This season, Slippery Rock and West Chester shared seven common opponents. The only outcomes that the two teams did not share were Bloomsburg (Slippery Rock win 28-26, West Chester lost 41-10) and Mercyhurst (Slippery Rock lost 45-23 in Ann Arbor, MI, West Chester won 38-14). It's interesting to note that both of Slippery Rock's losses came by 20+ points.
Series History:
The overall series is even at seven games each, with head coach Bill Zwaan owning a 2-1 record against the Rock. Slippery Rock head coach George Mihalik is in his 27th season and has a career record of 185-108-4. He led the Rock to the playoffs in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2013 and has a postseason record of 3-4, although 0-3 on the road. Winston-Salem St knocked out the Rock in the first round last year, 27-20.
These two teams met for the conference championship game in 1961, 1963, 1972, 1973 and 1974 with West Chester winning the first two and Slippery Rock capturing the final three. In the final game of the regular season in 2006, with both teams owning a 7-3 record and the winner destined for the NCAA playoffs, West Chester won by a score of 21-20 when the Rock's 48-yard field goal attempt drifted wide left in the pouring rain in Slippery Rock.
In 2010 also in Slippery Rock, Shawn Leo kicked a field goal to put the Golden Rams up 27-24 with two and a half minutes left. But the Rock converted a 47-yard field goal of their own with 31 seconds left to send the game into overtime. The Rock quickly scored a touchdown in overtime, but Nick Garcia blocked the point after giving West Chester hope. Although the Golden Rams picked up a first down, they were unable to get into the end zone and fell 33-27.
Last 10 Meetings:
|
Year
|
H/A
|
W/L
|
Score
|
Year
|
H/A
|
W/L
|
Score
|
1961
|
Home
|
Win
|
21-0
|
1996
|
Home
|
Win
|
31-21
|
1963
|
Home
|
Win
|
36-7
|
1997
|
Away
|
Loss
|
27-14
|
1972
|
Away
|
Loss
|
29-27
|
2006
|
Away
|
Win
|
21-20
|
1973
|
Home
|
Loss
|
28-14
|
2010
|
Away
|
Loss
|
33-27 OT
|
1974
|
Away
|
Loss
|
20-7
|
2011
|
Home
|
Win
|
20-17
|
Last Meeting:
09/17/2011 West Chester 20 - Slippery Rock 17
West Chester was desperate for a win after opening the 2011 season 0-2 and were hosting 2-0 Slippery Rock. In a defensive struggle in which the Rock outgained the Golden Rams 295-221, West Chester won by a score of 20-17. West Chester used two big plays, a 65-yard touchdown catch by Rondell White and a 49-yard punt return by Jackson Fagan, and two Shawn Leo field goals for the scoring. Sean McCartney completed only seven passes in 18 attempts for 143 yards and a touchdown. And both teams managed only 53 yards rushing. As a redshirt freshman, linebacker Mike Labor registered a game-high 12 tackles including a tackle for loss and an interception. John O'Donnell had two interceptions including one at the West Chester 22-yard line with a minute left to secure the win.
Scouting the Opponent:
The running game is led by sophomore Shamar Greene (230 carries, 1,459 yards, 10 TD’s) who has rushed for at least 100 yards eight times this season, including 116 yards against Bloomsburg last week. He has lost five fumbles this season, including two in the PSAC championship game on Saturday. The Rock also looks to Greene in the passing game as he has 25 catches for 265 yards. He’s spelled by Indiana (PA) transfer Teddy Blakeman (108 carries, 445 yards, 8 TD’s) who is a bigger running back at 5’10 210 lbs. Both were All-PSAC West last season. They run behind a line that returned all five starters from last season, including Cory Tucker who was also All-PSAC West last year.
The Rock passing game is where things get interesting. Redshirt sophomore Zack Newsock (149-239, 1,664 yards, 12 TD’s, 10 interceptions) opened the season as the starting quarterback, but gave way to senior Jared Buck (81-127, 1,103 yards, 11 TD’s, 3 interceptions) after throwing three picks in their loss at California. Buck has played very well and was named Most Valuable Player of the PSAC championship game, but left that game after getting knocked unconscious early on the fourth quarter and did not return. Buck (44 carries, 175 yards, 1 TD) is also a mobile quarterback, and is expecting to be ready for Saturday. Even so, Newsock has plenty of experience and, oh yeah, Shamar Greene to carry the ball 20+ times.
When it comes to receivers, get out your mirror again. The Rock has seven players with at least 14 catches this season with none having gained 600 yards. Their top receiver is Melvin German (31 catches, 562 yards, 7 TD’s) who’s a 6’3 senior transfer for Florida Atlantic. All-PSAC West Jaimire Dutrieuille (49 catches, 547 yards, 4 TD’s) is a 5’8 speedster and Drew Scales (42 catches, 446 yards, 2 TD’s) is another option. Youngstown St transfer Juilian Harrell (14 catches, 14 yards, 1 TD) was All-PSAC West last season at tight end.
Scales handles both punt and kick returns and returned a kickoff for touchdown against Seton Hill. Against Gannon, Sam Funk blocked a punt and Nick Davis returned it six yards for a touchdown. Sounds a lot like Shabazz at New Haven. Punter Andrew Huska is averaging 38 yards on 58 punts, landing 18 inside the 20, forcing 18 fair catches, but also eight touchbacks. Mike Wainauskis is 10 of 12 on field goals with a long of 41 (two blocked) and 51 of 55 PAT’s. Tyler Matusak handles kickoff duties and has 15 touchbacks on 75 kickoffs.
Defensively, redshirt freshman defensive end Marcus Martin (66 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 10 QB hurries) was named PSAC West Freshman of the Year. He leads the PSAC and is third in the country with 16.0 sacks this season. All-PSAC West linebacker Austin Miele (86 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 11 pass breakups) is the Rock’s leading tackler and will appear to be everywhere on the field.
In the secondary, free safety Derrick Fulmore (57 tackles, six interceptions, 5 pass breakups) is second in the PSAC in interceptions. Cornerbacks Admire Carter (29 tackles, three interceptions, 16 pass breakups) and Kris Williams (40 tackles, 14 pass breakups) are among the leaders in the PSAC in passes defended. Strong safety Isaiah Coleman (60 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, five pass breakups) is also an asset in stopping the run.
Analysis:
The Rock's two losses were very different from each other, although the final margin was 20 points in each. California ran out to a 28-3 lead and the Rock never got closer than 15 points. Whereas in Ann Arbor, the Rock held a 23-14 lead, but failed to score in the second half. And Bloomsburg shut out Slippery Rock in the second half this past Saturday, but the deficit was too big for the Huskies to overcome. The Golden Rams are used to fast starts, outscoring opponents 138-34 in the first quarter and 258-84 in the first half. We may know the outcome by the time the Incomparable Golden Ram Marching Band takes the field at intermission.
Notes:
The game will be broadcast live on WPHL Channel 17...The winner of this contest will travel to Athens, WV to face the #2 seed Concord Mountain Lions at noon on Saturday, November 29.
Game Coverage:
West Chester Athletic Site - No. 17 West Chester Earns Four-Seed And Hosts Slippery Rock In First Round Of NCAA II Playoffs
West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Prepares To Battle Slippery Rock In NCAA First Round
Slippery Rock Athletic Site - NCAA Round 1 Preview: The Rock at West Chester
KYW Newsradio - West Chester Opens D-II NCAA Tournament Saturday
TimesOnline.com - West Allegheny grad Buck nabs MVP honors for Slippery Rock
TribLive.com - Slippery Rock seeks first NCAA playoff win since 1998
Daily Local News - WCU begins playoff journey at home
D2football - PSAC Columnist - Slippery Rock visits West Chester in D2 Playoff First Round
D2football - National Columnist - Bob Eblen - National Columnist
No comments:
Post a Comment