Slippery Rock football’s NCAA playoff hopes alive after JayJay Jordan, Michael Henwood lead win vs Clarion

November 01, 2025 Last Updated: November 02, 2025 01:32 PM Sports

Slippery Rock’s Michael Henwood (16) celebrates as he throws the ball down during a touchdown after intercepting the ball from Clarion in a college football game on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

SLIPPERY ROCK — JayJay Jordan started it. Michael Henwood finished it.

Slippery Rock University produced an impressive offensive showing in between, posting a 42-23 PSAC West football victory Saturday over Clarion at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The win keeps SRU (6-2, 3-2) alive for Division II playoff consideration and a shot at the PSAC West championship. A win at Edinboro next weekend, coupled with an IUP loss at Clarion would hand The Rock the PSAC West title in a tiebreaker scenario.

SRU won the Milk Jug Trophy — presented to the SRU-Clarion winner — for the 14th time in 15 tries.

“Our goal continues to be getting back to the national playoffs,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “We’re really not thinking about anything else.”

After Clarion (6-3, 2-3) marched 73 yards in nine plays to score the game’s first touchdown on the opening possession, The Rock responded quickly. Jordan took a handoff on SRU’s first offensive play and raced 67 yards for the tying score.

“You always have the early jitters in any game,” Jordan said. “But I’m always confident I can take the ball and go. To do that early kinda gets everyone going, and I love to do that.”

Jordan had 19 carries for 176 yards on the day. He has 1,167 yards rushing this season to lead the PSAC.

Slippery Rock’s Latrell Sutton (7) and Demeatric Crenshaw (10) after Sutton scores a touchdown in a college football game on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

“I don’t think there’s anyone faster in our conference,” Clarion coach Raymond Monica said. “Once he gets to the outside, he just out-runs everybody.”

The Rock had a 35-23 lead late in the game when Henwood stepped in front of a deep sideline route and intercepted Clarion quarterback Jase Ferguson. Henwood returned the pick 53 yards for the game-clinching score with 1:07 to play.

Henwood, a strong safety, was one of 17 SRU seniors honored before the game as Saturday marked the team’s last contest of the campaign at Mihalik-Thompson Stadiium.

“That was the first pick-six I’ve ever had,” Henwood said. “To do this on senior day feels surreal. Facing a team that throws the ball a lot is exactly what I want to be a part of. I’d rather have success live or die with me rather than somebody else.”

Ferguson, a true freshman from Clarion-Limestone, started in place of regular Clarion quarterback Anthony Guercio, who has a sore shoulder. He threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted by Rock linebacker Tyler Cain at the SRU 6 in the third quarter. Clarion trailed 28-17 at the time.

“Big play, a momentum changer,” Lutz said.

SRU rolled up 481 yards of offense on the day — 252 rushing and 229 passing. Rock quarterback DaOne Owens threw for 229 yards and two scores.

“That’s exactly the kind of balance we want to have,” Lutz said. “You get into November and the weather changes, you have to be able to run the football.”

When Khalon Simmons scored on a 2-yard run with 9:06 left in the game, the Golden Eagles pulled within 28-23. Their two-point conversion pass failed.

Monica opted for the onside kick, and Eryck Moore-Watkins recovered the boot for SRU near midfield. Owens hooked up with Latrell Sutton for a 16-play touchdown strike three minutes later, and The Rock had a 35-23 lead.

“Why did we onsides kick? Did it look to you like we could stop them?” Monica said. “They were running the ball well, passing the ball well. We weren’t stopping them.”

SRU scored two touchdowns in unconventional ways. Left tackle and senior Joe Cooper scored on a 1-yard run, and holder Cory Butts scored on a 6-yard run on a fake field goal.

Notes: Henwood has a 4.0 grade point average and is studying to be a doctor. “He could have gone to any Ivy League school, but he came to The Rock because he wanted to play football here. That means a lot,” Lutz said. ... Seneca Valley graduate Devin Webb is Clarion’s starting left tackle. ... Kevin Roberts now has 104 career PATs, becoming the eighth kicker in SRU history to reach 100. ... Henwood and Cain had eight tackles each to lead The Rock.

Clarion 14 3 0 6 — 23

Slippery Rock 14 7 7 14 — 42

First Quarter

C — Ray Jackson 13 pass from Jase Ferguson (Andrew Kurtas kick), 11:31

SRU — JayJay Jordan 67 run (Kevin Roberts kick), 11:12

C — Dominik Thomas 11 pass from Ferguson (Kurtas kick), 6:10

SRU — Cory Butts 6 run (Roberts kick), 1:09

Second Quarter

C — Kurtas 44 field goal, 7:54

SRU — Joe Cooper 1 run (Roberts kick), :51

Third Quarter

SRU — Xander McClure 13 pass from Owens (Roberts kick), 8:57

Fourth Quarter

C — Khalon Simmons 2 run (pass failed), 9:06

SRU — Latrell Sutton 16 pass from Owens (Roberts kick), 6:05

SRU — Michael Henwood 53 interception return (Roberts kick), 1:07

Individual Statistics

Passing: Clarion, Jase Ferguson 20-43-233-2. SRU, DaOne Owens 19-34-229-0.

Rushing: Clarion, Jase Ferguson 14-67, Khalon Simmons 10-51, Logan Kent 4-46, Ray Jackson 1-1. SRU, JayJay Jordan 19-176, DaOne Owens 7-51, Quentin Harrison 7-17, Cory Butts 1-6, Xander McClure 1-2, Joe Cooper 1-1.

Receiving: Clarion, Ray Jackson 8-92, Davon Jones 4-43, Dominik Thomas 3-34, Khalon Simmons 1-27, Ja’Tawn Williams 1-26, Logan Kent 1-9, Holt Egan 1-4, Austin Wade 1-(-2). SRU, Xander McClure 6-85, Latrell Sutton 5-73, Ethan Trettrel 2-20, JayJay Jordan 2-13, John Sabo 1-13, Quentin Harrison 1-11, Lou Swartz 1-8, Christian Werling 1-6.