Series History:
The Rock leads the series between the two schools, 11-9. Head coach Bill Zwaan is 4-5 against Slippery Rock while his counterpart Shawn Lutz is 58-17 after six seasons as head coach there. Slippery Rock has qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs in each of the last four seasons.
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.
West Chester crushed the Rock in the first round of the 2014 NCAA playoffs at Farrell Stadium. The 2015 PSAC championship game pitted these two schools against each other, and Slippery Rock humiliated the Golden Rams in that game. The Rock had also won the next two games as these two teams faced each other in the early season crossover matchup in 2016 and 2017. Then in the 2018 PSAC Championship game, the Golden Rams scored touchdowns on their first four posessions to take a 27-3 lead, before they coasted to a 33-10 victory for West Chester's first conference crown since 1971.
Last 10 Meetings:
| Year |
H/A |
W/L |
Score |
Year |
H/A |
W/L |
Score |
1997 |
Away |
Loss |
27-14 |
2015
|
Home |
Loss |
61-12 |
2006
|
Away
|
Win
|
21-20
|
2016
|
Home
|
Loss
|
36-28
|
2010 |
Away |
Loss |
33-27 OT |
2017 |
Away |
Loss |
49-42 |
2011
|
Home |
Win |
20-13 |
2018 |
Away |
Win |
33-10 |
2014 |
Home |
Win |
46-20 |
2022 |
Home |
Loss |
35-14 |
Last Meeting:
09/10/2022 Slippery Rock 35 - West Chester 14
The Golden Rams entered halftime trailing only 14-7, but the Rock scored three touchdowns to expand the lead to 35-7. Quaterback Cooper Jordan entered with less than three minutes left in the game and connected with D'Shaun Seals on a six-yard touchdown pass in the closing seconds to set the final score. The Slippery Rock offense racked up over 400 yards and their defense made four sacks and had two interceptions.
Seals and Rahiem Bowens each had three catches. Maurice Beverly paced the Golden Ram defense with six tackles and a pass breakup while Sterlen Barr, Jr. had three tackles, an interception and a blocked field goal.
Scouting the Opponent:
Offensively, the Rock has strength in the running game. They return first team All-PSAC West running back Chris D'Or and added transfer Khalid Dorsey (Shippensburg). The offensive line sports All-PSAC West representatives Yuriy Hryckowian at left tackle, Colton Rossi at left guard, and Jeff Burkhart at center. They balance the right side with Pittsburgh transfer Nick Stazer at right guard and 6'7 sophomore Joe Cooper at right tackle. Adding to the run option is the fact that preseason D2football.com Elite 100 Watch List wide receiver Kyle Sheets got hurt on the first play of last week's game and did not return.
Analysis:
Versus Sports simulates a 36-18 win for Slippery Rock and Massey Ratings projects a 31-17 Rock victory.
If you can, avoid the lines and buy your tickets online.
Game Coverage:
West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Heads West to Take on No. 15 Slippery Rock Saturday
Coach Zwaan Podcast - Inside the Huddle with Coach Zwaan: Episode 1
PSAC Site - PSAC Week 2 Football Notes
Slippery Rock Athletic Site - No. 15 Rock welcomes West Chester Saturday night
D2football - PSAC Columnist - PSAC Week Two Preview
D2football - National Columnist - Chuck Bitner - National Columnist
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