SLIPPERY ROCK — Both teams had more than 500 yards in offense. Both teams scored three touchdowns in the first quarter. Both teams rallied from double-digit deficits.

But single plays on special teams and defense ultimately decided Slippery Rock University's 65-59 Super Region One football championship win over Notre Dame (Ohio) Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The Rock (13-0) will host Minnesota State (13-0) — a 42-21 winner over Texas A&M Commerce Saturday — in a Division II national semifinal at 12:30 p.m. this Saturday. Ferris State (Mich.) hosts West Florida in the other semifinal.

“It really is a shame somebody had to lose this game,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz. “Both teams were taking blows, throwing punches ... There was so much passion on this field today.

“At halftime, I felt like we had it. I really did. And I was wrong to feel that way. Notre Dame proved that.”

The Falcons (12-2) had a 21-7 lead less than six minutes into the game. But SRU scored three touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the first half to take a 49-31 lead into halftime.

After a Jake Chapla field goal hiked that lead to 21, Notre Dame pulled within 59-52 on the fourth of five Chris Brimm touchdown passes with 11:46 left in the game.

“Our guys really fought back,” Falcons coach Mike Jacobs said. “They showed a lot of heart. We knew the caliber of quarterback and team we were up against today.

“They were going to make their share of plays. We had to keep answering.”

The Falcons forced a punt on The Rock's next possession. Chapla's 53-yard boot sailed over the head of a backpedaling Marvelle Ross.

Ross — who returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score earlier in the day — tried making an over-the-shoulder catch of the punt. He muffed it and SRU's Reggie Mays Jr. fell on the ball at the Notre Dame 15.

Six plays later, Rock quarterback Roland Rivers III scored on a 1-yard run for a 65-52 SRU lead with 9:47 remaining. Chapla's PAT was blocked.

Chapla had been struggling with his punts Saturday.

“I was surprised their guy punted the ball that well,” Ross said. “The ball got away from me. It is what it is ... Just move on to the next play.”

Notre Dame responded with Brimm throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jaleel McLaughlin with 6:29 left. SRU's lead was shaved to 65-59.

The Rock was able to chew clock before punting to the Falcons with 1:52 on the clock.

After three incompletions, Brimm dropped back to pass on fourth-and-10. Rock defensive end Chad Kuhn hit him as he threw and the ball popped up in the air.

It landed into the arms of linebacker Shane Schuback at the Notre Dame 42.

“I was blocked on the play and saw the ball just floating in the air above me,” Schuback said. “(McLaughlin) was my responsibility in coverage on that previous touchdown, so it felt so good to grab that ball.”

The Rock killed the clock from there to secure its first semifinal berth since 1998.

“Both teams wanted this and played hard to get it,” Jacobs said. “We didn't make enough plays to win the game. Slippery Rock did.”

Rivers III completed 21 of 28 passes for 383 yards and six touchdowns in the first half. He connected on only six of 19 passes for 53 yards in the second half, but ran for two scores.

“We don't feel any differently (on offense) whether the other team is scoring or not,” Rivers III said. “Our goal is always to score points on every possession. That's the mind-set.”

Henry Litwin, who had a catch in the end zone ruled out of bounds early in the game, wound up with a career-high 12 catches for 203 yards and three scores.

“I thought I had a foot in,” Litwin said of the out-of-bounds play. “Of course, as a receiver, I always feel that way.

“When I saw Jermaine (Wynn Jr.) catch a touchdown pass, I felt like it was my turn. Our receivers have been competing with each other all year.”

SRU will play its third consecutive home playoff game Saturday.

“I love our home field advantage,” Lutz said. “To be seeded ahead of Minnesota State and get to play them here, that's huge for us.

“We certainly didn't want to have to go up to Minnesota at this time of year. Weather-wise, you don't know what you're gonna get.”

Notes: The teams combined for 1,234 yards of offense. ... Rivers III has 50 touchdown passes on the year and has thrown for 852 yards, 10 TDs and no interceptions in two playoff games. ... The Rock is 7-1 all-tine in home playoff games and has won 38 of 41 home games since 2013. ... Litwin has a school-record 92 catches on the season. ... Dalton Holt paced The Rock defense with a career-high 15 tackles. Schuback had 13 tackles, including four TFL's.

Notre Dame (O) 24 7 14 14 — 59

Slippery Rock 21 28 10 6 — 65

First Quarter

ND — Zaire Mitchell 57 pass from Chris Brimm (Tanner Harding kick), 13:50

ND — Jaleel McLaughlin 1 run (Harding kick), 10:13

SRU — Henry Litwin 70 pass from Roland Rivers III (Jake Chapla kick), 9:21

ND — Marvelle Ross 85 pass from Chris Brimm (Harding kick), 9:01

SRU — Jermaine Wynn Jr. 5 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 8:16

SRU — Wynn Jr. 14 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 6:01

ND — Harding 31 field goal, :53

Second Quarter

SRU — Litwin 7 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 10:31

ND — Ross 96 kick return (Harding kick), 10:13

SRU — Charles Snorweah 2 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 7:51

SRU — Snorweah 1 run (Chapla kick), 4:44

SRU — Litwin 22 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), :51

Third Quarter

SRU — Chapla 32 field goal, 10:23

ND — McLaughlin 67 run (Harding kick), 9:11

SRU — Rivers III 1 run (Chapla kick), 5:43

ND — Ross 7 pass from Brimm (Harding kick), :42

Fourth Quarter

ND — Mitchell 19 pass from Brimm (Harding kick), 11:46

SRU — Rivers III 1 run (kick blocked), 9:47

ND — McLaughlin 24 pass from Brimm (Harding kick), 6:29

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Notre Dame, Jaleel McLaughlin 20-126, DJ Greene 8-63, Marvelle Ross 1-3, Chris Brimm 3-(-4). SRU, Charles Snorweah 26-103, Cinque Sweeting 1-8, Roland Rivers III 13-7, TEAM 2-1.

Passing: Notre Dame, Chris Brimm 14-26-36-1. SRU, Roland Rivers III 27-47-436-0.

Receiving: Notre Dame, Zaire Mitchell 5-99, Marvelle Ross 3-108, Jeremy Hamilton 2-93, Jaleel McLaughlin 2-34, Tay Johnson 2-26. SRU, Henry Litwin 12-203, Jermaine Wynn Jr. 7-87, Cinque Sweeting 5-132, Qaadir Dixon 2-12, Braden Fochtman 1-32, Charles Snorweah 1-2.