Complete Game Notes (28-page PDF)

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University football team will host Mercyhurst University Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action as part of the annual "Salute to Military and First Responders" event. All current and former military personnel and first responders will be admitted free. SRU will also honor the 35th class to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame with a halftime recognition.
 
Below you will find all pertinent information regarding the special events, tickets, parking, tailgating and live coverage, along with complete game notes.
 
LIVE INTERNET COVERAGE
• Live Stats  |  Provided by SRU athletic communication office.
• Live Streaming Video (FREE)  |  Provided by SRU athletic communication office.
• Live Audio (Online and Radio)  |  Provided by The Rock Station 97.7 FM (Butler).
• Twitter  |  All scoring information and in-game updates.
 
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch the game live and on-demand for free on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple RV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chrome Cast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
 
TICKETS (For advance tickets, Call 724-738-2021 or stop by the Athletic Office in Morrow Field House)
• Tickets can be purchased on game day. The stadium gates will open at 4:30 p.m.
• Chair-back Reserved Seat - $10
• Reserved Bench Seat - $10
• Adult General Admission - $8
• Students Ages 6-High School – $3
• Children Ages 6 and Under – FREE
• SRU Students – FREE with valid student ID
• Students from other Colleges - $5 with valid student ID
 
PARKING
• Parking is available in the lots surrounding the stadium
• Parking spaces are $5 in all tailgating lots (directly below stadium)
• Campus Map  |  Stadium is #52 on Map
 
TAILGATING
• Tailgating is allowed in paid lots three hours before kickoff (lots open at 3 p.m.)
• No Tailgating at halftime
• All Tailgaters must enter game at kickoff
• Tailgating is open for two hours after game ends
• No hard liquor or glass bottles
• Adhere to all campus tailgating rules found HERE.
 
GAIL ROSE LODGE CLOSED - PRESIDENT'S TENT OPEN FOR MEMBERS
Due to renovation needs, the Gail Rose Stadium Lodge is closed for the 2018 football season. Rock Athletic Club members that had access to the lodge have been sent information about access to the "President's Tent" that is set up inside the stadium. Members will need to bring their passes to gain access to the stadium and to the tent, where food and beverages will be served throughout the game. For more information or questions, contact Erin Bryer in the SRU Foundation at ebryer@srufoundation.org or by phone at 724.738.4611.
 
SALUTE TO MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS EVENTS
• Free admission for all veterans, active duty military, current and retired first responders. All persons that fit that criteria will be admitted free through the gate that is marked for SRU students.
• The Pennsylvania National Guard will have interactive displays in the stadium parking lot, including a Stryker armored vehicle, a rock climbing wall, a howitzer cannon, various weapons, helmets and other body armor. Fans will have the opportunity to climb into the Stryker and to try on helmets and armor at the display, which is free and open to the public, with or without game tickets.
• The Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Department will have one of its ladder trucks on display in the stadium during the game. The ladder will be extended 100 feet in the air and a massive American flag will hang from the top of the ladder.
• Slippery Rock will wear its "cadet gray" uniforms that pay homage to the original colors worn by the United States Army. The uniforms closely resemble the color of the gray uniforms cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point have worn since the early 1800s.
 
ROCK TO HONOR BRIAN SHAW
Slippery Rock is wearing helmet decals all season long in honor of former SRU kicker and 2015 SRU graduate Brian Shaw, who was killed while serving as a police officer in New Kensington last November. This week, SRU will recognize Shaw as part of its annual Salute to Military and First Responders event. Shaw's family will be in attendance and his parents, brother and former police chief will serve as honorary captains for the game.
 
HALL OF FAME
Slippery Rock will induct its 35th class into the SRU Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday afternoon. Those inductees will be recognized at halftime of the game. Read about the class HERE.
 

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THE GAME
Slippery Rock (3-1, 1-0 PSAC) opened conference play with a 49-26 win over Seton Hill last week and looks to carry that momentum into a second straight home night game when Mercyhurst (1-3, 0-1 PSAC) visits. The Lakers played three low-scoring, one-possession games to open the year before falling 34-7 at No. 3 Indiana (Pa.) last week in the PSAC opener.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Slippery Rock owns a 6-4 advantage in the all-time series that only dates back to the 2008 season when Mercyhurst joined the PSAC. This marks the first time in the last four years that SRU enters this game unranked. The Rock won each of the last three meetings and four of the last five in the series with the only Mercyhurst win during that stretch coming at Michigan Stadium in 2014. SRU is 4-0 all-time at home in the series and has won those four games by an average of 11.0 points.
 
• First Meeting: 2008 (MU won 34-10)
• Last Meeting: 2017 (SRU won 31-28)
• Current Streak: Slippery Rock 3
• at MU: MU leads 3-2
• at SRU: SRU leads 4-0
• Most Points Scored (MU): 45 (2014)
• Most Points Scored (SRU): 58 (2013)
• Biggest Win Margin (SRU): 24 (2013)
• Last MU Win: 2014 at Michigan (45-23)
 
LAST MEETING - 10/7/17  |  Box Score
No. 12 Slippery Rock scored 10 points early in the fourth quarter to break open a 21-21 game and held off a late charge from Mercyhurst to secure a 31-28 win in Erie last October. The teams traded momentum throughout a game that featured ties at 7-7, 14-14 and 21-21 before SRU kicked a field goal and scored on a 64-yard pass early in the fourth. The Rock put up 442 yards of offense with 335 passing yards and 114 rushing yards. Mercyhurst went for 392 total yards with 326 passing yards and 66 rushing yards. Tanner Garry threw for 335 yards with four TD and no INT to lead the SRU offense, which also got 100 yard receiving efforts from both Marcus Johnson and Milly Raye. Doug Altavilla threw for 326 yards, two TD and no INT in leading the Mercyhurst offense.

COACHING MATCHUP
Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz is in his 23rd overall season at The Rock and his third as head coach, where he owns an 18-8 record after posting 7-4 and 8-3 records the last two years. Prior to that, he served four years as the associate head coach and eight as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Lutz has been a member of the coaching staff for eight of SRU's PSAC West titles. He played tight end at West Virginia University, graduating in 1996, and earned a master's degree in sport management from SRU in 2003.
 
Marty Schaetzle is in his 17th season as the head coach at Mercyhurst, where he owns an 83-97 overall record that includes a 62-54 mark since the Lakers joined the PSAC in 2008. He has been named the PSAC West Coach of the Year three times since 2008. Schaetzle came to Mercyhurst after spending five seasons as an assistant coach at Bucknell, where he served as offensive coordinator at his Alma Mater. He graduated from Bucknell in 1983 after a playing career as an offensive lineman.
 
LAST WEEK FOR SLIPPERY ROCK
Slippery Rock didn't miss a beat despite missing at least six starters for the second straight week, putting up more than 500 yards of offense and rolling to a 49-26 win over Seton Hill. The Rock threw for 340 yards and rushed for 163 yards with a balanced attack offensively and held Seton Hill to just 58 rushing yards in forcing the Griffins into 55 pass attempts. SRU averaged more than eight yards per play, led by QB Roland Rivers, who rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown and threw for 327 yards and five touchdowns. Six different players caught a TD pass for SRU. Trysten McDonald led the defense with eight tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.
 
LAST WEEK FOR MERCYHURST
Mercyhurst played three straight one-possession games to open the year, where the margin of victory never exceeded five points, before running into PSAC favorite and current No. 2 nationally ranked Indiana (Pa.) last week. The Crimson Hawks rolled to a 34-7 win on their home field after holding the Lakers to 266 total yards, 92 rushing yards and just 13 first downs. Doug Altavilla completed 12-of-21 passes for 174 yards with one interception, while being sacked five times. Garrett Owens rushed for 90 yards and Austin Hence caught seven passes for 120 yards to pace the offense.
 
ROCK MISSING KEY PLAYERS
SRU played without three of its captains for the second straight week with Andrew Koester, Wes Hills and Tavarus Sample all missing last week's game. SRU was also without backup QB Taylor King, starting DT Wilford Clark and starting OL Colten Raabe for the second straight week last week.
 
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Rock football teams have compiled a 162-66 (.711) record the last 42 seasons in games played at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium (formerly known as N. Kerr Thompson Stadium). The Rock own a 63-21 (.750) home record since artificial turf was installed in the summer of 2003 and are 59-14 (.808) in home games since 2005. The numbers get even better in recent years, as The Rock are 28-2 (.933) since the beginning of 2013 and have posted a 41-6 (.872) record at home since the beginning of the 2010 season.
 
TURN THE LIGHTS ON
Slippery Rock has won 14 straight home night games and has won 21 of its last 22 home games under the lights. The Rock are 32-9 all-time at home in night games since lights were installed at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium in 2003 and haven't lost at home under the lights since a back-and-forth 56-49 shootout loss to Kutztown on Sept. 29, 2012.
 
RIVERS NAMED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Slippery Rock QB Roland Rivers was third on the depth chart heading into week three of the season, but injuries to starter Andrew Koester and backup Taylor King in week two paved the way for Rivers to start in week three. He showed great improvement in his second start last week, extending plays with his legs and putting up 407 yards of total offense and six touchdowns with 327 passing yards and five TD strikes to go along with 80 rushing yards and one score. His five TD passes in a single-game are tied for the third most in SRU program history. That effort landed Rivers the PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Week honor this week.
 
RIVERS SET TO START AGAIN
There is a chance Taylor King could return to the lineup this week, but Rivers will get the start for the third week in a row based on his performance over the last two weeks. While the completion percentage of 48.2 percent isn't great, Rivers continues to get comfortable with a new offense and new receivers. In two games, he has thrown for 453 yards with seven touchdowns and just one interception, which came after a dropped pass by his receiver found its way to a defensive back. He has also rushed for 120 yards and three scores, is averaging 6.7 yards per carry and has yet to be sacked in two games.
 
FOCHTMAN FIGHTING FOR MORE TOUCHES
With starting RB Wes Hills out with an injury, Braden Fochtman has started the last two games. The Rock didn't need to lean on a hot hand with both games comfortably in control, so SRU has split carries and preserved the hits each of its running backs has taken. In limited touches, however, Fochtman has shown his value with some highlight plays, including leaping over a defender for a TD at Millersville and bowling through and spinning off tackles on a 32 yard run last week. He averaged 7.9 yards per carry in each of the last two weeks.
 
LITWIN KEEPS ROLLING
WR Henry Litwin has caught at least one TD pass in every game so far this season and has caught TD passes from three different quarterbacks. He grabbed his team-high fifth TD last week against Seton Hill and enters this week with team-highs of 16 catches for an average of 74.0 yards per game. His five TD grabs so far this season currently rank him 11th in the nation among all Division II players.
 
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP FOR McDONALD
LB Trysten McDonald started every game last season as a true freshman and has turned that valuable experience into a breakout start to his sophomore campaign. McDonald currently leads all players in the nation in fumble recoveries with three and ranks 11th in the nation in forced fumbles per game at 0.5. Last week, he recovered a fumble on the SRU one-yard line to stop one drive, intercepted a pass on the SRU 11-yard line to end another drive and forced one fumble that led to an SRU score a few plays later. He has 20 tackles, 3.0 TFL, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one blocked kick and one interception in four games.
 
DEFENSE RANKS HIGH NATIONALLY
The Rock defense enters week five ranked eighth in the nation in tackles for loss (10.0 per game), sixth in defensive TDs (2), seventh in turnovers gained (12), 14th in passes intercepted (7), 14th in sacks (3.5 per game) and 18th in red zone defense (.588). Trey Blandford ranks 10th in the nation in sacks per game (1.25) and tackles for loss per game (2.3), while Chad Kuhn ranks 16th in the nation in sacks per game (1.13).
 
CHAPLA STREAKING
Jake Chapla is 22-for-22 in point after tries this season and has now made 53 straight PAT kicks dating back to the midway point of last season. That streak ranks him first among all players in Super Region One and fourth among all active kickers in Division II.
 
Made PAT Streaks - Active NCAA Division II Players
1. 95 - Julio De la Garza (Texas A&M Kingsville - Senior)
2. 68 - Perry Schmiedeler (Washburn - Senior)
3. 67 - Kristov Martinez (Texas A&M Commerce - Senior)
4. 53 - Jake Chapla (Slippery Rock - Junior)
5. 50- Joe Carlos (SE Oklahoma State - Senior)
5. 50 - Casey Bednarski (Minnesota State - Senior)
 
RETURN GAME GETTING STRONGER
Slippery Rock enters week five of the season ranked fifth in the nation in kickoff return average at 25.3 yards per return. The Rock also rank 29th in the nation in punt return average at 14.0 yards per kick. Of note when looking at those numbers is newcomer Jermaine Wynn Jr., who currently ranks ninth in the nation in punt return average at 17.6 yards per return, which doesn't count the fact that Wynn has had two punt return TDs called back for penalties this year. Eric Glover-Williams ranks 31st in punt return average at 12.4 yards per return. Mark Carter doesn't have enough returns to qualify for the NCAA rankings yet, but he has shown explosive skills in limited action, averaging 57.0 yards per return on his two returns so far.
 
RUN DEFENSE DOMINANT IN SECOND HALF OF GAMES
The Slippery Rock defense has been dominant against the run in the second half of games so far this year with opponents averaging just 14.5 rushing yards over the third and fourth quarters. That trend continued last week with Seton Hill rushing for just 14 second half yards.
 
OWNING THE THIRD QUARTER
Slippery Rock has come out of halftime with a purpose in each of the first four weeks of the season. The Rock are outscoring opponents 47-9 in the third quarter through four games and have allowed just one touchdown, which
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE ABOUT TO CHANGE DRASTICALLY
Slippery Rock has yet to beat a team this season that has a single win. The Rock's wins so far all came over teams that enter week five of the season with 0-4 records. Adding Mercyhurst's 1-3 record, SRU's first five opponents are a combined 3-17 (.150) through four weeks. The strength of schedule is about to change in a big way, as SRU's week 6-9 opponents are a combined 12-4 (.750) entering this week's games.
 
STARTERS NOTES
Only eight total players on the SRU roster entered the year with at least 10 career starts under their belts. RT Steve Gaviglia is the most experienced player with 25 career starts, including 15 straight. LT Chris Larsen has started 20 games and receivers Mike Merhaut and Carnel Harley have started 11 as the most experienced offensive players. Defensively, Kyle Hall leads the way with 16 career starts, while Khadir Roberts and Trysten McDonald have each started 15 straight games. Roberts' streak is expected to end this week. OL Dalton Beyer made his first career start last week to bring the total number of players that have made their first career start this season to 14. DB De'Vijan Franklin is in line to make his first career start this week.
 
MERCYHURST QUICK HITS
• Mercyhurst enters the game with a deceptive 1-3 record that includes a five-point road loss at Hillsdale, which is receiving votes in this week's national poll, a road loss to No. 3 Indiana (Pa.) and a four-point home loss to undefeated Tiffin.
 
• Mercyhurst is one of the few teams in the region that still runs a true pro-style offense with a fullback and a tight end. The Lakers average just 58.8 offensive plays per game, double figures below the league average in the PSAC.
 
• Mercyhurst's offense has yet to score more than 20 points this season and enters the game averaging 12.5 points and 281.0 yards per game. The defense, however, is only giving up 20.5 points and 348.8 yards per game and has kept the Lakers in three of their four games this season.
 
• QB Doug Altavilla averages 166.2 passing yards per game and has thrown for 665 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. WR Austin Hence is the top target with 18 catches for 261 yards and two TD. RB Garrett Owens ranks second on the team in catches with 13 for 71 yards and one TD. Owens is also averaging 86.0 rushing yards per game and has one TD on the ground. Marcus Placke (11 catches, 105 yards) and Clay Waldron (8 catches, 114 yards) round out the top receivers.
 
• Jake Tarasovitch leads the defense with 35 tackles, while Dante Rodriguez and Chris Peluso each have 31 tackles and Rocky Owens has 30 tackles and a team-high 4.5 tackles for loss. No Laker player has recorded an interception yet this season.

UP NEXT
Slippery Rock will travel to No. 2 Indiana (Pa.) next Saturday, Oct. 6, for a 2 p.m. kickoff on the Crimson Hawks' Homecoming weekend.


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