CLARION — Both teams changed quarterbacks. One thing remained the same.

Slippery Rock University found a way to win a football game at Memorial Stadium.

Relief kicker Kurt Brackman booted three field goals — including the game-winner with 1:41 remaining — and The Rock defense produced two critical interceptions to spoil Clarion's homecoming, 16-13, Saturday afternoon.

The Rock's win was its 11th in the last 12 tries on the Golden Eagles' home field.

Brackman, a junior, filled in for the injured C.J. Bahr and was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts of 23, 22 and 32 yards. Bahr is recovering from a thigh injury.

"He really came up big for us," SRU coach George Mihalik said of Brackman. "Kurt was only cleared Wednesday himself. He'd been battling a hip pointer."

Brackman said he learned Friday that he would be the kicker.

"C.J.'s shoes are pretty big ones to fill. He's very good at what he does," Brackman said. "But I wanted to show today that I'm here when the team needs me."

SRU (4-1, 1-1) had the lead three times Saturday, only to see Clarion (0-5, 0-2) get even on each occasion. The Golden Eagles were looking to square the score again after Brackman's 32-yard boot in the closing minutes.

Despite failing to complete a pass all day until Ben Fiscus found Jacques Robinson for a 4-yard completion with 41 seconds remaining, Clarion faced a third-and-4 from the SRU 44 following that play.

Fiscus threw a pass in the right flat that Rock cornerback Robert Doiley picked off to seal SRU's victory.

"I was anxious to make a play for my team," Doiley said. "They punted the ball away from me all day, they wouldn't throw to my side of the field ... I just wanted to help my team win.

"We're taught to watch for the three-step drop and read the quarterback's eyes. That's all I did."

Fiscus replaced starting quarterback Eric Coxon after the latter was intercepted by Brandon Watters at the Clarion 44 early in the third quarter.

Mihalik then replaced quarterback Ryan Sabo — though temporarily — with freshman Mike Bongivengo behind center. Bongivengo led a 7-play, 44-yard drive, all running plays, for SRU's lone touchdown. Bongivengo scored it himself on a 6-yard run to snap a 3-3 tie.

"We stayed with Mike for another series, then went back to Ryan," Mihalik said. "We just felt we needed a little change of pace there.

"I guess both coaches had the same idea."

Fiscus had thrown only one pass all season for Clarion, but Coxon was 0-for-8 on the day and the Watters' interception was the ninth thrown by the starting QB.

Fiscus wound up rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown while Alfonso Hoggard had 111 yards on the ground.

"I didn't feel like we could afford any more interceptions from our quarterback and Ben gives the game another dimension, that's for sure," Clarion coach Jay Foster said. "He gave us what we wanted.

"He helped put is in position to win this game. We just didn't finish."

Akeem Satterfield led The Rock with 24 carries for 102 yards. SRU had only 25 yards rushing at halftime against the PSAC's worst run defense statistically.

"That was embarrassing," Mihalik said. "I told the guys at halftime they were staring 3-2 right in the face."

SRU returns home for a 6 p.m. kickoff against Edinboro Saturday.

Foster missed practice two days last week as his father died last Saturday.

"We're still working hard. That's all I can ask," he said of his team.

SRU 16, Clarion 13Slippery Rock 3 0 7 6 — 16Clarion 0 3 7 3 — 13SRU C13 First Downs 1534-108 Rushes-Yards 48-271144 Passing Yards 413-23-1 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 1-11-2252 Total Yards 2753-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-08-50 Penalties-Yards 10-78

First QuarterSRU — Kurt Brackman 23 field goal, 7:53

Second QuarterC — Robert Mamula 31 field goal, 1:55

Third QuarterSRU — Mike Bongivengo 3 run (Brackman kick), 9:40C — Ben Fiscus 1 run (Mamula kick), 5:18

Fourth QuarterSRU — Brackman 22 field goal, 8:48C — Mamula 33 field goal, 5:31SRU — Brackman 32 field goal, 1:41

Individual StatisticsPassing: SRU, Ryan Sabo 12-22-137-1, Mike Bongivengo 1-1-7-0. Clarion, Eric Coxon 0-8-0-1, Ben Fiscus 1-3-4-1.

Rushing: SRU, Akeem Satterfield 24-102, Mike Bongivengo 5-14, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling 3-5, Team 1-(-3), Ryan Sabo 1-(-10). Clarion, Ben Fiscus 17-147, Alfonso Hoggard 26-111, Eric Coxon 4-14, Team 1-(-1).

Receiving: SRU, Devin Goda 8-67, Kevin Sanders 2-53, Demetrius Young 2-9, Josh Gardner 1-15. Clarion, Jacques Robinson 1-4.