happy about winning the region, but everybody here is focused on what the ultimate goal is.”

IUP fact box

Game: NCAA Division II semifinal playoff game.

Teams: Top-seeded Indiana University of Pennsylvania (13-0) will face fourth-seeded West Florida (10-3).

When: 12:04 p.m. Saturday.

Where: IUP’s Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium.

At stake: Saturday’s winner will advance to the championship game next Saturday, Dec. 16 in Kansas City, Kansas.

TV: This Saturday’s game will be streamed live on ESPN3, WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app.

Notable: IUP is looking for its first-ever Division II national championship after having last reached the semifinals back in 1999. IUP reached the championship game in both 1990 and 1993, but lost both games.