Rock locks up share of West with win over Lakers

For the first time since 1999, the Rock is 8-1 and for the first time since 2000, the Rock has locked up at least a share of the PSAC-West title.

Slippery Rock University clinched both of those accomplishments with a 28-21 win over defending PSAC-West champion Mercyhurst College.

A win next week against Gannon University will ensure an outright win of the West for the Green and White and will add another accomplishment to this season. The Rock would also earn a berth to the NCAA national tournament.

Down 21-14 with 5:27 to play in the game, the Rock gambled on fourth down and 12 in an attempt to tie the game. It paid off as senior quarterback Cody Endres hooked up with redshirt freshman receiver Ken Amos for a 22-yard pass and catch to tie the game at 21.

"I slid the protection the wrong way," Endres said about the touchdown pass. "I knew I had to get the ball out quick and Ken made a good play."

Endres finished the game 17 for 29 for 195 yards with four touchdowns, three throwing and one rushing, and one interception. Two of Endres' touchdowns went to senior wide receiver Devin Goda.

Goda's touchdown total is now at nine for the year. Goda finished the game with six catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns.

"I'm just happy we got a ring," Goda said. "I felt comfortable with my play and everyone around me makes me better and more comfortable."

A field goal on fourth down would have left SRU down by four points and would have forced them to get the ball back and score another touchdown. This thought was the final factor in head coach George Mihalik's mind as he decided to go for it on fourth down.

"I talked with the special teams coach and I knew we could make the field goal from there," Mihalik said. "But we would still have to score a touchdown on our next drive, so I figured we're down here, why not go for it."

Late in the fourth quarter, the game still tied at 21, sophomore cornerback Anthony Saunders intercepted a pass from Laker quarterback Anthony Vendemia and returned it down to the Mercyhurst two-yard line, where a personal foul face mask moved it even closer to the goal line.

"I read my keys," Saunders said about the interception. "They had run that play a couple times before that. I'm disappointed I didn't score."

When Saunders made the interception, Mihalik had no doubt in his mind that this was the Rock's game to win.

"When Anthony picked that pass off, well, I can't describe the feeling," Mihalik said. "At that point, I knew the game was ours."

Defensively, the Rock tallied three interceptions and three sacks against the Lakers, two of the interceptions coming in the final minutes of the game.

"Obviously, we are playing great defensive football right now," Mihalik said. "And when we get great defensive play from everyone, we are going to win games."

Leading the way on defense was senior linebacker Jake Wickline who registered 14 tackles against Mercyhurst and intercepted two passes, the first coming on Mercyhurst's opening drive of the second half.

Wickline's second interception came on a third and four in the final minute of the game and was the deciding factor in the SRU victory.

"I saw the quarterback rolling out on both picks," Wickline said. "He threw back across his body and I dropped back and intercepted it."

The Rock will go on the road Saturday for a noon start in their final PSAC-West game against the Gannon University Golden Knights (3-6 overall, 2-4 PSAC).