2008 Woodie Awards
SRU upset by Seton Hill
By Terry Rodgers
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Sports
The Slippery Rock University football team got their first taste of action Saturday in a 27-20 loss to Seton Hill at Offutt Field in Greensburg, Pa.
Seven members of both the Rock offense and defense were first year starters and although the team lost, the effort was noble.
Despite the inexperience, most notably at the quarterback position and along the offensive line, the team still had an opportunity to at least tie the Griffins with 1:20 left as the Rock took possession of the football on their own 21-yard line.
After a pass interference call, the Rock went to the air four straight times but failed to garner any completions and turned the ball and the game over on downs.
"We need to play more consistently; I think we played a little up and down. If we played at the level we are capable of the entire game, we definitely would not have lost that game," sophomore quarterback Brandon Frohnapple said.
Frohnapple recorded his first start Saturday by completing 13 of 35 passes for 192 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Both scores were to senior wideout Terry Grossetti who finished the day with 65 yards receiving to go along with his two touchdowns.
The game started well for the Rock as the offense drove 81 yards on 11 plays and took an early 3-0 lead on CJ Bahr's 29-yard field goal.
Following the ensuing kickoff, the Griffins seemed on their way to answer as they drove to the SRU 13-yard line, but SRU senior safety Sam Morant recovered a loose ball to stop Seton Hill in their tracks.
The early momentum was in the Rock's favor.
But in an unexplainable act of kindness, SRU returned the ball to the Griffins as they fumbled on their own six.
Two plays and 40 seconds later, Seton Hill's Antwarn Jones scored on a three-yard run and after the kick, the hosts had 7-3 lead.
"[The offensive turnover] was frustrating but at the same time… we still had a chance to stop them from scoring on defense and we didn't do that," Morant said. "A lot of that still goes on the defense."
Seven members of both the Rock offense and defense were first year starters and although the team lost, the effort was noble.
Despite the inexperience, most notably at the quarterback position and along the offensive line, the team still had an opportunity to at least tie the Griffins with 1:20 left as the Rock took possession of the football on their own 21-yard line.
After a pass interference call, the Rock went to the air four straight times but failed to garner any completions and turned the ball and the game over on downs.
"We need to play more consistently; I think we played a little up and down. If we played at the level we are capable of the entire game, we definitely would not have lost that game," sophomore quarterback Brandon Frohnapple said.
Frohnapple recorded his first start Saturday by completing 13 of 35 passes for 192 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Both scores were to senior wideout Terry Grossetti who finished the day with 65 yards receiving to go along with his two touchdowns.
The game started well for the Rock as the offense drove 81 yards on 11 plays and took an early 3-0 lead on CJ Bahr's 29-yard field goal.
Following the ensuing kickoff, the Griffins seemed on their way to answer as they drove to the SRU 13-yard line, but SRU senior safety Sam Morant recovered a loose ball to stop Seton Hill in their tracks.
The early momentum was in the Rock's favor.
But in an unexplainable act of kindness, SRU returned the ball to the Griffins as they fumbled on their own six.
Two plays and 40 seconds later, Seton Hill's Antwarn Jones scored on a three-yard run and after the kick, the hosts had 7-3 lead.
"[The offensive turnover] was frustrating but at the same time… we still had a chance to stop them from scoring on defense and we didn't do that," Morant said. "A lot of that still goes on the defense."
Be the first to comment on this story