SLIPPERY ROCK — Mistakes were plentiful all around Saturday afternoon at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

Slippery Rock took advantage. California (Pa.) did not. Toss in a stiff wind blowing all day and it added up to The Rock hanging a 17-3 loss on the No. 14 Vulcans in SRU's homecoming football game.

The victory was SRU's first over California since 2005 and handed The Rock sole possession of first place in the PSAC West with three division games remaining.

SRU (6-1, 4-0) survived five turnovers — four in the first half — on the day.

“Tell me we're going to be plus three in takeaways going in and I'm feeling pretty good,” California coach John Luckhardt said. “But the penalties swayed it.”

The Vulcans were flagged 12 times for 127 yards Saturday and paid dearly for them.

The Rock's defense made sure it didn't pay dearly for two SRU turnovers within the game's first three minutes.

Cody Endres threw an interception on the third play from scrimmage and Cal (5-2, 3-1) had possession at The Rock 36-yard line. SRU's Anthony Saunders recovered a fumble three plays later, however.

But on the next play, the ball was fumbled right back to the Vulcans — who had to settle for a Cody Nuzzo 21-yard field goal after Thomas Mayo dropped a would-be touchdown pass.

“My biggest fear today was falling behind by a couple of scores early,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “Our defense bailed us out there.”

The Rock put together a 17-play, 97-yard scoring drive late in the first half. The drive should have ended near midfield on an Erik Harris interception, but Cal was flagged for roughing the passer on the play.

On fourth-and-1 from the 2-yard line, Mihalik opted to go for the touchdown instead of taking a chip-shot game-tying field goal.

“The field goal was the clear move and I was gonna take it,” Mihalik said. “(Offensive lineman) A.J. Hopp talked me out of it. He said we just drove 95 yards. Let us finish it off.

“That was good enough for me.”

Endres flipped a 2-yard TD pass to Jimmy Zubik — filling in for the injured Akeem Satterfield in The Rock backfield — and SRU had a lead it never lost.

It almost lost it immediately.

California drove 69 yards in the final 1:10 of the half.

“They were moving quickly and had us off balance, back on our heels,” SRU defensive end Jeff Thompson admitted.

Three defensive holding penalties enabled the Vulcans to run six plays from the SRU 10-yard line in the final 30 seconds. On the last, Jeff Knox tried running in from the 1-yard line, only to be stopped by Jack Charles and Quindell Dean.

“The play of the game ... That was a momentum play for the second half,” Mihalik said.

Rock linebacker Zach Sheridan said the defensive unit “never panics in situations like that. We just go play to play.”

“I just didn't feel like a field goal would have done anything for us there,” Luckhardt said. “I made a few decisions today I wish I hadn't. My coaching didn't earn any awards today.”

More frustration hit California in the second half. A third-down incompletion would have forced SRU's offense to go three-and-out early in the third period, but a persional foul penalty on Cal extended the possession. Kurt Brackman capped a 10-play drive with a 35-yard field goal.

Edwin Gowins broke loose for a 73-yard run down to The Rock 6-yard line later in the quarter, but a personal foul penalty wiped that play out. On fourth-and-3 from the SRU 45, the Vulcans turned the ball over on downs.

Three plays later, Geron James caught a 19-yard TD pass and SRU had its 17-3 lead.

“Our kids made some bad decisions on the field. We were too undisciplined out there,” Luckhardt said.

Endres threw four interceptions with a would-be fifth taken away by penalty. He has 11 TD passes and 11 picks this year, with his 1,451 yards passing the most by a Rock quarterback through seven games since James Poldiak in 1993.

“You have to have a short memory at that position,” Endres said. “The wind was rough. We were keeping our pass plays short. They (Cal) made some nice plays.”

Mihalik said the wind dictated how the game was played.

“We stayed with short, intermediate routes and they like to throw the ball downfield,” Mihalik said. “The wind affected the deep throws more. Those balls seemed to sail.”

Notes: SRU is 20-4 in Rock homecoming games under Mihalik. ... Brandon Watters made his 11th career interception in the fourth quarter. ... SRU debuted its black jerseys Saturday, but will only wear them sparingly. ... The Rock used a no-huddle offense all day. “We hadn't moved the ball on them in three years. It was time for something different,” Mihalik said. ... Sheridan led SRU with nine tackles, six solos. ... The Rock travels to Lock Haven Saturday.SRU 17, California (Pa.) 3

California 3 0 0 0 — 3Slippery Rock 0 7 10 0 — 17C SRU19 First Downs 1823-69 Rushes-Yards 31-89204 Passing Yards 14722-53-1 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 22-42-4273 Total Yards 2361-1 Fumbles-Lost 2-112-127 Penalties-Yards 9-62

First QuarterC — Cody Nuzzo 21 field goal, 9:44

Second QuarterSRU — Jimmy Zubik 2 pass from Cody Endres (Kurt Brackman kick), 1:16

Third QuarterSRU — Brackman 35 field goal, 9:07SRU — Geron James 19 pass from Endres (Brackman kick), 2:40

Individual StatisticsPassing: California, Peter Lalich 22-53-204-1. SRU, Cody Endres 11-42-147-4.

Rushing: California, Edwin Gowins 4-47, Lamont Smith 14-40, Jeff Knox 1-0, Peter Lalich 4-(-18). SRU, Jimmy Zubik 21-63, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling 4-27, Kevin Sanders 1-6, Devin Goda 1-3.

Receiving: California, Chedrick Cherry 7-55, Thomas Mayo 6-69, Mike Williams 4-38, Lamont Smith 2-9, Mario Washington 1-8, Blake Williamson 1-20, Josh Gumbert 1-4. SRU, Jimmy Zubik 8-18, Devin Goda 5-48, Kevin Sanders 4-25, Ken Amos 2-36, Geron James 2-20, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling 1-0.