Final Statistics

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Redshirt sophomore cornerback Brandon Burley picked off two passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown, to lead a four-pick defensive effort that helped propel Slippery Rock University to a 20-6 win over visiting Indiana U. of Pa. in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division football action Saturday night at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

Burley's 54-yard INT return ultimately accounted for the winning points as The Rock bounced  back from a 20-13 loss last Saturday at West Chester University, improved its season record to 3-1 and successfully opened its PSAC-West schedule.

Burley recorded his second INT of the game and the season early in the fourth quarter to help assure the victory.

The Rock offense scored two touchdowns, a 59-yard pass from senior quarterback Cody Endres to senior wide receiver Devin Goda at the 8:12 mark of the second quarter and a 36-yard run by redshirt junior running back Akeem Satterfield with 2:01 left in the game.

Endres finished the game with 17 completions in 29 attempts for 175 yards with one interception, Goda had eight catches for 104 yards and Satterfield rushed for 104 yards on 23 carries.

Behind the lead of that trio, SRU finished the game with a 321-258 advantage in total offense. The Rock rushed for 146 yards and passed for 175.

Harvie Tuck, the leading rusher in the PSAC (132.5 yards per game prior to Saturday), gained 125 yards on 28 carries for Indiana (1-2 overall, 0-1 PSAC-West), which finished the game with 127 rushing yards and 131 passing yards.

IUP starting quarterback Pat Smith was 5-of-13 passing for 48 yards and three one INT, while backup Mike Box was 5-of-12 for 83 yards with three INTs.

The Rock, in addition to picking off four passes, sacked the Crimson Hawks QBs three times for minus-10 yards. IUP, on the other hand, failed to sack Endres.

Senior linebacker Zach Sheridan recorded a career-high 15 tackles (11 assisted) to join Burley as the leaders of The Rock defensive effort.

Senior strong safety Jayson Nickson (14 return yards) and free safety Brandon Watters (0 return yards) each recorded an INT for The Rock. Watters also broke up two other passes.

The Rock plays a second straight home game next Saturday, when they will host Clarion (0-4, 0-1) in a PSAC-West game. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

SRU and IUP traded jabs throughout a scoreless opening 15 minutes of action Saturday before The Rock scored two second-quarter touchdowns to take a 13-0 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

A potential Rock scoring drive ended at the IUP 21 on the second play of the second period when the Crimson Hawks' Johnny Franco picked off an Endres pass. The drive started at midfield and was set up by a 23-yard punt return by Rock sophomore John Schademan.

That proved to be a bump in the road, though, as The Rock defense held IUP to one first down on the ensuing drive and forced a punt from midfield, which bounced into the end zone for a touchback.

The Green and White offense came right back on its next possession to score the first points of the game. Endres connected with Goda for a 59-yard touchdown on the sixth play of the drive to cap the 80-yard march. Junior Kurt Brackman tacked on the extra point to give SRU a 7-0 lead with 8:12 left in the second quarter of action.

Exactly 60 seconds later, The Rock lead was 13-0 as Burley picked off a pass by Smith and returned it 54 yards for a TD. Brackman's PAT kick sailed wide left of the goalpost.

The Rock defense also recorded an INT on the next IUP possession as Watters picked off a pass by Box in the end zone.

SRU threatened to add to its 13-0 lead on the drive following Watters' INT as the Green and White offense moved from their own 20 to the IUP 28. A run by holder Mike Bongivengo on a fourth-and-12 play gained only six yards and turned the ball over the visitors, who then took a knee on the final play of the first half.

The Rock finished the first half with a 208-129 advantage in total yards behind a 129-73 margin in passing yards and a 79-56 difference in rushing yards.

Satterfield gained 33 yards on nine rushing attempts in the opening half. Endres, who was 11-of-19 passing with one INT in the opening two periods, added 25 yards on five carries. Goda had six catches for 87 yards.

Tuck had 52 yards on 14 carries for IUP, while Smith was 4-of-11 passing for 38 yards and Box was 2-of-3 for 35 yards.

IUP took advantage of an offsides penalty against The Rock on the opening kickoff of the second half to trim the deficit to 13-3. The Crimson Hawks, after having the ball at their own 25 after the first kick, set up shop at The Rock 35 on the retry. That set the stage for a 30-yard field goal by Brett Ullman with 11:25 left in the third period.

The teams traded possessions for the remainder of the third period and the early part of the fourth quarter before Burley picked off Smith for the second time with 12:12 remaining in the game.

The opportunity went for naught, though, as The Rock offense, after taking possession at the IUP 48, lost one yard on the next three plays and was forced to punt.

IUP took possession at its 28 following the punt and moved inside The Rock 10. But, after having a first-and-goal at the SRU 9, had to settle for a 33-yard Ullman field goal with 6:28 left to play. That trimmed The Rock lead to seven points, 13-6.

Satterfield's 36-yard sprint up the middle with two minutes left provided The Rock with a comfortable final margin.

Notes:

Burley's INT for a TD was the third of the season for The Rock defense. Watters (50 yards) and Nickson (38 yards) each recorded a pick-six in the season opener at Seton Hill. Prior to this season, a George Mihalik-coached Rock team had never returned three INTs for a TD. Mihalik is in his 24th season as SRU's head coach … Both The Rock's Endres and IUP's Box are former QBs at Division I UConn … Goda, who had seven catches for 115 yards in the first two games this fall, has caught 19 passes for 207 yards in the last two games … Goda, with 124 receptions for 1553 yards in his four-year Rock career, moved two catches shy of taking third place on SRU's career receptions list and leaped three spots into seventh place on the career receiving yards chart … Goda has now had 100 or more receiving yards five times during his career … His yardage total Saturday was one yard shy of his career-best mark set against Clarion in 2009.