SLIPPERY ROCK - The Slippery Rock University football team has a two-week layoff before its next game.

It can use it.

The Rock coughed up four turnovers, didn't produce a takeaway defensively and saw its 15-game win streak against WVIAC opponents disappear Saturday night with a 24-7 loss to Shepherd (3-0) at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

"It's going to be a very long two weeks," SRU coach George Mihalik said. "We have a lot of work to do."

Saturday's loss dropped The Rock to 0-3 for the first time since 1990. SRU also has surrendered 108 points in its first three games, the second most during that stretch in the program's 107-year history. The 1979 team allowed 116 points in its first three games.

"We lost two fumbles, we threw two interceptions," Mihalik said. "Our defense didn't take the ball away when we had the opportunity and we didn't get any points off our kicking game.

"Those are four reasons why you lose football games."

Ryan Daniel was wide left on a 37-yard field goal attempt with 1:23 left in the first half. He was short on a 47-yard attempt in the second half.

Leading 7-0 in the first quarter, Mihalik decided to go for the first down on fourth-and-5 from the Shepherd 31 rather than have Daniel try a 48-yard field goal.

"Ryan's been struggling. He hasn't been himself," Mihalik said. "He hasn't been kicking the ball well in practice."

The Rock blocked field goal attempts of 27 and 39 yards by Shepherd's Ricky Schmitt. After a Nate Crookshank interception handed the Rams the ball at the SRU 20, the Rock defense forced Shepherd to settle for a 21-yard field goal.

Because of two penalties, Shepherd ran six consecutive plays inside the Rock 5-yard line before taking the three points, which gave the Rams a 17-7 lead with 2:07 left in the third quarter.

"You're always nervous with a 10-point lead - at least, I am," Shepherd coach Monte Cater said. "You're only a score and an onsides kick away from losing it. That happened to us against Shippensburg."

It didn't happen Saturday. Jerome Quinata intercepted a Crookshank pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown with five minutes remaining to seal the victory.

Crookshank has thrown six interceptions in three games.

The sophomore guided The Rock on a 70-yard scoring drive to begin Saturday's game, capping the four-play march with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Paul Favers less than two minutes into the contest.

"After that, we just didn't finish plays. We didn't make plays," Crookshank said. "And you can't win if you turn the ball over like we did.

"The bulk of the turnovers begin with me. That's been a part of my game I have to correct. If I don't, we're not gonna win games."

Leading 7-0, The Rock caught a break when a 38-yard Dervon Wallace touchdown run was wiped out by a Shepherd holding penalty. SRU then blocked Schmitt's 27-yard field goal try, but fumbled the ball back to the Rams after returning it to midfield.

Shepherd put together a 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive to tie the game with 5:04 left in the half. Wallace scored on a 4-yard run.

The Rock responded with a 44-yard drive of its own that ended with Daniel's missed field goal of 37 yards.

Shepherd quarterback Dan Chlebowski connected with Rodney Jackson on a 64-yard bomb, setting up a 1-yard scoring plunge by Wallace on fourth down with three seconds left in the half.

The Rams drove 80 yards in seven plays for the go-ahead points.

"Us not scoring late in the half, then giving up points the other way … That really hurt," Mihalik said.

Dropping a couple of potential interceptions during the game hurt as well.

"We threw a couple of bad passes, but you have to catch the ball," Cater said. "That's part of it. We caught a couple of breaks that way."

Notes:

SRU has dropped three consecutive home openers. … Shepherd has won 10 straight games since dropping a 30-27 decision to The Rock last season. … Corey Manfull had 19 carries for 123 yards for SRU as Josh Kniess saw limited duty because of a sore hamstring. ... SRU lost to a WVIAC team for the first time since 1995 and for just the third time in 24 games under Mihalik … SRU returns to action at 6 p.m. Sept. 24, hosting Lock Haven.