SLIPPERY ROCK — One play from dismay, then two takeaways saved the day.

Slippery Rock University used three big plays in the final six minutes Saturday to rally past Mercyhurst, 28-21, and clinch the PSAC West football championship at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The Rock (8-1, 6-0) will face Kutztown or C.W. Post on the road in two weeks for the PSAC state title. It will be SRU’s first appearance in the state championship game since 1974.

“Preparation creates luck ... and we were prepared. We found a way to win,” SRU coach George Mihalik said.

SRU surrendered scoring drives of 60, 68 and 70 yards — the first touchdowns allowed defensively at home all season — in falling behind 21-14 with 8:42 left in the game.

On two of those scoring drives, the Lakers gambled on fourth down deep in Rock territory, rather than attempt a field goal. They missed a 31-yard attempt wide left midway through the third quarter.

“We didn’t have our long-snapper today and our kicker (Steve Wakefield) is battling an injury that’s affecting his plant leg,” Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle said. “We were in four-down territory when we stepped on the field for warmups this morning.”

Anthony Vendemia’s 4-yard TD pass to Trevor Kennedy for the go-ahead score culminated a 13-play, 70-yard drive that ate 6:48 off the clock.

“We had time. There was no panic,” Rock quarterback Cody Endres said.

The Rock quickly moved downfield, but faced a fourth-and-12 at the Lakers’ 22-yard line with 5:34 to play.

Endres avoided pressure, threw off his back foot and found Ken Amos beating single coverage in the end zone for the game-tying score.

“I misread the protection and rolled the wrong way,” Endres said. “But I can make throws off my back foot. I’ve done that a number of times.”

SRU has intercepted quarterbacks a number of times this season, as well. On second down from near midfield, Anthony Saunders recorded his team’s biggest pick of the season.

Saunders stepped in front of a Vendemia pass and returned it 59 yards to the Lakers’ 1-yard line with 1:01 left on the clock. Endres scored on a quarterback sneak on the next play.

“I read the pattern. They had run that route earlier,” Saunders said. “I sat back and was in position to make a play on the ball.

“The whole thing happened so fast. It was if I didn’t realize I had even caught the ball until I was tackled on the 1-yard line.”

Saunders received three key blocks as he returned the ball down the left sideline.

“We practice that,” Mihalik said. “It’s an interception drill. Once we get the ball, everybody turns and starts a convoy the other way.”

Mercyhurst (3-6, 1-5) wasn’t done yet. A 33-yard pass to R.J. Miller gave the Lakers a first down at The Rock 35 with 35 seconds remaining. Three plays later, linebacker Jake Wickline picked up his second interception of the day to seal the win.

“(Vendemia) threw that ball from behind his body and that’s a no-no for a quarterback,” Wickline said. “It sailed right to me.

“I was just dropping back, looking for work ... and happened to be in the right spot.”

The loss was Mercyhurst’s fifth in a row and fifth by the margin of a touchdown or less.

“We’re not finishing. It’s mistakes at critical times,” Schaetzle said. “Instead of taking advantage of opportunities to win, we’re giving the opposition opportunities to beat us.”

Notes: The Rock had not won the PSAC West since 2000 and can win it outright with a win at Gannon Saturday. ... Kennedy and Devin Goda, arguably the top-two receivers in the PSAC, had two touchdowns each. ... Endres has 18 TD passes, tying Tim Nunes (1972) for fifth-most in one season by a Rock QB. ... Rock RB Akeem Satterfield missed his third straight game with a knee injury. ... SRU has 15 interceptions on the year.SRU 28, Mercyhurst 21

Mercyhurst 7 7 0 7 — 21Slippery Rock 0 14 0 14 — 28M SRU19 First Downs 1832-103 Rushes-Yards 24-66255 Passing Yards 19523-37-3 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 17-29-1358 Total Yards 2610-0 Fumbles-Lost 0-09-71 Penalties-Yards 4-40

First QuarterM — Richie Sanders 1 run (Steve Wakefield kick), 5:27

Second QuarterSRU — Devin Goda 12 pass from Cody Endres (Kurt Brackman kick), 14:17SRU — Goda 17 pass from Endres (Brackman kick), 5:15M — Trevor Kennedy 11 pass from Anthony Vendemia (Wakefield kick), :29

Fourth QuarterM — Kennedy 4 pass from Vendemia (Wakefield kick), 8:42SRU — Ken Amos 22 pass from Endres (Brackman kick), 5:27SRU — Endres 1 run (Brackman kick), :57

Individual StatisticsPassing: Mercyhurst, Anthony Vendemia 22-36-209-3, Trevor Kennedy 1-1-46-0. SRU, Cody Endres 17-29-195-1.

Rushing: Richie Sanders 22-99, Ricky Mathews 3-10, Allen Jones II 1-4, Anthony Vendemia 5-(-4), Trevor Kennedy 1-(-6). SRU, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling 9-35, Jimmy Zubik 10-29, Cody Endres 4-3.

Receiving: Mercyhurst, Trevor Kennedy 7-66, Paris Bruner 4-49, Richie Sanders 4-32, R.J. Miller 3-43, Jeff Groene 2-8, Anthony Vendemia 1-46, Steve Yarbrough 1-6, Ricky Mathews 1-5. SRU, Devin Goda 6-72, Kevin Sanders 4-52, Geron James 4-29, Ken Amos 1-22, John Schademan 1-15, Josh Gardner 1-5.