PENNSYLVANIA Slippery Rock churns past Millersville in a quagmire
The Rock controlled the line of scrimmage in a steady rain to maul Millersville.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- It wasn't exactly a work of art, but then Mother Nature might have had something to say about that.
Playing in a steady rain that eventually turned the N. Kerr Thompson Stadium turf into a quagmire, the Slippery Rock University football team bounced back from a disappointing loss to Shippensburg last week to manhandle Millersville 33-9 Saturday.
"As I sit here now, I can't see any area of the team that didn't produce and come through for us today," said SRU coach George Mihalik. "It was just a total team effort that resulted in a very important win for us."
While Mihalik was happy with his team's effort, second-year Marauder coach Kevin Kiesel was disappointed with the effort of his squad.
Not playing to win
"In the end, the reality of it is that we didn't come out to compete today," said Kiesel. "We are a young team, but we have been playing young kids for five weeks now and they should be ready to come and play the game.
"We are a fragile team and sometimes we get our heads down, but the fact of the matter is that we left our defense out there on the field all day," he said. "We just couldn't get any [line] push all day long and as a result, they [SRU] controlled us up front."
The Rock (4-3) scored early and often in building up a commanding 19-0 lead less than two minutes into the second period. Doing the honors were Slippery Rock High product Josh Kniess with a nifty 17-yard scoring run, while Matt Tack hauled in a 29-yard scoring aerial from quarterback Jeff Valentino, and Ryan McKavish completed an 11-yard TD reception from Valentino.
Aerial success
For the game, Valentino completed 11 of 26 attempts for 199 yards and a pair of scores, while McKavish, who made some circus catches along the way, finished with seven receptions for 125 yards and the one score.
"He just comes up with catches all day that are hard to believe," said Valentino of his primary target. "He works hard to get open, and when I can get the ball near him, he is going to make the catch. He is definitely a big-time player who makes big-time catches."
If the game weren't decided by halftime, The Rock quickly took care of that issue in the third period as Brandon Lehmeier broke loose for a 41-yard scoring jaunt before Brad Foor got The Rock defensive unit into the scoring act when he intercepted a Chris Meyers pass and returned it 48 yards for the score.
A look at the third-quarter stat sheet would easily tell the story of The Rock domination as SRU piled up 293 yards of total offense, while at the same point The Rock defensive unit held the Marauders (0-6) to minus-3 yards of total offense.
First-down bulge
Other big statistical edges enjoyed by The Rock with 15 minutes left to play were a 16-2 spread in first downs as well as a 199-28 bulge in passing yardage.
"Our defense was just tremendous out there today," said Mihalik with a smile. "They completely shut things down, and when that happens, it gives you a secure feeling on the sideline. You say to yourself, 'Hey, as long as the offense can put points up, we will be all right.' "
Millersville0009--9
Slippery Rock136140--33
First Quarter
SLIPPERY ROCK -- Josh Kniess, 17 run (John Katsaouni kick), 13:14
SLIPPERY ROCK -- Matt Tack, 29 pass from Jeff Valentino (kick failed), 5:54
Second Quarter
SLIPPERY ROCK -- Ryan McKavish, 11 pass from Valentino (pass failed), 13:12
Third Quarter
SLIPPERY ROCK -- Brando Lehmeier, 41 run (Katsaouni kick), 6:00
SLIPPERY ROCK -- Brad Foor, 48 interception return (Katsaouni kick), 4:29
Fourth Quarter
MILLERSVILLE -- C. Scott-Peters, 1 run (Jamie Haas kick), 6:11
MILLERSVILLE -- Derrick McCall safety, 1:28