2008 Woodie Awards
Rock wins wild one at Ship, preps for showdown with undefeated California
By Brandon Fox
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Sports
With six seconds remaining and the ball resting on the Ship 17-yard line, Mihalik and Crookshank went for the kill, lobbing a pass into the end zone for a leaping Favers, who came down with the ball in front a stunned Red Raider defense.
"You have three options there, go for the end zone, try a five- to eight-yard out route to get closer for a field goal, or kick the field goal," Mihalik said. "Right now, C.J. Bahr's range is about 40 yards. Had we kicked it from the 17, we are looking at a 34-yarder and with a heavy crosswind, we just decided to put it in the hands of our veterans before trying the field goal."
With the victory, SRU moved to 7-1 on the season, and 2-1 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West play.
Despite the win, the Rock dropped two spots in the regional rankings from fifth to seventh. The top six teams in the region at the end of the year qualify for the NCAA Division II national playoffs.
The emotional victory celebration was a short one, as the Green and White quickly returned to business as it set its sights on the region's No. 1 team, the undefeated California (Pa.) Vulcans.
The Vulcans enter the contest at 8-0 and 4-0 in the PSAC West, and are currently ranked sixth in the American Football Coaches Association poll.
"This team has no weaknesses," Mihalik said. "They only allow 33 rushing yards a game and have given up an average of 6.5 points per game this season. Offensively, they have a QB that doesn't make mistakes and a running back that just makes people miss. They are solid in all three phases of the game."
In order for the Rock to have a shot this weekend, Mihalik said that his squad must finally play well in all three phases of the game as well.
"We need it all to come together, and hopefully this is the week, because we are going to need it all," Mihalik said.
SRU will attempt to do something no other team has done against California: run the football.
"They have the country's top-ranked run defense," Mihalik said. "They have speed and athleticism at every position, and that front four of theirs is awesome."
"You have three options there, go for the end zone, try a five- to eight-yard out route to get closer for a field goal, or kick the field goal," Mihalik said. "Right now, C.J. Bahr's range is about 40 yards. Had we kicked it from the 17, we are looking at a 34-yarder and with a heavy crosswind, we just decided to put it in the hands of our veterans before trying the field goal."
With the victory, SRU moved to 7-1 on the season, and 2-1 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West play.
Despite the win, the Rock dropped two spots in the regional rankings from fifth to seventh. The top six teams in the region at the end of the year qualify for the NCAA Division II national playoffs.
The emotional victory celebration was a short one, as the Green and White quickly returned to business as it set its sights on the region's No. 1 team, the undefeated California (Pa.) Vulcans.
The Vulcans enter the contest at 8-0 and 4-0 in the PSAC West, and are currently ranked sixth in the American Football Coaches Association poll.
"This team has no weaknesses," Mihalik said. "They only allow 33 rushing yards a game and have given up an average of 6.5 points per game this season. Offensively, they have a QB that doesn't make mistakes and a running back that just makes people miss. They are solid in all three phases of the game."
In order for the Rock to have a shot this weekend, Mihalik said that his squad must finally play well in all three phases of the game as well.
"We need it all to come together, and hopefully this is the week, because we are going to need it all," Mihalik said.
SRU will attempt to do something no other team has done against California: run the football.
"They have the country's top-ranked run defense," Mihalik said. "They have speed and athleticism at every position, and that front four of theirs is awesome."
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