2008 Woodie Awards
Rock moves to 3-0 for first time since 1991
By Brandon Fox
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: Sports
On the defensive side of the ball for KU, they are going to look to shutdown Corey Manfull and the Rock rushing game.
"Everyone knows that the bread and butter of Slippery Rock is the run game." Mihalik said. "They are going to try to control the run by crowding the line and force us to put the ball in the air more."
Forcing the Rock and fourth-year starting quarterback Nate Crookshank to throw is something Mihalik and his offence is ready for.
"Our passing game has done extremely well for us this year. Nate has done a wonderful job of managing the offense," Mihalik said. "We have total confidence in throwing the ball. We have a talented group of receivers for Nate to throw too, and to his credit he has spread the ball around this year. Last week we had four different guys catch at touchdown pass."
Another concern for the Green and White, and something that Golden Bears will be hoping for is the possibility for the Rock to be looking ahead to their much anticipated re-match with PSAC-West rival IUP on the 29th.
"This is a mature football team," Mihalik said. "From day one they have talked about taking it one game at a time. They have said all year that the next game is the most important one. KU is a good team and are playing good football. We don't want to look past them."
The Rock would love to enter the game against IUP sitting at 4-0. But they know that they have to take care of business against Kutztown first.
Many in the sports world would term the contest against Kutztown as a "trap game", but the Rock is looking at it as just another game.
"It is going to be a good game," Mihalik said. "KU is going to come in ready to play, but so will we."
This meeting marks the sixth-time that these two teams will meet. The Rock is 5-0-0 all-time against Kutztown, including last year's 34-10 victory at Kutztown.
In that game Damarcus Cleckley ran for 86 yards as the Green and White compiled 441 yards of total offense, including 223 on the ground. Nate Crookshank completed 13-of-24 passes for 204 yards and a TD.
This season's 2-1 start by Kutztown is its best since 2004.
"Everyone knows that the bread and butter of Slippery Rock is the run game." Mihalik said. "They are going to try to control the run by crowding the line and force us to put the ball in the air more."
Forcing the Rock and fourth-year starting quarterback Nate Crookshank to throw is something Mihalik and his offence is ready for.
"Our passing game has done extremely well for us this year. Nate has done a wonderful job of managing the offense," Mihalik said. "We have total confidence in throwing the ball. We have a talented group of receivers for Nate to throw too, and to his credit he has spread the ball around this year. Last week we had four different guys catch at touchdown pass."
Another concern for the Green and White, and something that Golden Bears will be hoping for is the possibility for the Rock to be looking ahead to their much anticipated re-match with PSAC-West rival IUP on the 29th.
"This is a mature football team," Mihalik said. "From day one they have talked about taking it one game at a time. They have said all year that the next game is the most important one. KU is a good team and are playing good football. We don't want to look past them."
The Rock would love to enter the game against IUP sitting at 4-0. But they know that they have to take care of business against Kutztown first.
Many in the sports world would term the contest against Kutztown as a "trap game", but the Rock is looking at it as just another game.
"It is going to be a good game," Mihalik said. "KU is going to come in ready to play, but so will we."
This meeting marks the sixth-time that these two teams will meet. The Rock is 5-0-0 all-time against Kutztown, including last year's 34-10 victory at Kutztown.
In that game Damarcus Cleckley ran for 86 yards as the Green and White compiled 441 yards of total offense, including 223 on the ground. Nate Crookshank completed 13-of-24 passes for 204 yards and a TD.
This season's 2-1 start by Kutztown is its best since 2004.
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