Boxscore

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Redshirted sophomore running back SayQuan Scott-Mitchell ran 23 yards for a touchdown with 59 seconds left to play Saturday night to lift the Slippery Rock University football team to a 31-27 win over visiting Bowie State University in NCAA Division II non-conference football action.

The run by Scott-Mitchell accounted for the seventh and final lead change of the game in both teams' season-opening game.

Scott-Mitchell finished the game with 38 yards on seven carries and the game-winning TD.

The Rock offensive attack was led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Colavecchia, who was 13-of-21 passing for 136 yards and two TDs in his first start at The Rock, and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kevin Sanders, who caught both TD tosses and finished the game with 62 yards on three receptions.

Redshirt junior Ryan Lehmeier led The Rock rushing attack with 50 yards on 13 carries.

The Rock outgained Bowie State by a narrow 223-220 margin in total offense with 87 yards rushing and 136 yards passing.

Senior defensive end Pat Marsilio led The Rock defensive effort with seven total tackles (six solo, two assisted) and 4.5 tackles for loss (-16 yards). Redshirt sophomores Jayson Nickson and Zach Sheridan each recorded an interception.

Bowie State had 64 yards rushing, led by Rodney Webb's 79 yards on 17 carries.

Andre Johnson ran for one TD and was 10-of-21 passing for 156 yards and one TD and had two passes picked off.

Tariq Jones ran for the other Bowie State TD.

The Rock plays a second straight home game next Saturday vs. Millersville.

The Rock moved 32 yards in eight plays on its first possession of the game and took a 3-0 lead on a 46-yard field goal by junior #C.J. Bahr# with 9:48 left to play in the first period.

The length of the kick matched Bahr's career-best boot last fall at Indiana (Pa.).

The hosts were forced to punt on their second possession and the attempt was blocked and ultimately picked up in the end zone by Bowie State's Gregory Jackson for a Bulldogs touchdown. The extra point kick gave the guests a 7-3 lead with 1:56 left in the first period.

The third Rock drive stalled at the Bowie State 12-yard line and set up a 22-yard field goal by Bahr that trimmed the deficit to 7-6 with 9:39 left in the second quarter.

At that point in the game, The Rock had outgained Bowie State by a 102-3 advantage in total yardage.

A bobbled snap from center on a punt attempt resulted in a 19-yard loss by the Bulldogs on the ensuing possession and set The Rock up at the guests' 18. Three plays later, Colavecchia  connected with Sanders for a 23-yard touchdown.

That was the first collegiate touchdown thrown by Colavecchia, a transfer from Kent State, and the first TD reception for Sanders. The score gave The Rock a 13-7 lead with 7:23 left in the first half.

The Rock lost that lead when Bowie State marched 72 yards in 10 plays to take a 14-13 lead with 12.9 seconds left before halftime. The drive was culminated by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Clifton Budd.

Halftime statistics showed The Rock with a 128-75 advantage in total yardage and a 9-5 advantage in first downs.

Colavecchia was 9-of-14 passing for 71 yards and one TD in the first half.

The Rock came out of the locker room with a head of steam and marched 68 yards in four plays, capped by a 41-yard TD toss from Colavecchia to Sanders. Bahr's second extra-point kick gave The Rock a 20-14 lead with 13:14 left in the third period.

The Rock added two points to its point total with 9:36 left to play when a high snap from center sailed over Bowie State punter Michael Gagne's head and into the end zone, then was kicked by him beyond the back line for safety. That extended The Rock's lead to 22-14, which is where the score stood at the end of three quarters.

Bowie State trimmed The Rock lead to two, 22-20, with a six-play, 59-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 24-yard TD run by Johnson with 14:32 left in the game. Johnson was then stopped short of the goal line on a two-point conversion run attempt.

The guests came right back to march 72 yards in nine plays on their next possession to take a 27-22 lead with 8:02 left to play. Jones capped the drive with a 12-yard TD run.

The Rock trimmed the margin to three points, 27-22, when Bowie State opted to take a safety rather than punt from inside its 10-yard line with four minutes left to play.

That set the stage for the game-winning drive, capped off by Scott-Mitchell's TD run.