CLARION — Things have been slipping away from the Slippery Rock University football team in recent weeks.

The Rock fell out of contention for a fourth consecutive PSAC West title. Then national playoff contention went away along with SRU's 20-game home winning streak.

Now, even the milk jug isn't coming home.

Kevin Genevro caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Connor Simmons with 1:05 remaining Saturday at Memorial Stadium, handing Clarion a 27-23 upset of The Rock in the annual Milk Jug game.

SRU (5-4, 2-4) had not lost to the Golden Eagles (3-6, 2-4) since 2009, the year before the milk jug was created and given to the winner of the annual rivalry game.

The loss was The Rock's fourth in five games after a 4-0 start to the season.

“This whole thing starts with me. I take ownership of it,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “Our guys are down right now and it's up to me to get them back up.”

Saturday marked a triumphant return for Clarion quarterback Simmons, who had missed the previous three games due to injury. Simmons threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those TD tosses went to Genevro, who caught 11 passes for 196 yards.

“Sometimes he (Genevro) was open by three or four steps,” Lutz said. “Other times, we had him well covered and Simmons did a good job of leading him and putting the ball right on the money.

“The guy is a pinpoint passer and we didn't get to him. He gets rid of the ball quickly.”

The Rock had no sacks in the game. SRU freshman Augustus Necastro played the bulk of the game at quarterback for SRU, throwing for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

“But we couldn't finish drives,” Lutz lamented. “They were 3-for-3 in the red zone, we were 3-for-5 and had to settle for a field goal on one of those. That was the difference in the game.”

Jake Chapla booted a 33-yard field goal to give SRU a 23-21 lead with 10:03 remaining before Simmons guided Clarion on its game-winning 63-yard drive.

Isiah Neely had 38 carries for 170 yards for The Rock, which rushed for 205 yards as a team. Clarion managed just 52 yards on the ground.

“That's the way it goes every week,” Lutz said. “Nobody is running on us. But we have to find a way to defend the pass a lot better.”

Anthony Zappone had an interception for The Rock, but the SRU defense managed only two tackles for loss all day. Kyle Hall and Tony Twillie II led The Rock with six tackles each.

Layne Skundrich and Brandon Vocco had 10 tackles each for Clarion.

SRU closes PSAC West play this Saturday, hosting Seton Hill.

Clarion 27, SRU 23

Slippery Rock 7 7 6 3 — 23

Clarion 7 7 7 6 — 27

SRU C

24 First Downs 19

58-205 Rushes-Yards 22-52

240 Passing Yards 369

17-30-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 22-43-1

445 Total Yards 421

3-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-0

6-83 Penalty Yards 6-43

First Quarter

SRU — Brian McNally 12 pass from Augustus Necastro (Jake Chapla kick), 6:52

C — Matt Lehman 22 pass from Connor Simmons (Phil Esposito kick), 3:37

Second Quarter

C — Greg Leonard 7 pass from Connor Simmons (Esposito kick), 2:35

SRU — Marcus Johnson 71 pass from Necastro (Chapla kick), 2:09

Third Quarter

SRU — Cornelius Raye 30 pass from Necastro (kick blocked), 13:26

C — Kevin Genevro 8 pass from Simmons (Esposito kick), 4:29

Fourth Quarter

SRU — Chapla 33 field goal, 10:03

C — Genevro 7 pass from Simmons (pass failed), 1:05

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SRU, Isiah Neely 38-170, Dontez Rash 9-33, Augustus Necastro 7-11, Nathaniel Musselman 3-8, TEAM 1-(-17). Clarion, Delrece Williams 14-32, Kyle Evans 3-12, Kevin Genevro 1-3, Connor Simmons 1-3, Devin Clark 1-2, TEAM 2-0.

Passing: SRU, Augustus Necastro 14-25-209-1, Nathaniel Musselman 3-4-31-0. Clarion, Connor Simmons 22-43-369-1.

Receiving: SRU, Marcus Johnson 3-94, Cornelius Raye 3-55, Brian McNally 3-33, Leroy McClain 2-18, Carnel Harley 2-16, Isiah Neely 2-14, Drew Scales 2-10. Clarion, Kevin Genevro 11-196, Matt Lehman 4-90, Greg Leonard 4-45, Seneca Williams 2-19, Jaelin DeShields 1-19.