Slippery Rock vs. Edinboro football what to know: Much at stake when Rock takes on surprising Fighting Scots squad
SLIPPERY ROCK — No one could have seen this coming.
Slippery Rock University began this football season 0-2 in the PSAC West. Edinboro has not won a share of the PSAC West title since 2005. Yet if Indiana (Pa.) loses at Clarion, the winner of Saturday’s SRU-Edinboro game at Sox Harrison Stadium will be the West Division champion.
Kickoff is at noon in Edinboro.
“I’m a competitor and I want us to get everything we can,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “If we have a chance to play for the PSAC championship, we want that chance. I believe we’re in (the national playoffs) even if we were to lose that championship game.”
The Rock is currently seventh in the Super Region One rankings. The top eight reach the Division II playoffs.
SRU (6-2, 3-2) closes out the West Division portion of its schedule with this game against the surprising Fighting Scots (5-4, 4-1). Edinboro is looking to complete its first winning season since 2018 under first-year head coach Matt Scott.
“Our guys know what’s at stake,” Scott said. “We’ve been fighters all year. If we go out there and lay an egg, they’re going to give it to us pretty good.”
1. No frills Edinboro: The Scots have won three of their last four games, including a six-point win over California (Pa.) and a 22-6 win over Seton Hill despite passing for only 19 yards and amassing less than 200 yards of total offense last week.
Caron Robinson is their leading rusher with 581 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Nico Marchitelli, a transfer from IUP, has throw for 1,515 yards and 10 touhdowns. DaeDae Allen leads the team with 35 catches, but has no touchdowns. Jaret Frantz has 31 catches for a team-leading 402 yards and five scores.
“It’s just been resiliency and toughness,” Scott said of the Scots. “I love the toughness in these kids, how they do what it takes to win. Our quarterback ran 40 yards for a touchdown last week. We scored on defense ... whatever it takes.”
Defensive back Nate Deanes was PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week, making nine solo tackles, forcing a fumble and returning a fumble 70 yards for a touchdown.
“Gino does a lot of things well,” Scott said. “He can zone read, run when he has to, can stay in the pocket and deliver. We play 27 guys on defense. Everyone handles his role well.”
Lutz referred to Edinboro as “a poor man’s Kutztown. Maybe they’re not as talented as Kutztown, but they win the same way. They play sound, disciplined situational football. They don’t make mistakes and they don’t beat themselves.”
2. SRU builds case for defense: Defensive tackle Daniel Tooson, linebacker Tyree Johnson and linebacker Jacob Snow - three starters lost for the season. Linebacker Teddy Gregory Jr. and defensive end Brett Kwoka have missed multiple games due to injury.
Yet SRU’s defense continues to be effective.
“Grant Parker has stepped in at corner and been tremendous for us,” Lutz said. “Nick Frisco and Trever Valenti inside our interior line have been consistent all year. Kanye Thompson has developed into one of the best corners in the region.
“Since stepping in for Snow, who I thought was the best linebacker in the region, Tyler Cain has been exceptional. He keeps piling up numbers.”
Cain stepped in for the injured Snow in Week 5 and has amassed 33 tackles in the last four weeks, including eight tackles and an interception against Clarion last week.
SRU has had 23 players miss games due to injury this season.
“No one’s going to care about that when it’s all said and done,” Lutz said. “It’s either Slippery Rock won or Slippery Rock lost. That’s how I look at it.”
3. Big-play JayJay: SRU running back JayJay Jordan was named PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week against Clarion, running for 176 yards and a touchdown. He has five touchdowns runs of 40 yards or longer and leads the PSAC with 1,167 yards rushing.
He is The Rock’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Wes Hills in 2018. He ranks third in all of Division II with 193.8 all-purpose yards per game.
“Slippery Rock is a powerhouse on offense and it starts with him,” Scott said. “JayJay Jordan is one of those backs you just don’t stop. Their quarterback (DaOne Owens) has improved greatly as the year’s gone on. They’ve become a dual threat.”
“JayJay has great vision, great speed, his cuts are amazing, there’s nothing he can’t do,” Lutz said. “That kid is the total package. I believe he has what it takes to play at the next level.”
