How No. 7 SRU football matches up with No. 19 IUP
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Since 1907, Slippery Rock University and Indiana (Pa.) have been going at it on the football field.
The two teams will clash for the 100th time at 2 p.m. Saturday at IUP’s Miller Stadium. And the stakes will be high as usual.
“You have to go through Indiana to win the PSAC West,” Rock coach Shawn Lutz said. “That’s just how it is. This is a rivalry, throw the records out, all of that stuff.
“We’re not gonna shy away from it.”
No. 19 Indiana (5-1, 2-1) is coming off its first loss, a 35-20 setback against Lock Haven last weekend, but leads the series with The Rock, 53-44-2. No. 7 SRU (6-0, 3-0) has won the last three meetings, however, and eight of the last 12.
The Rock also enters the contest with the highest-scoring offense in all of NCAA Division II. SRU leads the nation with 53.8 points per game, 558.3 yards per game and fewest turnovers (two). SRU has also allowed just two quarterback sacks all year.
The only two college football teams averaging more points than The Rock are Division III squads Lake Forest (63.3) and Saint John’s (55.4).
“I hope we can make them punt once,” IUP coach Paul Tortorella said. “I’ve been coaching here a long time (10 years as head coach, 22 as an assistant) and I’m telling you, that’s the best offense I’ve ever seen at this level.
“They have two gamebreakers in the backfield in the running back (JayJay Jordan) and quarterback (DaOne Owens). Their line was supposed to be suspect, but it’s playing solid football.
‘The tight end (Vincent Berardi) is productive catching the football and they have a bunch of receivers who simply make plays.“
Jordan leads all of college football with 16 rushing touchdowns and 18 touchdowns overall.
Tortorella added that his defense is banged up, particularly in the secondary, and IUP plays a lot of freshmen.
“Of our 90 players, 50 are freshmen or red-shirt freshmen,” he said. “This is the youngest team I’ve ever had here.”
The Crimson Hawks have weapons of their own. Quarterback Mason Maggs, an Ohio State transfer, has thrown for 1,443 yards and 19 touchdowns. Tight end Connor Shamany has 26 catches for 346 yards and seven scores while running back Leon Parson has rushed for 467 yards and two TDs.
“Next to our guy, Parsons is the best running back in the league,” Lutz said. “Shamany presents a match-up problem in terms of coverage. Their defensive line is very good and the quarterback is the best we’ll have faced so far.”
“Our passing game is a little different this year,” Tortorella said. “We usually have one or two standout, veteran guys there. This year, it’s more by committee.”
SRU’s passing game is the same way.
“We have a lot of players who are selfless, are all about team success,” Lutz said. “That’s the only way we can play the way we’re playing.”
