Complete Game Notes (32-page PDF)
 
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The eighth ranked Slippery Rock University football team will host Shepherd University in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.  
 
Below you will find all pertinent information regarding tickets, parking, tailgating and live coverage, along with complete game notes.
 
 GAME DETAILS
• NCAA Division II Playoffs - Second Round  |  Complete Bracket
• Location: Mihalik-Thompson Stadium (capacity 10,000)
• Kickoff Time: 1 p.m.
 
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 an operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
• Search for "Rock Athletics Digital Network" in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chromecast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
• The game will also be shown on the PSAC Network online and on the PSAC Network streaming applications for the devices listed above.
 
TICKETS
• For advance tickets, call 724.738.2021 (tickets will not sell out).
• Advance tickets will be sold until 4 p.m. Wednesday due to Thanksgiving.
• Tickets can be purchased on game day. The stadium gates will open at 11:30 a.m.
• Chair-back Reserved Seat (home side) - $12
• Reserved Bench Seat (home side) - $12
• Adult General Admission - $10
• Students – $5
• Children Ages 6 and Under – FREE
• SRU Students – FREE with valid student ID (tickets purchased by SGA)
 
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 10 a.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.
 
PRESIDENT'S TENT ACCESS DURING PLAYOFFS
Rock Athletic Club members have been sent information about access to the President's Tent during the playoffs. All Rock Athletic Club members wishing to purchase tickets for the game must do so in advance by calling Erin Bryer at 724.738.4611 before 4 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $55 each for one ticket or $50 each for multiple tickets. Rock Athletic Club members may purchase up to their regular season allotment per game. No tent passes will be issued on game day.
 
SRU STUDENT GATE PROCEDURES
Students should bring their valid ID to enter the game through the student gate, but will also need to use the CORQ application on their cell phones. Login to your CORQ account to access the event QR code that will be scanned at the gate. Only CURRENT students will be allowed to enter through the student gate. All current SRU students will be admitted free to home NCAA playoff games thanks to the SRU Student Government Association, which has agreed to purchase all student tickets.

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THE GAME
No. 8 Slippery Rock is coming off a bye week after earning the No. 1 seed in Super Region One in the NCAA Playoffs. The Rock will look to stay unbeaten and improve to 12-0 on the year with a win over fifth seeded Shepherd, which enters the game with a 10-2 overall record after posting a 31-27 upset win on the road at fourth seeded IUP last week in the first round.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Slippery Rock owns a 3-2 edge in the all-time series that dates back to the 1960 season. The teams have played just once since 2005 when they met in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2015 at Shepherd. This will mark the third NCAA playoff game between the teams with both teams winning the previous two meetings on their home field. No. 5 SRU defeated No. 13 Shepherd in the 1998 playoffs. No. 5 Shepherd defeated No. 10 SRU in 2015. The full series breakdown is available on page eight of the notes linked above.
 
• First Meeting: 1960 (SRU won 19-7)
• Last Meeting: 2015 (SHEP won 28-16)
• Current Streak: SHEP +2
• at SHEP: SRU leads 2-1
• at SRU: Tied 1-1
• Most Points Scored by SHEP: 28 (2015)
• Largest Win Margin by SHEP: 17 (2005)
• Most Points Scored by SRU: 31 (1998)
• Largest Win Margin by SRU: 12 (1960)
• Last SRU Win: 2004 at SHEP (30-27)
 
NCAA PLAYOFF HISTORY
Slippery Rock is making its eighth overall appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs and its fifth in the last seven years. The Rock reached the quarterfinals as a No. 7 seed last fall and also reached the quarterfinals in 2015. SRU owns a 7-7 all-time record in the Division II tournament and has reached as far as the national semifinals (1998), but has never played for a national title. This fall marks the first time since 1999 that SRU has earned a No. 1 seed in the playoffs.  
 
PSAC CHAMPIONS
Slippery Rock won its 12th overall PSAC title two weeks ago with a 16-point fourth quarter comeback to defeat previously undefeated Kutztown 37-35 on the road. The Rock trailed 35-21 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but scored 16 points and held Kutztown to just 35 total yards in the quarter for the comeback win. SRU won its fifth PSAC West title in the last seven years and its 17th overall divisional title to earn a spot in the championship game. The Rock have won three of the last six PSAC title games.
 
PSAC WEST WIN STREAK
Slippery Rock posted perfect 7-0 records against the PSAC Western Division in each of the last two seasons, becoming just the second team in the division to accomplish that since the division expanded to eight teams in 2008 and the first team to do it since Cal U in 2009.  The Rock also closed the 2017 season with a pair of PSAC West wins and will take a 16-game conference winning streak into next season.
 
11-0 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Slippery Rock is 11-0 for the first time in program history, topping the 1924 team that finished with a 9-0 record for the best start ever. The 1974 team made it through 10 weeks without a loss (finished 9-0-1), but had one tie along the way. The Rock's late 1990s dynasty never started 11-0 due to opening the year on the road at Division I opponents. One more win will tie the 1998 and 2015 teams for most in a single-season. Both of those squads finished with 12-2 records.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Slippery Rock held steady at No. 8 in the final regular season Division II national poll released by the American Football Coaches Association. The Rock have been ranked no lower than 11th in any poll this season. SRU also stayed at No. 8 in the final regular season D2football.com media poll. Both polls will not be released again until the playoffs are complete. Shepherd is unranked in the AFCA poll and is ranked 25th in the D2football.com poll (complete polls on page 10 of the PDF notes linked above).
 
ONLY 6 UNBEATEN TEAMS LEFT
Slippery Rock is one of only six teams left in Division II without a loss this season. The Rock are joined by fellow No. 1 seeds Valdosta State (10-0), Ferris State (10-0) and Minnesota State (11-0), along with No. 2 seed Lenoir-Rhyne (12-0) and No. 3 seed Colorado School of Mines (12-0).
 
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Rock football teams have compiled a 170-67 (.717) record the last 45 seasons in games played at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium (formerly known as N. Kerr Thompson Stadium). The Rock own a 71-22 (.763) home record since artificial turf was installed in the summer of 2003 and are 67-15 (.817) in home games since 2005. The numbers get even better in recent years, as The Rock are 36-3 (.923) since 2013 and have posted a 49-7 (.875) record at home since the beginning of the 2010 season. The Rock are 6-1 all-time in home NCAA Division II playoff games.
 
SUPER REGION ONE BRACKET
All three first round games in Super Region One were decided by one possession last week. No. 2 seed Kutztown escaped No. 7 seed Tiffin with a 33-31 win. No. 5 seed Shepherd scored with 11 seconds left to upset No. 4 seed Indiana (Pa.) and No. 3 seed Notre Dame (Ohio) stopped six seed West Chester on the goal line as time expired to hold onto a 31-24 win. Notre Dame will travel to Kutztown this week for a noon kickoff. The highest remaining seed following this week's two games will host the regional final next Saturday.
 

#	Team	DII W-L	THIS WEEK
1	Slippery Rock	11-0	vs. Shepherd
2	Kutztown	11-1	vs. Notre Dame (Ohio)
3	Notre Dame (Ohio)	11-1	at Kutztown
4	Indiana (Pa.)	10-2	Eliminated by Shepherd in Round 1
5	Shepherd	10-2	at Slippery Rock
6	West Chester	9-3	Eliminated by Notre Dame in Round 1
7	Tiffin	9-2	Eliminated by Kutztown in Round 1

LAST MEETING BETWEEN THESE TWO  |  Box Score
No. 5 Shepherd (12-0) scored 18 points in the third quarter to pull away for a 28-16 win over No. 10 Slippery Rock (12-2) in the NCAA quarterfinals at Shepherd in 2015. The teams were tied at 7-7 at halftime before Shepherd broke the game open with three touchdowns in a stretch of 5:07 in the third quarter. Two high-powered offenses were both held under 400 yards in the game with Shepherd posting a 352-320 edge in total offense. The teams combined for 16 punts that totaled 701 yards and 28 penalties for 261 yards. Both teams finished with less than 100 rushing yards. SRU turned the ball over twice and Shepherd turned it over once. Both teams recorded six sacks in the game. Shepherd went on to reach the National Championship two weeks later, ultimately falling to Northwestern Missouri State.
 
LAST OUTING FOR SLIPPERY ROCK
Slippery Rock had last week off with the first round bye. Two weeks ago, The Rock went on the road to No. 13 Kutztown and stole the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a 16-point fourth quarter comeback to defeat the Golden Bears 37-35 in the PSAC Championship game. The Rock held Kutztown to just six total yards of offense for 14:45 of the fourth quarter. The offense scored 16 unanswered points in the final 12 minutes, capped by a Charles Snorweah eight-yard TD run with 25 seconds left that sealed the victory. SRU trailed 28-21 at halftime and 35-21 heading to the fourth quarter, marking the first time all season SRU has trailed at the start of the third or fourth quarters. Roland Rivers III was named the Championship Game MVP after throwing for 302 yards with four touchdowns and also rushing for 53 yards. Henry Litwin caught eight passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Jermaine Wynn Jr. caught nine passes for 85 yards and one score. DeSean Dinkins rushed for 76 yards and caught one TD and Snorweah rushed for 62 yards. SRU came up with no takeaways for the first time in any game this season.
 
LAST WEEK FOR SHEPHERD
Shepherd led IUP 21-7 in the second half before the Crimson Hawks went on a 20-3 run to take their only lead of the game, 27-24 with just 1:40 to play last week in the first round of the playoffs. The Rams responded to their first deficit with an 84-yard drive that took just 1:23 and was capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Bagent to Devin Phelps with 11 seconds left to lift Shepherd to a 31-27 win on the road at IUP. The Rams put up 516 yards of offense against the top statistical defense in the PSAC with 389 passing yards and 127 rushing yards. Bagent completed 25-of-39 passes for 389 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Dylan Brewer caught nine passes for 139 yards and two scores and Phelps grabbed six passes for 98 yards and two scores. Deonte Glover rushed for 117 yards and caught four passes for 75 yards. IUP entered the game ranked first in the league in sacks, but never got to Bagent and ended the day with just one tackle for loss.  
 
ROCK LANDS 14 ON ALL-PSAC TEAM
Roland Rivers III was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year and Shawn Lutz was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year for the second straight year to highlight The Rock's 14 All-PSAC honorees. SRU landed eight players on the first team – QB Roland Rivers III (2x), OL Chris Larsen, OL Ryan Podgorski, WR Henry Litwin, PK Jake Chapla (3x), DE Chad Kuhn, LB Brad Zaffram (2x) and DT Jeff Marx (2x). SRU also landed six selections on the second team – OL Jake Tecak, CB Eric Glover-Williams (2x), CB Khadir Roberts, P Jake Chapla (3x) and WR Jermaine Wynn Jr., who was also named to the team as a return specialist.
 
RIVERS III NOMINATED FOR HARLON HILL AWARD
Rock QB Roland Rivers III was named this week as one of the 36 nominees for the 2019 Harlon Hill Award, presented to the top Division II player in the country. Rivers finished the regular season ranked first in the nation in passing efficiency, total offense, passing touchdowns and points responsible for, while ranking third in passing yards and completion percentage.
 
LARSEN NAMED FINALIST FOR UPSHAW AWARD
Left tackle Chris Larsen was named as one of eight national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award. Larsen was the highest vote-getter among all senior offensive and defensive linemen in Super Region One. The senior has started 41 career games on the offensive line and has graded out at 88 percent this season while playing more than 700 snaps.
 
ROCK OFFENSE AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
First-year offensive coordinator Adam Neugebauer and his offense have put up some eye-popping numbers through 11 weeks of the season. The Rock rank first in the nation in passing efficiency (190.9) and fourth down conversions (80.0 percent), second in completion percentage (71.5 percent), fourth in scoring offense (46.9 points per game), fifth in passing offense (321.4 yards per game) and third down conversions (51.8 percent), eighth in first downs (275), 10th in red zone scoring (91.4 percent), 11th in total offense (497.8 yards per game) and 13th in turnovers lost (12).
 
RIVERS III RECORD(S) WATCH
Roland Rivers III has already set the SRU single-season (40) and career (68) passing TD records this season, despite playing just 23 games in two years at SRU. He needs 200 yards of total offense (record is 4,199 by Nigel Barksdale in 2013), 26 completions (record is 268 by Tanner Garry in 2017) and 328 passing yards (record is 3,736 by Nigel Barksdale in 2013) to overtake all three of those single-season program records as well. Rivers also owns the SRU career record for completion percentage (currently at 65.0 percent on 678 attempts).
 
RIVERS III PUTTING UP THE BEST NUMBERS IN THE NATION
Roland Rivers III has thrown for 3,409 yards with 40 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 72.1 percent of his passes. He has also run for 591 yards and six touchdowns. Rivers ranks first in the nation in passing efficiency (192.7), total offense (4,000 total, 363.6 per game) and points responsible for (278 total, 25.3 per game). He also ranks second in passing touchdowns (40), third in completion percentage (72.1) and fourth in passing yards (3,409), despite playing one less game than many of the other top QBs in the nation.
 
ONLY DII PLAYER WITH 4,000 TOTAL YARDS IN REGULAR SEASON
Roland Rivers III was the only Division II player to record 4,000 yards of total offense in the regular season this year. In fact, Rivers is one of only five total players from all levels of NCAA football to reach 4,000 yards of total offense in 11 games this fall. Three of the others have been in the Heisman conversation this year – FBS quarterbacks Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma), Joe Burrow (LSU) and Anthony Gordon (Washington State). The only other player to hit 4,000 yards in 11 games this fall is DIII quarterback Gavin Zimmerman (Aurora).
 
RIVERS III CLIMBING SRU CAREER LISTS TOO
Roland Rivers III has played in just 23 games in his two years at Slippery Rock and is already up to third on the all-time career passing yardage (6,130), total offensive yardage (7,318) and completions (441) lists in program history. His 68 touchdown passes are the most in program history. His 65.0 percent completion percentage is the best in program history and his 678 attempts are the third most at SRU.
 
MORE TD PASSES THAN ANY OTHER QB IN THE NATION
Roland Rivers III threw 19 touchdown passes in two years at Valdosta State before transferring to SRU prior to his junior year last fall. Those TD tosses combined with the 68 he has thrown in 23 games at Slippery Rock give Rivers 87 career TD passes at the DII level, 14 more than any other active QB in the nation.
 
ACTIVE PASSING TD LEADERS IN DIVISION II

1.	Roland Rivers III	Slippery Rock	87
2.	Preston Haire	Oklahoma Baptist	73
2.	Collin DiGalbo	Kutztown	73
4.	Willie Chandler	West Georgia	69
4.	Dalton Holst	Chadron State	69

ONLY TWO QBS WITH 7,000 + 1,500
Roland Rivers III has thrown for 7,990 yards and rushed for 1,614 yards for 9,604 total offensive yards during his four-year collegiate career (including two seasons with limited reps at Valdosta State). There are only two active QBs in Division II that have thrown for at least 7,000 yards and rushed for 1,500 yards and they both come from the PSAC – Rivers and Kutztown's Collin DiGalbo (9,016 pass, 1,787 rush, 10,803 total).
 
SUCCESS AS A STARTER
Roland Rivers III went a perfect 14-0 against the PSAC West in his two years as the SRU starting QB. He enters the playoffs this year with a 21-2 overall record as the SRU starting QB.
 
LITWIN BREAKS TD RECEPTIONS RECORD
WR Henry Litwin caught two TD passes in the PSAC Championship game to bring his single-season total to 16 in 11 games, topping the former program record of 15 that was set by John Schademan in 2013. Litwin has 24 TD catches the last two seasons and is on pace to shatter the SRU career record of 28, set by Greg Hopkins in 1994 and tied by Marcus Johnson in 2017.
 
TOP RECEIVING TRIO IN THE NATION
The Rock are the only team in the country with three receivers averaging at least 63 yards per game, led by Henry Litwin (97.1 yards per game), Jermaine Wynn Jr. (91.3 yards per game) and Cinque Sweeting (63.3 yards per game). Litwin ranks third in the nation in TD catches (16),  12th in the nation in catches per game (6.7) and 14th in total receiving yards (1,068), despite playing one less game than many other top players. Wynn ranks 17th in the nation in receiving TDs (11) and 20th in total receiving yards (1,004). Sweeting ranks 33rd in TD catches (9) and 82nd in total receiving yards (696).
 
FIRST 1,000-YARD DUO IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Henry Litwin and Jermaine Wynn Jr. both went over 1,000 receiving yards on the season during the PSAC title game two weeks ago. They are the seventh and eighth players in SRU history to top 1,000 receiving yards in a single-season and are the first duo to accomplish that task in the same season. They finished the regular season ranked first and second in the PSAC West in receiving yards.
 
LITWIN'S CAREER NUMBERS
Henry Litwin played primarily on special teams in his freshman season in 2017, finishing the year with no catches. After moving into a starting role last fall, Litwin has racked up 125 catches for 1,909 yards with 24 touchdowns over his last 25 games. His 24 TD grabs are the third-most in program history and he is on track to shatter the SRU career record of 28 TD catches. Litwin has caught two TD passes in each of his last three games and has at least one TD catch in 10 of 11 games this fall.
 
WYNN JR. RIGHT BEHIND LITWIN
Jermaine Wynn Jr. ranked third in the PSAC in receiving yards (1,004), third in TD catches (11) and fifth in receptions (64) in the regular season. His 11 TD grabs are tied for the sixth most in a single-season in SRU history. In 25 games in the SRU lineup, Wynn has pulled down 116 passes for 1,749 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also caught 26 passes for 562 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman at Alderson Broaddus in 2017 to bring his collegiate career totals to 142 catches for 2,311 yards and 26 touchdowns at the Division II level.
 
LIT-WYNN COMBINED
Through 25 games in the same lineup, Henry Litwin and Jermaine Wynn Jr. have put up almost identical numbers. They have combined for 241 catches for 3,658 yards and 43 touchdowns. Since they stepped on the field together for the first time in 2018, the duo are collectively averaging 9.6 catches for 146.3 yards and 1.7 touchdowns per game. Litwin has 125 catches for 1,909 yards and 24 TDs and Wynn has 116 catches for 1,749 yards with 20 TDs.
 
SWEETING AND DIXON GETTING THEIRS TOO
While Henry Litwin and Jermaine Wynn Jr. are eating up huge chunks in the passing game, The Rock's other two starters have been quietly putting up their own numbers and making SRU even harder to defend in the passing game. Cinque Sweeting and Qaadir Dixon have combined for 74 catches for 1,067 yards and 12 touchdowns as The Rock's four starting wideouts have combined for 3,135 yards and 39 touchdowns.
 
MORE WRINKLES IN THE PASSING GAME
As the season has progressed, The Rock offense has unveiled a number of new looks and packages and has spread the ball all over the field. A total of 16 different players have at least one catch and 12 players have multiple catches. All three tight ends that have played have caught passes. The latest addition to the passing game was Max Maciejewski returning from injury two weeks ago. Maciejewski was slated to start at tight end this year, but was injured the first week of preseason camp. He made his debut in week 10 and has two catches for 38 yards in the last two weeks, including a key 30-yard grab in the PSAC title game.
 
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Slippery Rock made it through 15 quarters to start the season without a turnover before losing a fumble inside the final three minutes in week four. Since then, The Rock have turned it over 11 more times with six interceptions and six fumbles for just 12 total turnovers in 11 games. That number ranks as the 13th fewest turnovers in the nation.
 
RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE
Slippery Rock is averaging 176.5 rushing yards per game to rank first in the PSAC West, but The Rock has accomplished that with fresh legs as no running backs have more than 105 carries on the year. Only QB Roland Rivers III has more than 105 rushing attempts. Rivers is the leading rusher on the team with 126 carries for 591 yards and six touchdowns. All seven SRU players that have at least 10 carries this year are averaging 4.2 yards or better per carry. Charles Snorweah leads the backs with 525 yards on 105 carries (5.0 YPC) with eight touchdowns. DeSean Dinkins has 330 yards and six touchdowns on 67 carries (4.7 YPC). Dinkins has rushed for 193 yards in the last three outings.
 
CONSISTENCY (AND SIZE) UP FRONT
The Rock have started all 11 games this season with the same five offensive linemen, including three All-PSAC selections. Left tackle Chris Larsen and left guard Ryan Podgorski were both named to first team All-PSAC honors, while right tackle Jake Tecak was named to second team honors. Austin Wayt has played nearly all of the team's 779 offensive snaps at the center position, while Matt Carr has started every game at right guard. The group averages out at 6-3 and 312.0 pounds, giving SRU one of the biggest lines in the region.
 
ZAFFRAM LEADS THE DEFENSE
LB Brad Zaffram leads the team in tackles with 74 and led all players in the PSAC this year with 18.0 tackles for loss. He earned first team All-PSAC honors for the second straight year and has racked up 30.5 tackles for loss in 24 career games at SRU (1.3 TFL per game). This fall, he also has two interceptions, one blocked kick, two forced fumbles and a career-high 50 solo tackles.
 
KUHN LEADS PSAC IN SACKS
Defensive end Chad Kuhn has a PSAC-high 10.5 sacks on the year with at least one sack in nine different games. Kuhn ranks 10th in the nation in sacks per game (0.95) and had 2.0 sacks more than any other defensive player in the PSAC this year. Kuhn also ranks fourth in the PSAC in tackles for loss at 14.5 total and 1.32 per game. His 10.5 sacks are the seventh most in a single-season in SRU history. He can jump up to fourth on that list with two more sacks. His 19.0 career sacks rank 10th all-time at SRU. Kuhn is just the third individual SRU player to record 10.0 or more sacks in a single-season since 2000, joining NCAA all-time career record holder Marcus Martin, who had 16.0, 15.5 and 15.5 to lock down the top three spots in the SRU record book, and Tyler Boudreau, who had 12.0 in 2007.
 
DEFENSE GETTING INTO THE BACKFIELD
SRU ranks 20th in the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 8.3 per game. The Rock also rank third in the PSAC in sacks as a team at 2.82 sacks per game. Chad Kuhn has at least one sack in nine of the team's 11 games and ranks 10th in the nation in sacks at 0.95 per game. The Rock have a total of 19 players with at least 1.0 tackle for loss on the year and 12 players with at least 2.5 tackles for loss.
 
CHAPLA OWNS ALL-TIME PSAC RECORD
Earlier this season, kicker Jake Chapla broke the all-time PSAC record for points by a kicker, which was held by Bloomsburg's Dan Fisher at 361 points. Chapla scored seven points in the PSAC title game two weeks ago to increase his PSAC record to 369 points. Fisher also owns the all-time PSAC made field goal record at 57, with Chapla trailing that mark by eight field goals.
 
CHAPLA EXTENDS HIS SRU CAREER RECORDS
Rock kicker Jake Chapla booted four extra points and one field goal two weeks ago to extend his SRU career records to 222 made extra points, 49 made field goals and 369 total points. Chapla is 10-17 on field goals this year. He is 64-of-69 on PAT kicks, with three blocked kicks and one fumbled snap. He can break his own SRU single-season record of 66 made PAT kicks with three more successful tries this year.
 
CHAPLA AMONG THE BEST IN ALL OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Jake Chapla leads all active players at every level of NCAA football in made PAT kicks (222). Chapla ranks first among all active players in Division II in scoring and ranks fifth among all players at any level of NCAA football in scoring (369 points), despite playing fewer games than most of the rest of the leaders.
 
ACTIVE SCORING LEADERS IN NCAA FOOTBALL (ALL DIVISIONS)

1.	Rodrigo Blankenship	Georgia (FBS)	418 pts (57 games)
2.	Wesley Schools	Grove City (D3)	396 pts (42 games)
3.	Justin Hill	Mount Union (D3)	384 pts (53 games)
4.	Chase Vinatieri	South Dakota St. (FCS)	370 pts (52 games)
5.	Jake Chapla	Slippery Rock (D2)	369 pts (47 games)

HOLT CLEARED TO RETURN
Slippery Rock played the last two weeks without starting safety Dalton Holt, who still ranks second on the team in total tackles (53) and solo stops (32), despite missing two weeks. Holt was cleared to return to action this week and is expected to start. The junior leads the team with three interceptions and ranks second on the squad with nine total passes defended.
 
TWO MOST PENALIZED TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY
Slippery Rock and Shepherd enter this weekend's game as the two most penalized teams in the nation. Both squads have been called for 123 penalties on the year, tied for last in the nation.  Those penalties have cost SRU an average of 104.5 yards per game, the second highest average in the nation. Shepherd's penalties have cost the Rams 89.5 yards per game.  
 
RUN DEFENSE STRUGGLES THREE WEEKS IN A ROW
Slippery Rock opponents combined for just 367 total rushing yards over a seven week stretch from weeks 2-8 as The Rock defense allowed 52.4 rushing yards per game and three total rushing touchdowns over those seven weeks. Over the last three weeks, SRU has allowed 549 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Cal U rushed for 168 yards, Gannon ran for 144 yards and Kutztown ran for a season-high 237 yards. All three opponents had individuals go over 100 yards on the ground, marking the first time since week one that an opponent had a 100-yard rusher against SRU. The Rock had climbed into the top 10 in the nation against the run, but has since slipped to 24th with opponents averaging 105.8 rushing yards per game.
 
SCORING STREAKS
Slippery Rock has scored points on at least three consecutive possessions in 10 of the team's 11 games this season. The only game that SRU failed to string together at least three straight scoring drives was week eight against Cal U. The Rock's best effort this season was the opener at Wayne State, where the offense scored touchdowns on eight straight possessions.
 
QUICK DRIVES
Slippery Rock has used five or less plays to score points on 35 different drives this season. The Rock have used less than two minutes of game clock to put points on the board on 40 different drives this season and have needed less than one minute to score points on 20 different possessions. SRU closed the PSAC title game with a 65-yard drive that took just 1:41 off the clock and resulted in the game-winning touchdown.  
 
TIME CONSUMING DRIVES WHEN NEEDED
For as often as SRU has scored quickly this season, the offense has also shown the ability to put together sustained drives. The Rock have scored with at least one drive of four minutes or longer in all but one game this season. Two weeks ago at Kutztown, SRU scored touchdowns on three drives that lasted at least 4:30.
 
LONG DRIVES
Slippery Rock has scored on 79 possessions this year, but has only run 10 or more plays on 17 of those drives. SRU has driven 70 or more yards on 24 of its scoring drives this season and has nine scoring drives of 80 or more yards.
 
CLUTCH DRIVES
Slippery Rock scored game-winning or clinching drives on its final possession in all three of its closest games this season. The Rock used a methodical 14-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:05 to score a touchdown that sealed a 3-point win over Indiana (Pa.). SRU went 70 yards in eight plays in just 1:10 for a game-winning field goal as time expired in a win over Cal U. The Rock then went 65 yards in nine plays that took 1:41 and scored the winning touchdown with 25 seconds left in the PSAC title game at Kutztown. Those three final drives contributed to wins by a combined eight points and stand out as the most crucial in keeping SRU undefeated this season.
 
RED ZONE SCORING OFFENSE
The Rock offense scored points on their first 10 red zone trips this year before taking a knee in the red zone at the end of week three to halt their perfect streak. SRU then scored on its next 21 straight trips to the red zone to open the year 31-of-32 in red zone scoring. Since then, The Rock offense has scored on 22 of its last 26 trips to the red zone, including its last 13 straight after a 7-for-7 effort at Gannon and a 6-for-6 showing against Kutztown, to bring the season total to 53-of-58 (91 percent). That percentage ranks 10th in the nation.
 
JUMPING OUT TO BIG LEADS
Slippery Rock is outscoring opponents 139-44 in the first quarter and 328-124 in the first half this season. The Rock are averaging 12.6 first quarter points and 17.2 second quarter points for 29.8 first half points per game, while allowing just 4.0 points per game in the first quarter and 7.3 points per game in the second quarter for 11.3 points per game in the first half. The Rock have posted a first quarter shutout in five of 11 games this season, have led at halftime in 10-of-11 games and have led by at least 17 points at halftime in six different games.
 
STARTERS NOTES
Just five offensive players began this season with at least 10 career starts to their name. LT Chris Larsen has started a team-high 41 games. Larsen, LG Ryan Podgorski and C Austin Wayt have started the last 25 straight games. Roland Rivers III has started 23 straight games at QB and WR Henry Litwin has started 23 games. The defense returned nine players that had started at least 12 career games entering 2019. LB Tim Vernick has started 32 games, while DE Chad Kuhn and DB Khadir Roberts have each started 31 games and LB Trysten McDonald has started 29. DE Trey Blandford has started 27 games. NG Jeff Marx has started 25 straight games, while LB Brad Zaffram has started 24 straight games and SS Dalton Holt has started 20 games.
 
SHEPHERD QUICK HITS
• Shepherd enters the second round of the playoffs with a 10-2 record that includes two one-possession losses, both at home, to Ohio Dominican and Kutztown. The Rams have won eight games in a row, are 6-0 on the road this season and are averaging 46.0 points per game during their current winning streak.
• Shepherd has one of the best offenses in the nation, led by one of the best statistical quarterbacks in the nation. The Rams rank third in the nation in passing offense (341.5 yards per game), fourth in completion percent (70.3 percent), sixth in third down conversions (51.8 percent) and eighth in total offense (505.3 yards per game). The only statistical flaw in the offense is that the team has turned the ball over 24 times to rank 129th nationally in lost turnovers.
• The defense has made up for those turnovers though, by taking the ball away 25 times to rank 17th in the nation in takeaways. 20 of those takeaways are interceptions, the fifth most in the nation. Shepherd's defense also allows just 112.3 rushing yards per game.
•  Shepherd is among the best in the nation at not getting tackled for negative yardage. The Rams rank second in the nation in tackles for loss allowed at just 3.1 per game and fifth in the nation in sacks allowed at just 0.7 per game.
• QB Tyson Bagent has attempted 441 passes this season and is completing 71.0 percent of those passes for 3,936 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He ranks second to Roland Rivers III in total offense among all players in the nation (363.2 yards per game). He also ranks second nationally in total passing yards, fifth in completion percentage (71.0) and eighth in TD passes.
• RB Deonte Glover ranks third in the nation in scoring at 11.5 points per game thanks to 19 rushing touchdowns and three receiving scores. He has rushed for 1,223 yards for averages of 101.9 yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry. Glover averaged just 34.2 yards per game the first four weeks of the season, but has gone over 110 yards in six of the last eight games and is averaging 149.3 rushing yards his last four games. He also has 355 receiving yards for 1,578 all-purpose yards.
 • WR Dylan Brewer has a PSAC-high 93 catches for 1,180 yards and nine touchdowns. That compliments the 57 catches for 961 yards and 11 touchdowns that Devin Phelps has. Phelps caught the game-winner with 11 seconds left at IUP last week.
• Shepherd has 17 players with at least one tackle for loss and seven players with at least two sacks. Kyle Smith leads the way with 16.0 TFL and 8.5 sacks. Juwan Addison has 12.5 TFL and 7.0 sacks. Chrys Lane has 93 total tackles, 30 more than any other player on the team. Antonio Fox has five INTs and Ponce Deleon has four picks.



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