SLIPPERY ROCK — They don't call it "special" teams for nothing.

That unit produced a special play for Slippery Rock University that was instrumental in The Rock's 24-16 football victory over Gannon Saturday night at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

SRU was clinging to a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter as Gannon faced a fourth-and-6 from The Rock's 32-yard line. Golden Knights coach Jim Kiernan opted to try for a pooch punt rather than a long field goal or the first down.

The result was disaster.

Vinnie DeLuca — not Gannon's regular punter — had his kick blocked by Pat Marsilio. During a scramble for possession 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage, SRU's Robert Doiley scooped up the ball and raced 45 yards for a touchdown with 13:29 left in the game.

"There's no bigger play in a football game than a big play on special teams,"SRU coach George Mihalik said. "That was huge."

It became especially huge when Gannon (2-2, 0-1) drove inside The Rock's 10-yard line on its next two possessions, only to turn the ball over on downs both times.

"Hindsight is always 20-20 and, yeah, now I feel like I should have gone for the first down,"Gannon coach Jim Kiernan said of the ill-fated punt. "More importantly, I should have called a timeout.

"Our kids were shuffling around ... It didn't look like we were ready when the ball was snapped. I should have recognized that, so that play's on me."

Kiernan said he used DeLuca instead of regular punter Evan Euler "because he's left-footed and excels at that rugby-style kick."

"Besides, he's an athlete and has a run-kick opption on that play. If there's an opening or they're not rushing the kick, he can read it and go. But he (Marsilio) came through unblocked. Vinnie never had a chance."

Gannon nearly doubled SRU in first downs (20 to 11) and amassed 463 yards to The Rock's 240. SRU has been outgained by nearly 400 yards the past two weeks, but won both games.

Besides failing to produce touchdowns in the red zone — Gannon settled for three Jeremy Ditzler field goals along with the two missed opportunities late — Ditzler was wide right from 38 yards on a fourth field goal attempt.

SRU's Ryan Webb had an interception for the only turnover of the game for either team.

"One thing this defense has that none other I've played with is the ability to come together as one after a big play is made against us,"Rock defensive end Tyler Boudreau said.

"We realize as a unit that we have to stop them. Just find a way. Most of the time, we did."

Mihalik lauded the way his offense has protected the football in recent weeks as well.

"If you keep ending possessions with a kick, it's a good thing," the coach said. "That means you're either punting, kicking a field goal or an extra point. That's how you win football games."

The Rock (3-1, 1-0) won this football game despite behind held to 75 yards rushing. Jon Richardson had 15 carries for 168 yards and a touchdown for Gannon.

"They were putting eight or nine guys in the box," Rock center and Seneca Valley graduate Brandon Fusco said. "I'd come up into my zone block and I had three linebackers in my face."

Ryan Lehmeier scored two touchdowns for SRU, his first concluding a 50-yard drive on the game's first possession. His second concluded an 80-yard march — highlighted by a 59-yard screen pass to Damarcus Cleckley — in the third quarter after Gannon used just two plays to score after receiving the second-half kickoff.

"When the offense is struggoing, the defense and special teams have its back,"Boudreau said. "When the defense breaks down, the offense has its back ... That's what separates good football teams from the bad.

"We're all in this together."

Notes: Sam Morant paced SRU with 12 tackles. ... The Rock's Anthony Walls had 133 yards in kickoff and punt returns. ... SRUplays its next three games on the road, beginning with a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Mercyhurst.SRU 24, Gannon 16

Gannon 3 3 10 0—16Slippery Rock 7 3 7 7—24G SRU20 First Downs 1142-262 Rushes-Yards 30-75201 Passing Yards 16516-31-1 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 11-25-0463 Total Yards 2400-0 Fumbles/Lost 0-08-60 Penalties-Yards 6-61

First QuarterSRU — Ryan Lehmeier 2 run (C.J. Bahr kick), 12:47G — Jeremy Ditzler 43 field goal, :03

Second QuarterG — Ditzler 21 field goal, 8:51SRU — Bahr 38 field goal, 4:44

Third QuarterG — Jon Richardson 37 run (Ditzler kick), 14:19SRU — Lehmeier 3 run (Bahr ,kick), 11:26G — Ditzler 37 field goal, 7:46

Fourth QuarterSRU— Robert Doiley 45 blocked punt return (Bahr kick), 13:29

Individual Statistics

Passing: Gannon, Zach Boedicker 11-16-113-0, Bob Bartley 5-15-88-1. SRU, Brandon Frohnapple 11-25-165-0.

Rushing: Gannon, Jon Richardson 15-168, Anthony Weaver 15-46, Zach Boedicker 4-36, Kendall Brown 1-14, Mac Reed 4-7, Bob Bartley 3-(-9). SRU, Ryan Lehmeier 16-50, Damarcus Cleckley 9-35, Brandon Frohnapple 2-(-2), TEAM3-(-8).

Receiving: Gannon, Brig Van Etten 3-66, Kendall Brown 3-29, Jacobe Smith 3-13, Evan Twombly 2-50, Jerry Smith 2-13, Carmen Ciampi 1-18, Corey Bradley 1-9, Vinnie DeLuca 1-3. SRU, Josh Prigorac 4-36, Devin Goda 2-36, Justin Guadagni 2-21, Terry Grossetti 2-13, Damarcus Cleckley 1-59.