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WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University football team struggled without starting quarterback Jared Buck and starting first team All-Conference linebacker Austin Miele in suffering a 46-20 loss to No. 15 West Chester Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs on the road at Farrell Stadium.
 
The Rock finishes the 2014 season at 9-3 overall for the second straight year. West Chester improves to 11-1 overall.
 
After West Chester scored on the first drive less than two minutes into the game, Slippery Rock answered to tie the game at 6-6 after both teams missed their extra point tries. From there, it was all West Chester as the Golden Rams threw for five touchdowns in the first half and built up a 32-6 lead SRU would never recover from. West Chester posted a 389-35 edge in total yardage in the first half and held SRU's explosive running attack to negative 17 yards.
 
Buck, who was injured in last week's PSAC Championship win over Bloomsburg, was unable to make the start Saturday. Zack Newsock replaced him and West Chester capitalized by stacking eight and even nine players in the box to shut down The Rock's running attack.
 
To add insult to injury, first team All-PSAC linebacker Miele was injured on the second play of the game and could not continue. Also in the first half, PSAC West Freshman of the Year Marcus Martin was injured after taking a knee to the back and was forced to miss much of the opening half. He returned in the second half, but first team All-PSAC cornerback Admire Carter was then injured and could not continue as the injury woes took its toll on The Rock.
 
"That's a good football team and we have to give them credit," said head coach George Mihalik. "Unfortunately, we had some key injuries and they were able to capitalize on some of those opportunities."
 
West Chester finished the game with a massive advantage in the passing game as PSAC East Offensive Player of the Year Sean McCartney completed 23-of-40 passes for 405 yards and five touchdowns.
 
The Golden Rams finished the game with a 573-158 advantage in total yards after throwing for 425 yards and adding 148 rushing yards. Slippery Rock threw for 127 yards and ran for a season-low 31 yards.
 
Newsock completed 13-of-31 passes for 127 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in making his first start since the sixth game of the year. He was pulled midway through the second quarter and replaced by wide receiver Melvin German, who played quarterback in junior college and at Florida Atlantic before transferring to SRU this fall.
 
That change didn't equate to much success on offense as German failed to complete a pass and Newsock took back over just before halftime.
 
Shamar Greene finished the game with a season-low 23 yards and finishes his season with the second most rushing yards in Rock history at 1,482 for 2014. He has rushed for 2,209 yards in his first two collegiate seasons.
 
Teddy Blakeman led the team in rushing with 41 yards on nine carries. Drew Scales had a 50 yard kickoff return and caught two passes for 23 yards and one touchdown. Jaimire Dutrieuille caught three passes for 31 yards and one touchdown and Cornelius Raye caught his first career touchdown late in the fourth quarter to account for the final points of the game.
 
Cody Conway led Slippery Rock's defense with nine total tackles. Derrick Fulmore added eight stops, as did Isaiah Coleman.
 
Saturday's game marked the final game for The Rock's 13 seniors, who will leave the program as one of the most decorated classes in Rock football history. Slippery Rock won the PSAC West three times in the last four years, won the PSAC title this season and played in the NCAA playoffs in each of the last two years.
 
 
 
NOTES: Slippery Rock was making its second straight appearance and fifth overall in the NCAA Division II playoffs … The Rock lost in the first round for the third straight time (1999, 2013, 2014) … the last SRU win in the playoffs came in 1998 in the third round over Shepherd …. Slippery Rock was forced to play without starting QB Jared Buck, the MVP of the PSAC Championship game last week, as Buck was injured … SRU suffered injuries to all three first team All-PSAC defenders in the game in Austin Miele, Admire Carter and Marcus Martin … SRU went for a season-low 158 yards of offense after entering the game averaging 488 yards … West Chester advances to the second round to play at No. 1 Concord next Saturday … Slippery Rock finished its sixth straight season with a winning record and is one of only three teams in the PSAC to claim that honor … George Mihalik owns a career record of 185-109-4 at the conclusion of his 27th season as head coach at SRU … Saturday's game was the 298th for Mihalik as head coach of The Rock … Shamar Greene finishes the year with 1,482 yards, the second most in a single-season in SRU history.