No. 25 Slippery Rock football will return home on Saturday for a crucial rivalry game against Indiana University (Pa.).
Slippery Rock, coming off a 42-point victory over Seton Hill, will look to keep their season alive and hand IUP their first conference loss of the season.
The Crimson Hawks, coming off a bye week, have won four straight after dropping their season opener to Ashland University. Since then, IUP has averaged 46.75 points per game, including a 70-point performance against Millersville in week three. The Hawks are searching for their first win at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium since Oct. 16, 2021, when they came out on top 48-21 over SRU.
Last year’s matchup proved to be an instant classic, with the White and Green prevailing in dramatic fashion 33-32. With just 12 seconds remaining, quarterback Brayden Long found Mike Soloman in the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown, putting the Rock ahead by one point. IUP would threaten, eventually setting up a 54-yard field goal attempt that would fall short as time expired.
Saturday’s contest will mark the 99th meeting between the two programs, with IUP having the edge in the all-time series, 53-42-2. For the Crimson Hawks, Paul Tortorella enters in his eighth season as head coach. Tortorella, a Slippery Rock University alumnus, has gone 3-4 against SRU during his tenure. On the other sideline, Shawn Lutz has gone 4-4 against the Hawks during his time as Slippery Rock’s head coach.
At the helm of the IUP offense is quarterback Matthew Rueve, a graduate transfer from Boston College. Rueve has dominated thus far in his lone season with the Hawks, leading the PSAC in passing yards (1,608) and touchdowns (18). For the Rock, redshirt freshman DaOne Owens will look for the biggest win of his young career. Owens, who has started the last four games since taking over for Anthony Vespo, has thrown for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns.
On the receiving end, Maurice Massey and Devin Whitlock have been Rueve’s top targets. Massey, who was a Harlon Hill Award nominee last season, has pulled in 22 receptions for 470 yards and six touchdowns, both leading the PSAC. Whitlock, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Pitt, has recorded 406 yards and two touchdowns on the year.
For the Rock, Latrell Sutton and Joe White make up a bulk of SRU’s receiving threats. Sutton leads the team with 298 yards and four touchdowns, with White not far behind at 287 yards.
Leon Parson has received a majority of the carries for IUP, rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns on the season. Opposite him is JayJay Jordan, who’s looking to continue his dominance on the ground. Jordan leads the PSAC with 872 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging an impressive 148.7 yards per game.
Following the game, Slippery Rock football will return home Nov. 1 against Clarion on Senior Night.
