Slippery Rock University Athletics

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University quarterback Dante Nania racked up 371 yards of total offense and accounted for five touchdowns to lead The Rock to a convincing 56-21 win over California University (Pa.) Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The Rock scored touchdowns on each of their first two possessions to ignite the massive Homecoming crowd and never looked back from there.
 
The victory improves Slippery Rock to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in PSAC West action. California drops to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in divisional play with the loss.
 
The Rock finished Saturday's game with 609 yards of offense after a balanced attack rushed for 297 yards and went for 312 through the air. California had success moving the ball most of the day, finishing with 514 yards of offense, but couldn't put points on the board. The Vulcans threw for 445 yards and ran for 69, but were intercepted twice on the goal line and were stopped twice on fourth down after having a pair of first-and-goals inside the five-yard line.
 
Nania took advantage of the best weather he has seen since beginning his Rock career earlier this fall and was dominant in leading the offense. He completed 18-of-26 passes for 312 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Nania also ran the ball 13 times for 59 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
 
The offense got big contributions from multiple players at the skill positions, beginning with wide receiver Jaimire Dutrieuille, who caught a 74-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter to put The Rock out front for good. He finished with three catches for 120 yards and one score. Marcus Carter added four catches for 88 yards and one touchdown, a perfectly thrown 45-yard strike in the second quarter that made the score 28-7. Cornelius Raye added three catches for 36 yards and one touchdown, an 18-yarder in the second quarter that gave SRU a 35-7 halftime lead.
 
Julian Durden rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries for an average of 10.6 yards per attempt. Shamar Greene rushed for 92 yards and one touchdown and did most of his work in the first half, sitting out the majority of the second half with the game in hand. Isiah Neely added 39 yards on nine carries to help the team to an average of 5.6 yards per carry.
 
The Rock defense finished the game with nine players that had at least five tackles and a total of four sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
 
Deonte Flemings, John Conglose and Bob Vernick led the way with nine tackles each. Vernick added 2.5 tackles for loss and Flemings came away with one interception, two pass breakups and one forced fumble.
 
Teven Williams recorded eight tackles, one solo sack and two tackles for loss. Titus Howard recorded two interceptions and one pass breakup while guarding Cal's top receiver, Garry Brown most of the day. Brown entered the game averaging more than 100 yards per outing, but was held to 61 yards and no touchdowns.
 
Alfon Cook forced and recovered one fumble and returned it 41 yards and Avery Anderson recorded one sack and one forced fumble.
 
California was paced by quarterback James Harris, who completed 24-of-41 passes for 349 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Kowan Scott caught seven passes for 143 yards and Luke Smorey grabbed five passes for 122 yards.
 
The Vulcans first touchdown of the day came from John Franklin III on a two-yard rush that tied the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter. They were shutout all the way up until the fourth quarter when Jordan Bowman returned a blocked punt 40 yards for a touchdown to make it 49-14 with 14:50 to play.
 
Cal's second offensive touchdown of the game also came thanks to the special teams after a second blocked punt in a row was recovered deep in SRU territory. Jimmy Wheeler rushed in from 18 yards out to make it 49-21 with 13:02 to play.
 
Durden capped the game's scoring with a 21-yard TD run with 9:48 to play.
 
Slippery Rock returns to the road next weekend with a noon kickoff at Mercyhurst University. The game will be televised live nationally on ESPN3.com and the Watch ESPN app.
 
 
Notes: Slippery Rock has won its Homecoming game each of the last seven years … The Rock are now 24-4 on Homecoming under head coach George Mihalik … Slippery Rock won its 13th straight home game and has not lost at home since Nov. 10, 2012 … The Rock are now 8-2 all-time against Cal U on Homecoming and have won the last eight straight Homecoming meetings with Cal U …  Shamar Greene moved up to 10th on the career rushing ledger at SRU and now has 2,647 career yards … Jaimire Dutrieuille caught his 15th career TD pass and now sits seventh on the career ledger at SRU … John Conglose made his first career start at strong safety and led the team in tackles with nine … George Mihalik earned his 190th career victory …  Andrew Huska took over placekicking duties after the first TD of the game and went 7-for-7 on extra point tries in the game … Huska also averaged 45.0 yards per punt.