The Rock still has goals vs. Gannon

By John Enrietto Eagle Sports Editor

November 05, 2010 Last Updated: November 05, 2010 12:47 PM College

SLIPPERY ROCK Playoff hopes have faded for Slippery Rock University’s football team.

The Rock has plenty left on the table, however, including a shot at a perfect record at home and a potential 8-3 final record.

“8-3 sounds a whole lot better than 6-5,”SRU coach George Mihalik said. “We have to stay motivated, and I think we are.”

SRU (6-3, 3-3) hosts Gannon (5-4, 3-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium. A win then and over C.W. Post the next week would give Slippery Rock its first home unbeaten season since 1999.

The Rock also is trying to avoid its fate from last year, when losses in four of its final five games left it with a 6-5 mark.

”That possibility is right here again,” Mihalik admitted. ”Not even for the program I want us to win these final two games for the guys on this team.”

“We’ve worked hard and we want to finish out headed in the right direction,” he added.

Gannon has those same thoughts in mind.

“You look at Mercyhurst in the West, Kutztown in the East. Those teams are in position to win PSAC titles and they hadn’t been at the top in a while,” Golden Knights coach Jim Kiernan said.

“This league is showing some movement among teams. We want to be one of those teams moving up.”

Gannon and SRU are coming off disappointing losses last week, when neither offense scored a touchdown.

The Rock managed 47 yards of net offense in a 21-13 loss at Mercyhurst. Andre Freemans fumble return was SRUs lone touchdown.

The Knights dropped an 11-10 decision to Clarion. Jeremy Ditzler drilled a 50-yard field goal and Chris Cook returned an interception 100 yards for a score.

Gannon has scored 14 points or fewer in four games. The Rock hasnt scored an offensive touchdown in all three of its losses.

“When we put ourselves in second-and-11 or third-and-8 situations, we dont fare well,”Kiernan said. “Weve been inconsistent on first down, so weve been inconsistent offensively.”

Gannon has converted only 25 percent of its third-down opportunities.

Quarterback Zach Boedicker has rushed for 374 yards and five TDs, and thrown for 1,326 yards and nine scores.

Tyler Batts has 613 yards rushing to go with 22 catches for 189 yards.

“Boedicker is an outstanding athlete and a great competitor,” Mihalik said. “He killed us at their place last year (a 51-48 Gannon win). He made a ton of big plays.”

“I classify them as a big-play offense. If we can prevent that, I think we can win the game,” he added.

SRU running back Akeem Satterfield needs 70 yards to reach 1,000 rushing for the season. He was held to 10 carries for 29 yards at Mercyhurst.

The Rock is 5-0 when Satterfield rushes for 100 yards, 0-3 when he doesn’t.

“Our offense comes down to that,” Mihalik said. “(Quarterback) Ryan Sabo is a redshirt freshman who had no spring camp last year because of injury. We have to be patient with him and appreciate the time it takes to develop at that position.”

Notes: PK C.J. Bahr needs 14 points to move into the top five all-time on the SRU scoring list. ... The last four Gannon-SRU games have been decided by a single score. ... Satterfield is seven TDs shy of Lamonte Colemans single-season record of 21. ... WR Devin Goda needs six receptions to reach 100 for his career.