SLIPPERY ROCK — The scoreboard read 28-21, Shippensburg.

The score creating that final tally was 5-0 — five turnovers by Slippery Rock, none by Shippensburg — Saturday night at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

"Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers,"SRUcoach George Mihalik said. "That's the whole story right there."

The Red Raiders (3-3, 1-0) don't care. Coach Rocky Rees was going to take his 100th win in 17 years at Shippensburg any way he could get it.

"Win No. 3 this year is what's important,"Rees said. "Losing the close games like we have and coming up with the effort needed to win this game — I couldn't be prouder of these kids if we won the national championship."

SRUquarterback Nate Crookshank ran for two touchdowns and threw for another. He also threw three interceptions, all on deep passes, and lost a critical fumble.

With the game even at 21, Crookshank fumbled while scrambling for extra yardage, Shipp's Jason Groller fell on the ball at The Rock's 28-yard line with 4:57 remaining.

On third-and-3 from the SRU8, quarterback Tony Gomez found a lunging Pat Ferguson in the end zone for the go-ahead score with 1:40 left.

Crookshank was sacked twice on The Rock's final possession and his third-and-23 pass was picked off by Jason Stone to seal The Rock's fate.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for SRU(4-2, 1-1).

"This one's gonna hurt,"Mihalik said. "We worked hard to put ourselves in a good position, but we didn't come away with the win to keep it going."

The Rock hurt itself repeatedly.

After both teams scored on their opening possessions, Crookshank was intercepted by James Rockymore, a former SRUdefensive back, who returned the ball to near midfield. That set up an Aaron Dykes 1-yard plunge to give the Red Raiders a 14-7 lead.

SRUanswered with a 67-yard drive, capped by Crookshank's 13-yard touchdown pass to Terry Grossetti, knotting the score with 10:41 left in the half.

The Rock was in position to take the lead before halftime, but Rockymore intercepted Crookshank in the end zone.

"I read the play,"Rockymore said. "A cornerback's head has to be on a swivel there. I knew they were gonna try to score quick."

"There was some sort of miscommunication there between the quarterback and receiver,"said Mihalik, whose team was in field goal range before the interception.

Crookshank scrambled 17 yards for a score on SRU's first possession of the second half as The Rock grabbed the lead. Again, Shipp answered as Walter Crump's 9-yard run capped a 45-yard drive early in the final quarter.

"This was a great game, spectator-wise and player-wise,"Rees said. "It was like Ali-Frazier, standing in the middle of the ring, last one standing wins.

"We were trading punches all night, going for the jaw every time."

Only The Rock might have knocked itself out.

SRU tight end Ross Hornish caught a pass for a first down inside the Red Raiders' 35-yard line, but fumbled at the end of the play and The Rock lost possession with 10:56 left in the game. SRU's next possession ended with the Crookshank fumble.

"Our offense stopped itself tonight,"Mihalik admitted.

Notes:SRU's first five opponents this season have a combined record of 8-15. Shipp's first five opponents are 13-10. ... Slippery Rock High School graduate Travis Sarver had 11 carries for 121 yards, his first collegiate 100-yard game. ... Rockymore had five solo tackles to go with his two interceptions. ... Jared Palmer led The Rock with six solo tackles and five assists. Cory Lacek had 2.5 tackles for loss, giving him 15 for the season. ... SRUtravels to California for a 3 p.m. kickoff this Saturday.Shippensburg 28, SRU21

Shippensburg 14 0 0 14—28Slippery Rock 7 7 7 0—21S SRU19 First Downs 1649-173 Rushes-Yards 32-190128 Passing Yards 14112-21-0 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 18-23-3301 Total Yards 3311-0 Fumbles/Lost 2-211-96 Penalties-Yards 6-53

First QuarterSRU — Nate Crookshank 7 run (Ryan Daniel kick), 12:08SHIP — Aaron Dykes 3 run (Jamie Reder kick), 6:46S — Dykes 1 run (Reder kick), :22

Second QuarterSRU— Terry Grossetti 13 pass from Crookshank (Daniel kick), 10:41

Third Quarter SRU— Crookshank 17 run (Daniel kick), 9:55

Fourth QuarterSHIP — Walter Crump 9 run (Reder kick), 14:01SHIP— Pat Ferguson 9 pass from Gomez (Reder kick), 1:40

Individual Statistics

Passing: Shippensburg, Tony Gomez 11-18-120-1, Gabe Maiocco 1-3-8-0. SRU, Nate Crookshank 18-23-141-3.

Rushing: Shippensburg, Aaron Dykes 25-96, Walter Crump 9-51, Chris Infante 4-17, David Richards 5-13. SRU, Travis Sarver 11-121, Nate Crookshank 12-46, Damarcus Cleckley 8-19, A.J. Saunders 1-4.

Receiving: Shippensburg, Howard Chavous 3-29, Pat Ferguson 3-29, Water Crump 2-22, Tim Devanney 2-22. SRU, Colin Golden 7-48, Luke Wetzel 4-51, Ross Hornish 3-19, Terry Grossetti 2-13, Paul Favers 1-10.