2008 Woodie Awards
Football loses seventh straight in heated rivalry
By Mike Mallory
Rocket Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 10/14/05 Section: Sports
The stage was set for the Slippery Rock University football team to spoil its biggest rival's homecoming. However, its plan didn't turn out as scripted.
SRU (2-4 Overall, 2-1 PSAC West) allowed 21 unanswered points in over three minutes and was eclipsed by the IUP (2-0, 3-3) Indians, 38-17 Saturday afternoon at Miller Stadium. The loss was the Rock's seventh straight to IUP.
With 7:17 remaining in the third quarter, and the Rock leading 14-10, kicker Ryan Daniel hooked a 24-yard field goal wide left. Daniel missed a 35-yard field goal later in the quarter.
On IUP's next possession, quarterback Andrew Krewatch threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Deaco Oliver on the third play of the drive. The reception was Oliver's only catch of the game.
On the kickoff, Rock wide receiver Paul Favers fumbled the football and IUP took possession over at the Rock's 46 yard line.
On IUP's first play from scrimmage, Oliver rushed for a 46-yard touchdown to give the Indians a commanding 24-14 third quarter lead.
The Indians weren't done.
After Daniel's second field goal miss capped off a seven play drive that took the Rock to IUP's 18 yard line, IUP went back to work. Chris Morgan rushed for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive, giving IUP a 31-14 lead. Morgan rushed for173 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns.
Coach George Mihalik said the game reminded him of the Rock's season opening game against Bloomsburg. The team allowed a 24-6 lead to disappear in the third quarter en route to falling to the currently undefeated Huskies, 40-24.
"It's almost like we got stunned and we didn't know how to recover quickly enough," Mihalik said. "It was more or less a meltdown."
Mihalik said the team needs to improve its mental toughness and gain the ability to withstand big plays and momentum swings that take place in a game.
"We can do it, we just haven't done it enough," Mihalik said. "We have to realize that when we're out of position, we can't always make a play."
SRU (2-4 Overall, 2-1 PSAC West) allowed 21 unanswered points in over three minutes and was eclipsed by the IUP (2-0, 3-3) Indians, 38-17 Saturday afternoon at Miller Stadium. The loss was the Rock's seventh straight to IUP.
With 7:17 remaining in the third quarter, and the Rock leading 14-10, kicker Ryan Daniel hooked a 24-yard field goal wide left. Daniel missed a 35-yard field goal later in the quarter.
On IUP's next possession, quarterback Andrew Krewatch threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Deaco Oliver on the third play of the drive. The reception was Oliver's only catch of the game.
On the kickoff, Rock wide receiver Paul Favers fumbled the football and IUP took possession over at the Rock's 46 yard line.
On IUP's first play from scrimmage, Oliver rushed for a 46-yard touchdown to give the Indians a commanding 24-14 third quarter lead.
The Indians weren't done.
After Daniel's second field goal miss capped off a seven play drive that took the Rock to IUP's 18 yard line, IUP went back to work. Chris Morgan rushed for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive, giving IUP a 31-14 lead. Morgan rushed for173 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns.
Coach George Mihalik said the game reminded him of the Rock's season opening game against Bloomsburg. The team allowed a 24-6 lead to disappear in the third quarter en route to falling to the currently undefeated Huskies, 40-24.
"It's almost like we got stunned and we didn't know how to recover quickly enough," Mihalik said. "It was more or less a meltdown."
Mihalik said the team needs to improve its mental toughness and gain the ability to withstand big plays and momentum swings that take place in a game.
"We can do it, we just haven't done it enough," Mihalik said. "We have to realize that when we're out of position, we can't always make a play."
