SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The ninth-ranked Slippery Rock University football team scored 34 unanswered points to run away with a 41-6 victory over Clarion University Saturday in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division game from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
(Photo courtesy of Slippery Rock University Athletics)
The Rock improved to 8-0 overall for the third time in program history and the first time since 1939, while also improving to 5-0 in PSAC West games and running their current streak to 14 straight divisional victories. SRU can clinch its second straight division title with a win in either of the next two games. Clarion dropped to 3-5 overall and 1-4 with the loss.
Slippery Rock overcame a slow start and wet conditions Saturday to pull away for the win. The Rock offense turned the ball over twice in the first half inside its own 35-yard line, but Clarion had to settle for field goals both times. The Golden Eagles led 3-0 with 9:05 to play in the first half after SRU fumbled the ball away on its first possession, but the lead was short-lived. The Rock took a 7-3 lead with 3:47 to play in the quarter and would never trail again.
The SRU defense was dominant, holding the Golden Eagles to just 55 yards in the first half and less than 100 yards through three quarters before the second unit played the final quarter. SRU finished the day with 483 yards of total offense with 342 passing yards and 141 rushing yards. Clarion ended up with 167 total yards, including 95 passing yards and 72 rushing yards, while turning the ball over three times.
The Rock played without the services of its top two running backs with Charles Snorweah and DeSean Dinkins both sitting out the game for rest. Cinque Sweeting moved from the slot receiver position to the feature back role and rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries, averaging 5.0 yards per touch. He also caught two passes for 35 yards and one more score.
Roland Rivers III completed 24-of-36 passes for 342 yards with three touchdowns and one interception to move up to third on The Rock’s all-time career passing ledger with 5,254 passing yards in just 20 games at SRU. He becomes the fourth QB in SRU history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a career. Rivers is now just five TD passes away from setting the all-time career record at SRU, which currently stands at 60 (Nate Crookshank, set in 2007).
Jermaine Wynn Jr. was the top target for Rivers with eight catches for 153 yards and one touchdown, giving him a career-high nine TD receptions already this season. Henry Litwin added seven catches for 92 yards and one touchdown, his career-high 10th TD grab of the year.
Jake Chapla scored 11 points in the kicking game with field goals from 28 and 30 yards to go along with five extra points. He extended his SRU program records to 208 made PAT kicks, 47 made field goals and 349 points. He needs just 13 more points to set the all-time PSAC record for scoring by a kicker, currently held by Bloomsburg’s Dan Fisher at 361 points.
The Rock got a balanced effort from its defense with no player recording more than six tackles. Jalen Dangerfield had the defensive highlight of the game when he intercepted a tipped pass and took it 39 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Khadir Roberts also pulled down one interception and returned it 38 yards to stall a late Clarion drive in the first half. Jeff Marx recovered a botched handoff for the third SRU turnover of the day.
Chad Kuhn finished with six total tackles and one sack, bringing him to a career-high 8.5 sacks on the year. Brad Zaffram added five tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. Dalton Holt chipped in five tackles, while Tim Vernick and Garrett de Bien each had four tackles and de Bien added 1.0 tackle for loss. Shane Schuback added one sack in the second half and Eric Glover-Williams tallied two pass breakups.
Clarion starting QB Jeff Clemens completed 3-of-9 passes for 26 yards with one interception before giving way to Michael Proios, who completed 9-of-18 passes for 69 yards with one interception. James Metzgar booted two field goals, both from 30 yards, and averaged 40.5 yards on six punts.
Slippery Rock claimed the “Milk Jug” trophy for the ninth time in the 10 years since it was introduced to the series.
The Rock will now turn their focus to hosting Cal U next Saturday for Senior Day. The 6-2 Vulcans likely need a win to keep their NCAA playoff hopes alive, while SRU can lock up the PSAC West title with a victory. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
NOTES: Slippery Rock improved to 9-1 in “Milk Jug” games since the trophy was introduced to the series against Clarion 10 years ago … The Rock won their third straight against Clarion and improved to 55-24-3 all-time against the Golden Eagles … SRU won its 14th straight PSAC West game and has not lost a PSAC West game since Oct. 21, 2017 … SRU improved to 8-0 for the first time since 1939 and the third time in program history … only one other team has ever started 9-0 in program history (1924) … SRU improved to 35-3 in its last 38 home games dating back to 2013 … Roland Rivers III tied his single-season career-high for TD passes with 28 and needs just five more to set the SRU single-season record (currently 32 by Tanner Garry in 2017) … Rivers became the fourth QB in SRU history to throw for 5,000 career years … his 5,254 yards and 55 TD passes in just 20 games are the third-most in program history … He needs just five more TD passes to break the SRU career record that currently stands at 60 (Nate Crookshank 2004-07) … Henry Litwin caught his career-high 10th TD pass of the season and Jermaine Wynn Jr. caught his career-high ninth TD pass of the season … both Litwin and Wynn moved up to eighth on the SRU career ledger with their 18th career TD catches … Wynn topped the 2,000-yard mark for his college career after also recording 562 yards at Alderson-Broaddus as a freshman in 2017 and now has 2,134 college receiving yards in less than three seasons … Jake Chapla increased his SRU career records to 208 made PAT kicks, 47 made field goals and 349 points … he needs 10 more field goals and 12 more points to tie the all-time PSAC records owned by Dan Fisher from Bloomsburg … Shawn Lutz improved to 34-10 as SRU head coach.
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