SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University football team remained in a tie for first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division with a convincing 41-21 victory over Mercyhurst Saturday night at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The Rock (4-1, 2-0 PSAC) jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first half and were never really threatened in the game. SRU slammed the door in a big way in the third quarter, holding Mercyhurst (1-4, 0-2 PSAC) to just 16 yards of total offense and zero points, while extending the lead to 41-14.
 
Slippery Rock joins California (Pa.) and Clarion atop the PSAC West with unblemished 2-0 records, one-game ahead of No. 2 Indiana (Pa.) and Edinboro with 1-1 marks.
 
The victory Saturday night put the cap on an emotional evening for the SRU program, which honored former SRU player and 2015 graduate Brian Shaw at the game as part of its annual Salute to Military and First Responders event. Shaw was killed while serving as a police officer in New Kensington last November. His family and former police chief served as honorary captains for the game and were presented with the game ball following the game.
 
"I'm really glad we were able to win this game and present that game ball to Brian's parents," said head coach Shawn Lutz. "Brian was an incredible young man and one of the most well-liked guys that has ever played in our program. This win was for him and that family."
 


Slippery Rock won the opening coin toss, flipped by Shaw's brother, and wasted little time in turning that emotion into points. Roland Rivers connected with Zach Cirillo from five yards out to cap a 79-yard drive just 2:02 in and SRU never looked back.
 
The Rock put up 324 yards of offense by halftime and finished with 436 yards of total offense with 313 through the air and 123 on the ground. Mercyhurst threw for 171 yards and rushed for 96 for a total of 267 yards, which included just 67 total yards and two rushing yards in the second half.
 
Rivers improved to 3-0 as the SRU starter after accounting for four touchdowns and no turnovers. He completed 25-of-38 passes for 294 yards with three touchdowns and also rushed for a one-yard score. In three starts since taking over the job due to injuries, Rivers has accounted for 14 touchdowns and just one turnover.
 
A total of 12 different players caught at least one pass for SRU, led by Jermaine Wynn Jr. with seven catches for 70 yards and Dakota Clanagan with four catches for 71 yards. Cirillo and fellow tight end Aramis Alexander both caught TD passes, as did Mike Merhaut, who finished with two grabs for 53 yards.
 
SRU welcomed back two starters that missed the previous two or more games with injuries in running back Wes Hills and right guard Colten Raabe. Hills was explosive in limited work, averaging 7.7 yards per carry and finishing with 69 yards and one touchdown on just nine carries. Braden Fochtman started his third straight game and averaged 6.0 yards per carry to finish with 42 yards. Chacar Berry added 32 yards as SRU split its carries with no backs reaching double digits.
 
Jake Chapla made all five of his PAT kicks to stay perfect at 27-of-27 on the year, running his current streak of made PATs to 58. He missed his first field goal attempt of the game, from just 31 yards, but bounced back in a big way when he matched his career-high with a 51-yarder that was dead center. Chapla added a 20-yard chip shot in the second half to finish with two field goals and 11 total points.
 
The Rock defense was dominant in the trenches all night, with the exception of one 70-yard touchdown run with 2:11 to play in the first half. That one play accounted for nearly all of Mercyhurst's 95 rushing yards in the game. The Lakers gained just 25 rushing yards on their other 30 carries outside of the one big play. The Rock tallied eight tackles for loss and four sacks, with eight different players recording at least a half tackle for loss. Tim Soave led the way with 2.0 TFL and one sack, while Zach Bader, Trysten McDonald and Chad Kuhn all added one sack.
 
McDonald finished with a team-high eight total tackles, while Dalton Holt finished with seven stops and Eric Glover-Williams and Brad Zaffram each had six tackles. Kyle Hall came up with the lone turnover in the game with an interception that led to an SRU touchdown in the second quarter.
 
Mercyhurst got 82 rushing yards and one TD from running back Garrett Owens, who also led the team in receptions with five catches for 51 yards. Clay Waldron caught four passes for 73 yards and one TD. Doug Altavilla completed 15-of-31 passes for 171 yards with one TD and one INT.
 
Slippery Rock will now turn its focus to next Saturday's road trip to No. 2 Indiana (Pa.), where The Rock will look to spoil Homecoming for the Crimson Hawks. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
 
 
NOTES: Slippery Rock won its 15th straight home night game and has now won 22 of its last 23 home games under the lights … The Rock improved to 33-9 all-time in night games at home since lights were installed in 2003 … SRU improved to 42-6 at home since the beginning of 2010 ... SRU improved to 7-4 in the all-time series against Mercyhurst and has now won four straight against the Lakers … Roland Rivers improved to 3-0 as the starting QB after accounting for four TDs and no turnovers … he has accounted for 14 TDs and one turnover since taking over as the starter … RB Wes Hills (69 yards, 1 TD on 9 carries) and RG Colten Raabe returned after missing the last two plus games with injuries … SRU held Mercyhurst to just 16 yards in the third quarter and no points and is now outscoring opponents 57-9 in the third quarter … SRU allowed just two rushing yards in the second half and is now allowing an average of just 12.0 rushing yards per game in the second half as teams have rushed for a total of 60 second half yards in five games …. Jake Chapla remained perfect on the year in PAT kicks (27-27) and ran his current streak of made PATs to 58 … he entered the week with the longest streak in the region and the fourth longest active streak in the nation … Chapla tied his career-long with a 51-yard field goal and now has two made field goals of 50 yards or more this year ... SRU honored military personnel and first responders at the game and had former SRU player and 2015 alumnus Brian Shaw's family serve as honorary captains … Shaw was killed in 2017 while serving as a police officer.



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