On Thursday, Slippery Rock overcame a 16-point deficit with under seven minutes remaining to knock off no. 12 Minnesota Duluth University at home, 45-43.
Minnesota Duluth opened the night with a steady first possession, driving deep into Rock territory before settling for a field goal. Following a 40‑yard kickoff return from Saint Francis transfer Jahmil Perryman, senior quarterback Brad Hoffman found tight end Vincent Berardi streaking over the middle for a 54‑yard touchdown. This put SRU in front after the first play from scrimmage.
Both offenses stalled through the middle of the quarter, but UMD flipped momentum with a 79‑yard burst from Derrick Johnson, reclaiming the lead. The Bulldogs struck again with 20 seconds left in the half when quarterback Jacob Eggert hit Ben Fritsch for a 9‑yard score, sending SRU into the locker room trailing 17–7.
The Rock’s halftime adjustments didn’t show immediately. After another three‑and‑out, Johnson silenced the defense again, this time for a 58‑yard touchdown, stretching the deficit and draining early‑third‑quarter energy from the home sideline.
With 8:22 left in the third, SRU’s offense finally found a spark. A 31‑yard catch from Berardi set up Hoffman’s 28‑yard strike to JayJay Jordan, who fought through defensive pass interference to haul in a highlight‑reel touchdown.
Just as SRU seemed to claw back into the game, the defense suffered a major blow. After forcing a fourth down, a targeting call on captain Jacob Snow overturned the stop and resulted in an ejection for the senior from Mentor, Ohio. The setback didn’t linger long. Three plays later, Wilkes University transfer Michael Cornick III jumped a route and intercepted Eggert, giving the White and Green life.
Despite this, it wouldn’t be long before Duluth responded again. After SRU’s offense stalled, UMD senior Alex Riley broke free for another long rushing score, stretching the margin to three possessions and thinning out the student section donned in their white-out shirts.
Bad would continue to become worse for The Rock, when, on the ensuing drive, Hoffman was helped off the field by training staff following a run up the middle.
With the defense delivering another stop, redshirt sophomore DaOne Owens entered, looking to replicate his heroics as he did last year against Shepherd. Owens immediately provided a spark, hitting Reggie Fleurima and Ethan Trettel to move deep into UMD territory before finding John Sabo in the end zone for his first catch of the game. A mishandled snap spoiled the two‑point attempt, keeping the game at a two-score deficit.
Duluth threatened to put the game away, driving to SRU’s 31-yard line. However, on third down, true freshman Aaron Scales Jr. scooped up a fumble forced by Brett Kwoka and sprinted 65 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 3 with 3:13 remaining.
UMD’s next possession fell flat thanks to back‑to‑back penalties, before punter Drew Henson pinned SRU at their own 8. With 1:47 left and no timeouts, Owens went to work. Completions to Fleurima, Trettel and Hamilton Gates pushed the ball to the opposing 13‑yard line. A third‑down pass just beyond Trettel’s reach forced SRU to send out Wittenburg transfer Connor Macek, who drilled the game‑tying kick.
“I felt really confident we were going to win when it got into overtime,” said Lutz.
In overtime, SRU faced third‑and‑ten and refused to settle. A gritty 9‑yard catch from Sabo set up fourth‑and‑one, and head coach Shawn Lutz, known for his aggressive play style, kept the offense on the field. Owens powered forward on a sneak to move the chains. On the next play, Owens was shaken up after a 6‑yard run, bringing Hoffman back in. Despite the change under center, Hoffman immediately delivered, hitting Berardi in the back of the end zone for SRU’s first lead since the opening quarter.
Eggert answered with three quarterback sneaks, finding the end zone and forcing double overtime. Johnson opened the second frame with his third touchdown of the night, but SRU’s defense stuffed Austin Randall on the two‑point try, keeping the margin at six.
On third down, a defensive pass interference call on Sabo set up a fresh set of downs. One snap later, Jordan sliced through the Bulldog front for the tying score.
“The one regret I have is that we didn’t give JayJay the ball more; he didn’t have enough carries,” Lutz said. “We’re going to correct that.”
With SRU just three-yards away from the victory, Owens took off, hurdling a Duluth defender and landing in the end zone, sealing an improbable 45-43 victory.
“[It was] magical when he made that play,” recalled Lutz. “He’s just really smooth. He’s a playmaker.”
Despite the victory, coach Lutz says there’s plenty to work on between the hashes.
“I’m not happy the way we played tonight. We got a lot of things that need corrected.” Lutz continued, “the thing I’m most proud of is that when a lot of people are down that way they give up or quit. These guys fought to the very end.”
On the ground, Minnesota-Duluth out rushed Slippery Rock by 370 yards to just 87.
Hoffman led the rushing attack with 42 yards, followed by Owens and Jordan with 23 each.
Through the air, Berardi served as the leading receiver, hauling in four catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, Kwoka and Brian Young Jr. registered 1.5 sacks each, with the former also recording a forced fumble.
Heading into the bye week, coach Lutz feels confident lining up against any opponent on their schedule.
“We’re not scared,” he said. “If we’re going to be a playoff football team, we have to play the best.”
