No. 7 Slippery Rock football hammers rival IUP with fourth-quarter explosion to stay unbeaten
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — After watching host Indiana score 18 consecutive points, Slippery Rock needed a response.
It produced three of them.
Leading 21-18 early in the fourth quarter, No. 7 SRU scored three touchdowns in 3:32 to post a 42-26 PSAC West football victory over the Crimson Hawks at IUP’s Miller Stadium.
The win — coupled with Lock Haven’s loss to Edinboro — gave SRU (7-0, 4-0) sole possession of first place in the PSAC West.
“We forced three turnovers today, and our defense shut them down when our offense was stalling,” SRU head coach Shawn Lutz said. “That was the key to the game. This was a good team win, on the field of a ranked archrival. We’ll take it.”
Rock running back JayJay Jordan scored on a 27-yard run to cap an 89-yard drive with 11:24 left. Brett Kwoka recovered a fumbled snap at the IUP 10-yard line to set up a DaOne Owens 3-yard TD run, and Owen Suah returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown.
The sudden outburst added up to a 42-18 lead with 7:42 remaining. IUP added a late touchdown.
“Unbreakable. That’s the core value of our entire team,” defensive end Kwoka said. “We know we’re gonna make plays to win the game.”
SRU’s back was against the wall after seeing an early 21-0 lead shrivel to a three-point advantage. The No. 19 Crimson Hawks (5-2, 2-2) booted a 50-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to get within 21-10.
On the final play of the third quarter, IUP quarterback Mason Maggs connected with Jeremiah Coleman for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Maggs’ conversion pass to Leon Parson cut the gap to 21-18.
The Rock were penalized on the ensuing kickoff and were forced to start their next possession from their own 11-yard line — with backup quarterback Brad Hoffman in. Hoffman said Owens was out with a cramp in his hand and “couldn’t grip the ball” for a bit.
On first down, Hoffman broke free off the right side and rambled 42 yards, giving his team possession at the IUP 47.
“How about that guy?” Lutz said of Hoffman. “He hasn’t been playing, but kept his head in the game all day. Then he comes in and makes what had to be the play of the game.”
“It was an RPO and I decided to tuck it,” Hoffman said. “I was surprised the field opened up for me the way it did. We had great blocking all the way around on that play.”
That jump-started the 89-yard drive that ended with Jordan’s touchdown and a 10-point lead.
Owens returned to the game a few plays after Hoffman’s run.
Things went from bad to worse for the Crimson Hawks.
On second down from the IUP 25-yard line, the snap sailed over Maggs’ head. He reached up and knocked the ball down but could not corral it. Kwoka wound up diving on the ball at the IUP 10.
“That was like a dream come true,” Kwoka said. “I saw the running back trying to get to the ball, so I just boxed him out. I wanted to scoop and score there, but it was more important to just jump on the ball.
“We got some pressure on him (Maggs) today, and our secondary is amazing. This is the best set of defensive backs I’ve ever played with.”
Maggs threw for only 129 yards. Carmen Metcalfe intercepted him in the first half before Suah produced the dagger midway through the fourth quarter. He picked off a Maggs pass along the left sideline on IUP’s next snap and rambled for the 40-yard score.
“We were in a Cover-2 look, and I thank my coaches for putting me in position to make that happen,” Suah said. “We’re a relentless team. We’re gonna make plays.”
Jordan rushed for 141 yards and two TDs for The Rock. IUP lost its second game in a row and its fourth straight to SRU.
The Rock return home at 1 p.m. Saturday to host Lock Haven.
Slippery Rock 14 7 0 21 — 42
Indiana (Pa.) 0 10 8 8 — 26
1st Quarter
SRU — JayJay Jordan 2 run (Connor Macek kick), 10:06
SRU — DaOne Owens 34 run (Macek kick), 3:56
2nd Quarter
SRU — Carson Heckathorn 18 pass from Owens (Macek kick), 11:55
IUP — Leon Parson 47 run (Preston Rathway kick), 7:59
IUP — Rathway 50 field goal, 0:00
3rd Quarter
IUP — Jeremiah Coleman 22 pass from Mason Maggs (Parson pass from Maggs), 0:00
4th Quarter
SRU — Jordan 27 run (Macek kick), 11:24
SRU — Owens 3 run (Macek kick), 8:02
SRU — Owen Suah 40 interception return (Macek kick), 7:42
IUP — Landyn Moore 7 pass from Maggs (Maggs run), 2:47
Individual Statistics
Passing: SRU, DaOne Owens 21-31-159-0, Brad Hoffman 1-1-4-0. IUP, Mason Maggs 14-30-129-2.
Rushing: SRU, JayJay Jordan 18-138, DaOne Owens 11-86, Brad Hoffman 1-42, Luke McCoy 2-8. IUP, Leon Parson 17-115, Landyn Moore 8-27, Mason James 2-25, Zachary Boyd 1-8.
Receiving: SRU, Hamilton Gates 4-32, Vincent Berardi 4-24, JayJay Jordan 4-16, John Sabo 3-18, Carson Heckathorn 2-29, Ethan Trettel 2-12, Reggie Fleurima 2-30. IUP, D’Avay Johnson 5-40, Jerimiah Coleman 4-31, Gavin Harrold 2-21, Connor Shamany 1-22.
