Complete Game Notes (PDF)

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University football team will host Edinboro University Saturday for the annual Homecoming game with a televised kickoff set for 2:06 p.m. from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Below you will find all pertinent information regarding live streaming coverage options, television listings, ticket information, parking, tailgating and complete game notes. Information can also be found about all the events surrounding Homecoming weekend.

HOMECOMING EVENTS
• Friday pep rally – 7-9 p.m. (ARC)
• 15% off all SRU merchandise – Saturday at SGA Bookstore only
• Saturday parade – 10 a.m. (Main Street)
• Saturday Alumni Tailgate – 11 a.m. (Tent near band fields by tailgate lots)
• Saturday night fireworks – 8:30 p.m. (Quad)
• Complete list of events and information: CLICK HERE
 
LIVE INTERNET COVERAGE
• Live Stats  |  Provided by SRU athletic communication office.
• ESPN 3 Video (Free with subscription)  |  ESPN 3 and the Watch ESPN app
• Live Streaming Video  |  Free for non-ESPN subscribers
• Live Audio (Online and Radio)  |  Provided by The Rock Station 97.7 FM (Butler).
• Twitter  |  All scoring information and in-game updates.
 
LIVE TELEVISION LISTINGS
• ESPN 3 - Available to more than 99 million households at WatchESPN.com, on smart phones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
• ESPN College Extra - Live TV available to AT&T Uverse, DirecTV, Bright House Networks, Cox, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS and select NCTC subscribers.
• WPNT 22 - 22 over-the-air, Comcast SD 10/HD 812, Comcast Clarion SD 12/HD 812, Armstrong SD 22/HD 108, Atlantic Broadband SD 8/HD 707, Citizens SD 12/HD 812, Time Warner SD 22/HD 1022, Verizon SD 10/ HD 510, Consolidated SD 10/HD 710, DirecTV 22, Dish Network 22 (Pittsburgh, Western Pa.).
• WJAC 6.2 - 6.2 over-the-air, Comcast 110-187-202-248, Armstrong 410, Atlantic Broadband 110, Windstream 16, Laurel Highland 15 (Johnstown/Altoona/State College).

DELAYED AIRING AT 3:30 PM SATURDAY
• WHAG 25 - 25 over-the-air, Dish Network 25, Comcast 10/HD 814 in Winchester, Va., Comcast 11/HD 814 Martinsburg, W.Va., Comcast 12/HD 814 in Frederick, Md. & Chambersburg, Pa., Antietam 12/HD 504 in Hagerstown, Md., Atlantic Broadband 12/HD 712 in Cumberland, Md.).
 
TICKETS (For advance tickets, Call 724-738-2021 or stop by the Athletic Office in Morrow Field House )
• Tickets can be purchased on game day. The stadium gates will open at 12:30 p.m.
• Chair-back Reserved Seat - $10
• Reserved Bench Seat - $10
• Adult General Admission - $8
• Ages 6-High School - $3
• Children Under 6 - FREE
• SRU Students – FREE with valid student ID
• Edinboro (or other PSAC) Students – $5 with valid student ID
 
PARKING
• Parking is available in the lots surrounding the stadium
• Parking spaces are $5 in all tailgating lots (directly below stadium)
• Campus Map  |  Stadium is #53 on Map
 
TAILGATING
• Tailgating is allowed in paid lots three hours before kickoff (lots open at 3 p.m.)
• No Tailgating at halftime
• All Tailgaters must enter game at kickoff
• Tailgating is open for two hours after game ends
• No hard liquor or glass bottles
• Adhere to all campus tailgating rules found HERE.

FOOTBALL ALUMNI ZONE
  • To comply with PSAC and NCAA Championship guidelines, and to ensure the safety of players and team personnel, alumni will no longer be allowed on the sideline during games.
  • The Rock Football Alumni Zone will be on the track beyond the end zone opposite the scoreboard. A tent will be placed there for alumni to gather pregame.
  • Football alumni wishing to watch the game from field level will be asked to stay on the track surface behind that end zone and will not be allowed on the sidelines.
  • Football alumni wanting passes for the Alumni Zone should contact Steve Saylor at slipperyrockfootball@gmail.com before Friday to reserve your pass at the Will Call window.
  • No alcoholic beverages will be permitted in the Alumni Zone.
  • No children under the age 16 will be permitted in the Alumni Zone.
 

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THE GAME
Slippery Rock (5-2, 2-2 PSAC) returns home to face its third opponent in the last four weeks that will enter the meeting with one or less loss. Edinboro (6-1, 3-1 PSAC) has opened the year with the best turnaround in the country and sits at 6-1 overall after going a winless 0-11 last year. The Rock are in need of a win this week, and likely in each of the next three weeks, just to have a chance at reaching the NCAA playoffs for the fourth straight year.
 


ALL-TIME SERIES
Edinboro is the second longest running series Slippery Rock has against any opponent with this game marking the 89th meeting between the two teams in a series that dates back to 1916. The Rock own a distinct edge in the series with a 55-26-7 advantage and wins in each of the last six meetings, including a 52-10 victory last fall at Edinboro.
 
First Meeting: 1916 (SRU won 6-0)
Last Meeting: 2015 (SRU won 52-10)
Current Streak: Slippery Rock +6
at EU (since 1959): EU leads 15-13-1
at SRU (since 1959): SRU leads 16-8-4
Most Points Scored by EU: 62 (1989)
Biggest Win Margin by EU: 62-7 (1989)
Most Points Scored by SRU: 71 (1935)
Biggest Win Margin by SRU: 71-0 (1935)
Last SRU Win: 2015 at EU (52-10)
 
Series Notes: The Rock are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings and 14-6 in the last 20 meetings since 1996, when Shawn Lutz joined the SRU staff as a graduate assistant. The teams have played on SRU's Homecoming four times in the last 20 years and have split those games 2-2.
 
COACHING MATCHUP
Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz is off to a 5-2 start in his first season at the helm of the program. Lutz is in his 20th season at The Rock, having spent the last four as the associate head coach and the last eight as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Lutz has been a member of the coaching staff for eight of SRU's PSAC West titles.
 
Justin Lustig is also in his first season as the head coach at Edinboro, where he is the frontrunner for Coach of the Year honors in the PSAC West after leading the team to a 6-1 start just one season after the Fighting Scots went 0-11 and finished last in the division. Lustig is a native of Erie and a 2000 graduate of Bucknell University. Prior to taking the job at Edinboro, he spent five seasons as an assistant at Ball State.
 
LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAK
Slippery Rock enters the game with the longest active home winning streak in Division II at 20 straight games. The Rock were flawless at home in each of the last three seasons, including a 7-0 record last fall with a pair of NCAA playoff victories. SRU is currently tied with Clemson (FBS) and Minnesota Duluth (D2) for the longest active home winning streak among all NCAA Division I and Division II programs.
 
TV GAME SUCCESS
This week's game marks the third live television game of the season for Slippery Rock through the SportsFever Game of the Week package. The Rock are 7-0 in their last seven TV games dating back to the beginning of the 2015 season, including a 36-28 win over West Chester earlier this fall and a 37-25 win over Mercyhurst two weeks ago.
 
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Rock football teams have compiled a 154-64 (.706) record the last 41 seasons in games played at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium (formerly known as N. Kerr Thompson Stadium). The Rock own a 55-19 (.743) home record since artificial turf was installed in the summer of 2003 and are 51-12 (.810) in home games since 2005. The numbers get even better in recent years, as The Rock are 20-0 since the beginning of 2013 and have not lost at home since Nov. 10, 2012. SRU is 33-4 (.892) at home since the beginning of 2010.
 
HOMECOMING KINGS
Slippery Rock is 24-4 on Homecoming in the last 28 years and has won its last seven Homecoming games. The last Homecoming loss for The Rock, coincidentally, came against Edinboro in 2008. The Fighting Scots have been the Homecoming matchup for Slippery Rock 11 times since 1966 and have posted a 5-4-2 record in those meetings. The last time Edinboro played at Slippery Rock on Homecoming was the 2012 season, a game won by The Rock with a 38-31 final score.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Slippery Rock was ranked as high as No. 9 earlier this season and was ranked in the AFCA Division II national poll for 15 straight weeks before falling out this week. The Rock are, however, still receiving votes in the national poll for the 23rd consecutive week and are listed at No. 27 this week by the AFCA. The complete Division II national polls can be found on page 10 of the complete notes linked above.
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Slippery Rock currently has the seventh best strength of schedule in the country when comparing all 11 scheduled opponents' records. The Rock are set to play their third team that has just one loss or less through seven weeks of the year (California, Indiana, Edinboro). All 11 of SRU's opponents have a combined winning percentage of .603 this year.
 
LAST MEETING WITH EDINBORO - 10/31/15  |  Box Score
No. 13 Slippery Rock ran for 369 yards and put up 600 yards of total offense in cruising to a 52-10 road win at Edinboro last year on Halloween.
 
The Rock went for 32 first downs in the game and added 231 passing yards to the 369 yards on the ground. Edinboro managed just 215 yards of offense with 44 on the ground and 171 through the air.
 
Five different ball carriers for SRU finished with more than 5.0 yards per carry and at least seven carries. Shamar Greene went for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Julian Durden added 113 yards and one score. Dominic Dingle rushed for 63 yards and Isiah Neely went for 40 yards.
 
Dante Nania threw for 177 yards with three TD and also ran for 48 yards. Jaimire Dutrieuille had 64 receiving yards and also rushed for one score. Cornelius Raye and Marcus Johnson each had one TD grab as well.
 
Jake Sisson completed 23-of-44 passes for 171 yards with one TD and one interception to lead Edinboro. He was also the team's leading rusher at 19 yards on nine carries. Darren Massey, who transferred to Slippery Rock this year but is not playing due to an injury, caught a school record 15 passes for only 73 yards (4.9 yards per catch).
 
Marcus Martin and Teven Williams each had one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Alfon Cook had nine tackles to lead the SRU defense.
 
LAST WEEK FOR SLIPPERY ROCK  |  Box Score
No. 16 Slippery Rock came out flat and allowed No. 13 Indiana (Pa.) to connect on four big plays in the first half as the Crimson Hawks jumped out to a big lead and never looked back in handing The Rock a 48-19 defeat on the road.
 
The final stats made the game look closer than it was as Indiana only outgained SRU by a 462-365 margin, but the big plays stacked up to equal 295 passing yards on just 12 completions for IUP. Slippery Rock passed for 245 yards and ran for 120 yards in the game.
 
Don King III threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns and was also the team's leading rusher at 58 yards on 12 carries. Marcus Johnson caught both touchdown passes and finished with 69 receiving yards. A total of 10 Rock players caught at least one pass in the game.
 
LAST WEEK FOR EDINBORO  |  Box Score
Edinboro outscored Mercyhurst 38-10 in the second and third quarters to pull away for a 45-16 victory on the road last week. The Fighting Scots put up 501 yards of offense by throwing for 435 yards and rushing for 66, while holding the Lakers to just 229 total yards with 133 passing yards and 96 rushing yards.
 
Jake Sisson was 28-of-42 for 435 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Ta'Nauz Gregory (9 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD), James Clark (7-147-1) and Alex Caratelli (7-128-1) all went for more than 100 receiving yards and scored in the game.


ROCK MISSING SHAMAR GREENE
Running back Shamar Greene was on his way to another stellar season when he was injured in week five at California in the first half. He has yet to return to action and is expected to be out this week as well. Before the injury, Greene broke the all-time career rushing record at SRU and has rushed for 4,275 yards in his career. At the time of the injury, he was top five in all of the NCAA in active rushing yardage and was top five in Division II in career all-purpose yards. Greene is still hopeful of a potential return to the lineup late in the season.
 
SLOT RECEIVERS MOVING UP CAREER LISTS
Slot receivers Cornelius Raye and Drew Scales are set to become the 11th and 12th players in SRU history to record 100 career catches. Raye topped the number last week and moved up to 10th all-time at SRU with 101 career grabs, while Scales enters this week's game with 99 career catches. Raye also ranks No. 11 on the all-time list in TD catches with 13 and can crack the top 10 with one more TD, while Scales needs just 29 kickoff return yards today to become the all-time career record holder at The Rock.
 
SCALES AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
Drew Scales ranks seventh among all active players in Division II in career kick return yards with 1,625 total yards. That figure has him sitting second in the SRU record book, needing just 29 yards to tie Paul Favers' record of 1,654. Scales has averaged 28.0 yards per return over his career, which ranks eighth among all active players in Division II and currently ranks fifth in Rock history. A chart featuring the top eight active players in Division II, sorted by total career kick return yards, can be found in the complete notes linked above.
 
DK3 MOVES INTO RECORD BOOKS ALREADY
Quarterback Don King III has completed 154 passes in seven games this year, tying him for seventh in single-season history at SRU. He can move all the way up to fourth with 13 completions today. He can also move up to 10th on the SRU single-season TD passing list with one TD pass (14 so far this year) and can move ahead of Randy McKavish for 10th in single-season passing yardage with 233 yards today (currently at 1,719 yards).
 
TURNOVER TROUBLE
One of the themes of the two Slippery Rock losses on the year was turnovers. In each of The Rock's two losses the team turned the ball over at least three times. In each of the other five games this year the team has turned the ball over less than three times and come away with a win.
 
FIRST QUARTER SUCCESS - UNTIL LAST WEEK
Entering last week's game at Indiana (Pa.), Slippery Rock was outscoring opponents 70-23 in the first quarter through six weeks of the season. The Crimson Hawks eclipsed the first quarter number of the first six opponents combined by putting up 24 points in the opening 15 minutes last week. SRU will be looking for a bounce-back performance in the early stages this week.
 
TOUGH TO RUN ON
Slippery Rock had the second best run defense in the country last year among Division II programs and The Rock are right back up there again, currently sitting at No. 12 in the nation and allowing just 90.9 rushing yards per game. That equals out to just 2.7 yards per carry through seven games.
 
ROCK BITTEN BY INJURY BUG
Slippery Rock has been hit hard by injuries on both sides of the ball the last three weeks with as many as seven starters missing time with significant injuries. The offense has played without both of its All-Americans the last two weeks in running back Shamar Greene and center Joe LoSchiavo. LoSchiavo is hopeful of making a return this week.
 
The defense has been missing starting linebacker John Conglose the last three games. Also missing the last two games was his backup Cody Allen. All-Region linebacker Bob Vernick also missed two games and Division I transfer linebacker Anthony Zappone has battled through injuries, but has yet to miss a start. On the line, All-Region tackle Joe Phillips has missed time and end Cody Conway is playing through injury and has missed at least one full game. Adding insult to injury, SRU found out early this week that starting safety Kevin Green will miss this week with an injury as well, giving The Rock at least some form of injury concern with at least seven potential starters on defense.
 
FRESHMEN HAVE TO PLAY
The Rock traditionally sits most of their true freshmen for a redshirt year while the players adapt to the program, academic life and the college game. That is the case again this year, but many true freshmen have had to burn that redshirt and contribute. The most notable of these includes running back Dontez Rash, who is the leading active rusher on the team with Shamar Greene sidelined, and linebacker Patrick Minenok, who has started the last two weeks. Tight end Dylan Stapleton and defensive lineman Levar Ware have also seen time, as has backup quarterback Nathaniel Musselman. Musselman has led touchdown drives on four of the five possessions he has played so far this year. The Rock also use a pair of true freshmen specialists in kicker Jake Chapla and punter Josiah Davis.
 


MARTIN SHATTERS SRU/PSAC SACK RECORD
Seven games into his junior season, Marcus Martin has recorded more career sacks than any player in PSAC football history. His 38.5 career sacks shattered the former SRU record of 32.0 and the former PSAC record of 33.5. In seven games this year, despite seeing double teams and facing three All-American offensive tackles so far, he has recorded 45 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks.
 
MARTIN MOVING UP NATIONAL RECORD BOOK
Marcus Martin currently ranks eighth all-time in NCAA history in terms of total sacks by a Division II player after just two years and seven games. He has his sights set on becoming the all-time Division II record holder (46.0) and has a realistic chance with another year to play of becoming the all-time sack leader in NCAA history (53.5), regardless of division. The career record holder for each NCAA Division can be found below. A chart featuring the top 10 players in Division II history in terms of career sacks are included in the complete game notes linked above.
 
D1 (FBS): Terrell Suggs, Arizona State (44.0)
D1 (FCS): Chris Gocong, Cal Poly (42.0)
D2: Marc Schiechl, Colorado Mines (46.0)
D3: Mike Czerwien, Waynesburg (53.5) *

* All-time NCAA career record
 
WHO WILL GET THERE FIRST?
This season in Division II football brings an interesting race as both Lucky Baar from McKendree and Marcus Martin are rapidly moving up the all-time career sack list in Division II. They are the only two active players with more than 30 career sacks. Martin has the edge in the race for the top spot, however, as Baar is a senior this season and Martin has another year of eligibility.
 
CAREER TACKLES FOR LOSS RECORD
Marcus Martin is also on pace to become the all-time leader in NCAA history in career tackles for loss. He has 61.0 through two years and seven games (on pace for at least 85) and the Division II record is 77.0, set by Andre Bernardi from North Greenville. Two weeks ago, Martin became the all-time leader in SRU history in tackles for loss, topping Matt Kinsinger's former record of 60.0.
 
GREENE INCREASES SRU RECORD, CLIMBS PSAC LIST
Shamar Greene rushed for 74 yards three weeks ago before leaving with an injury in the second quarter, increasing his SRU program record to 4,275 yards. He also moved up to No. 10 on the all-time PSAC ledger with that total. Greene is still one of only two running backs in the country with more than 4,000 career rushing yards at the D2 level. The PSAC career rushing leaders list can be found in the complete notes linked above.
 
GREENE STILL SECOND IN D2 IN RUSHING
Shamar Greene ranks second in career rushing yards among all active rushers in D2 with 4,275 yards, despite not playing in the last 2.5 games. He is one of only five active running backs in the nation with more than 3,600 career yards and is one of only two with more than 4,000 yards. A chart featuring the top five active rushers in Division II can be found in the complete notes linked above.
 
GREENE STILL TOP 8 IN ALL OF NCAA
Shamar Greene still ranks eighth among all active rushers at any level of NCAA football, despite missing 2.5 games. He is second on the Division II list, but would rank in the top four on both the FBS and FCS lists as well. A chart featuring the top eight active rushers in all of college football can be found in the complete notes linked above.
 
ALL-PURPOSE YARDAGE
Shamar Greene also ranks fourth among all active Division II players in career all-purpose yardage with 4,736 yards. He is one of only seven active players in the country with at least 4,500 all-purpose yards. A chart featuring the top five active players in Division II (two from PSAC) can be found in the complete notes linked above.
 
BIG LEG FROM CHAPLA
True freshman kicker Jake Chapla connected from 44 and 51 yards against Mercyhurst, which was the first 50+ yard field goal for an SRU kicker since 2003 and is the second longest field goal in school history. It is also the first kick of more than 50 yards by any kicker in the PSAC since the 2012 season. Chapla has four field goals of 44 or more yards already this year and is 7-of-10 on field goal attempts.
 
ZAPPONE LEADING THE DEFENSE
Linebacker Anthony Zappone transferred to SRU for his senior year from Eastern Michigan and like Teven Williams last year, has made an immediate impact and looked like he's been here all along. Last season, Williams came in from Youngstown State and ended up leading SRU in tackles and earning All-America honors. This fall, Zappone is the leading tackler for SRU through seven weeks with 58 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also has two interceptions and 26 solo tackles on the year.
 
CONWAY NEARING TOP 10
Defensive end Cody Conway is closing in on cracking the all-time top 10 list at SRU in career sacks. He currently has 16.5 career sacks, needing just 1.0 to move into a tie for 10th on the all-time ledger with Mike Welhorsky (1996-99). He is also closing in on the top 10 list for career tackles for loss. Conway has 33.5 career stops behind the line of scrimmage, 3.5 away from joining John Sikora in 10th all-time.
 
SECONDARY CLOSING IN ON CAREER LISTS
Safety Derrick Fulmore currently ranks seventh in SRU history with 12 career interceptions, five off the career record of 17. He has 23 career passes defended, eight off the 10th spot on the SRU career list. Titus Howard has 27 passes defended and needs just four more to move into 10th in SRU history. Alfon Cook has 25 and is six off the 10th spot.
 
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Slippery Rock has a balanced roster with many upperclassmen starting on both sides of the ball, but this year is also notable for how young The Rock are. This week's depth chart features 23 players listed as projected starters or backups that are sophomores or freshmen in eligibility.
 
STARTERS AND STARS FROM WEST MIFFLIN
Slippery Rock starts four players that all graduated from West Mifflin High School, three of which have earned at least All-Region honors during their careers at SRU in Shamar Greene, Marcus Martin and Derrick Fulmore. Jim Popa also moved into a starting role on the offensive line to begin the 2016 season. Greene and Martin have been teammates for most of their football playing careers and are rewriting record books together each week on opposite sides of the ball.
 


STARTERS NOTES
Shamar Greene has started more games than anyone on the team with 36 career starts but is not expected to play this week for the third week in a row. Joe LoSchiavo is a close second with 33 starts, but his streak of 32 straight starts ended last week. Colten Raabe made his first career start at right guard last week as the line shifted in LoSchiavo's absence.
 
Marcus Martin leads the defense with 33 straight starts, having never missed a start in his career. Bob Vernick and Cody Conway have started 30 career games. Alfon Cook has started 21 straight games. Joe Phillips has 28 career starts. Anthony Zappone started 18 games at Eastern Michigan before transferring. Patrick Minenok and Tony Twillie II both started the last two games, marking the first two starts of their careers. With Kevin Green not expected to play this week, Kyle Hall is likely to receive his third career start at the safety position.
 
EDINBORO QUICK HITS
• Edinboro was picked to finish last in the PSAC West in the preseason coaches poll, but is off to a 6-1 overall start and is in second place in the division with a 3-1 record.
• The Fighting Scots have one of the top statistical offenses in the nation, thanks almost entirely to the passing game. They rank fifth in the country in passing offense at 357.3 yards per game and rank eighth in the nation in scoring at 43.6 points per game. They have thrown the ball 327 times in seven weeks (47 passes per game) and have run it just 199 times (28 rushes per game).
• While the passing offense is one of the best in the nation, the pass defense is statistically the worst in the nation, ranking 170th and allowing 326.1 yards per game. Edinboro also allows 147.1 yards per game on the ground to rank 152nd in the nation in total defense, allowing 473.3 yards per game.
• A coaching change in the offseason has brought life to the leader of the Edinboro offense, QB Jake Sisson. The junior threw for 1,960 yards with 16 TD and 16 INT in 2015. Seven games into 2016, he has thrown for 2,482 yards with 28 TD and eight INT, blowing away his best career numbers in just over half a season.
• Sisson has plenty of weapons in the passing game as five players have caught at least 25 passes and average at least 36 yards per game. Alex Caratelli (43 catches, 584 yards, 8 TD) leads the way, while James Clark (42-662-7), Ta'Nauz Gregory (40-529-5), Jordan Williams (27-384-4) and Walter Fletcher (25-257-3) round out the top receivers. Fletcher is also the team's leading rusher, averaging 61.0 yards per game on the ground.
• Victor Hudson has some of the best numbers in the PSAC with 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks, but more than half of those all came in one game when he had 8.5 TFL and 5.0 sacks against Lock Haven.
• Mike Shansky is the top tackler at 53 stops with 8.0 TFL. Austin Mietz has 47 stops, as does DeVon Groves. 10 different players have at least one INT, while Groves and Zuril Hendrick have two.