SLIPPERY ROCK — Shepherd and Slippery Rock engaged in a shoot-out Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The visiting Rams misfired too many times.

The host Rock (12-0) was spot on — especially in the game's final 18 minutes — and came away with a 51-30 NCAA Division II second-round football playoff win. SRU produced a season-high 652 yards offensively.

Quarterback Roland Rivers III and receiver Jermaine Wynn Jr. enjoyed record-setting days and running back Charles Snorweah had a breakout game to fuel The Rock attack.

“Congratulations to Slippery Rock,” Shepherd coach Ernie McCook said. “They showed why they're the top team in our region.

“But there were a few plays out there we'd love to have back.”

Shepherd (10-3) turned the ball over five times. SRU linebacker Shane Schuback recovered two fumbles in the first quarter — one deep in Rock territory — to help his team build a 20-0 lead seconds into the second period.

Linebacker Brad Zaffram also recovered a fumble and linebacker Tim Vernick intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter with 7:30 remaining to foil a Shepherd drive and preserve a two-touchdown lead. Cornerback Tyree Spearman picked off a pass late.

“The turnovers were definitely the difference today,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “We really struggled to stop them. They were beating us in our one-on-one coverage.

“But when they came back, our guys never blinked. This team handles adversity so well.”

Shepherd punted only once all day. A fake 49-yard field goal attempt failed the Rams on the final play of the first half, as did a fake punt from the SRU 38 with Shepherd trailing by seven late in the third quarter.

“I wish we had punted twice instead of once,” McCook said. “Those were poor coaching decisions. And our kicker could have made that 49-yarder.”

Regardless, Shepherd scored on drives of 75 and 65 yards in the third quarter to knot the game at 23. The Rock had taken a 23-9 lead into halftime.

With the score even, The Rock record-breakers went to work.

Rivers III put SRU in front to stay with a 48-yard touchdown strike to Wynn with 2:29 left in the third quarter. Wynn had 18 catches for 229 yards and two TDs on the day.

His 18 receptions broke SRU's previous single-game record of 17 — set by Greg Hopkins in 1992 — and tied the Division II playoff record set by Humboldt State's Chase Krivashei in 2015.

“I know that if I get open, Roland's going to get the ball to me,” Wynn Jr. said. “I was cutting across the middle on a lot of those plays and our line has to give him time to let those plays develop.

“A lot of people have to do their job for our offense to work.”

After Shepherd's fake punt play went awry, Rivers III found Snorweah on a short pass that resulted in a 25-yard touchdown play and a 37-23 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Rivers III threw for 416 yards and four touchdowns in a memorable battle of quarterbacks. Rams sophomore Tyson Bagent threw for 413 yards and four scores, three of them to receiver Devin Phelps.

“If Roland Rivers doesn't win the Harlon Hill Trophy (for top player in Division II), I don't know who does,” Lutz said. “Show me a better football player at this level than him.”

“These are two of the top quarterbacks in the region ... in the country,” McCook said. “Roland is the guy who makes them go, no doubt, but I wouldn't trade our guy for anybody.”

Rivers broke SRU single-season records for total offense (4,449 yards), passing yards (3,825) and pass completions (274). Tanner Garry set the previous completion record of 268 in 2017.

Nigel Barksdale set the previous offensive yardage (4,199) and passing yardage (3,736) marks in 2013.

“It's all about taking what the defense gives us,” Rivers III said. “We just want to compete as a team and make plays.”

Phelps' third touchdown catch — a 67-yard bomb — pulled Shepherd within 37-30 with 13 minutes remaining. Snorweah touchdown runs of 38 and 36 yards, along with Vernick's interception, sealed the win for The Rock.

“We all love Timmy Vernick,” Lutz said of the Butler graduate. “He's not the biggest guy. He's not the fastest guy. But he plays this game with so much heart.

“He's played all year with a sports hernia. He'll need surgery on it after the season. He just guts his way through every game.”

Snorweah wound up with a season-best 163 yards rushing and three total touchdowns. He's been battling a nagging ankle injury much of the season.

“I told the coaches I feel great now, totally healthy,” Snorweah said. “This felt so good today, just being able to contribute in a big way.”

“When I saw him make those cuts downfield on his touchdown runs, I knew he was good,” Lutz said of Snorweah.

Shepherd tallied 528 yards of offense, including 136 yards rushing by Deonte Glover. Phelps had 143 yards receiving to go with his three scores, Rodney Dorsey 129 and a touchdowns.

But the Rams were simply outgunned.

Shepherd middle linebacker Chrys Lane led all defenders with 11 tackles.

“Their skilled people are very, very good,” Lane said of Slippery Rock. “We didn't tackle well enough in open space. They just beat us.”

Notes: SRU hosts Notre Dame (Ohio) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Super Region One title game. Notre Dame (12-1) defeated SRU 21-17 in Cleveland in last year's region final ... SRU is one of four undefeated teams hosting Div. II quarterfinal games Saturday, joining Lenoir-Rhyne (13-0), Ferris State (11-0) and Minnesota State (12-0). ... The Rock is 37-3 in its last 40 home games, 7-1 all-time in home playoff games.

Shepherd 0 9 14 7 — 30

Slippery Rock 13 10 7 21 — 51

First Quarter

SRU — Jermaine Wynn Jr. 8 pass from Roland Rivers III (kick failed), 11:02

SRU — Reggie Mays Jr. 27 pass from Rivers III (Jake Chapla kick), 6:52

Second Quarter

SRU — Rivers III 3 run (Chapla kick), 14:53

S — Devin Phelps 21 pass from Tyson Bagent (kick failed), 11:16

SRU — Chapla 25 field goal, 4:51

S — Hayden August-Scriven 29 field goal, 4:51

Third Quarter

S — Phelps 21 pass from Bagent (August-Scriven kick), 11:32

S — Rodney Dorsey 38 pass from Bagent (August-Scriven kick), 4:13

SRU — Wynn Jr. 48 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 2:29

Fourth Quarter

SRU — Charles Snorweah 25 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 14:00

S — Phelps 67 pass from Bagent (August-Scriven kick), 13:03

SRU — Snorweah 38 run (Chapla kick), 9:34

SRU — Snorweah 36 run (Chapla kick), 5:13

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Shepherd, Deonte Glover 13-136, Devin Phelps 1-6, Christian Etchison 2-4, Rodney Dorsey 1-0, TEAM 1-(-9), Tyson Bagent 3-(-22). SRU, Charles Snorweah 21-163, DeSean Dinkins 9-41, Roland Rivers III 9-33, TEAM 1-(-1).

Passing: Shepherd, Tyson Bagent 30-42-413-2. SRU, Roland Rivers III 31-47-416-0, Jermaine Wynn Jr. 0-1-0-0.

Receiving: Shepherd, Rodney Dorsey 10-129, Dylan Brewer 6-54, Deonte Glover 5-30, Devin Phelps 4-143, DJ Cornish 4-49, Alex Wetzel 1-8. SRU, Jermaine Wynn Jr. 18-229, Henry Litwin 6-89, Charles Snorweah 2-33, Qaadir Dixon 2-27, Cinque Sweeting 2-11, Reggie Mays Jr. 1-27.