SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The ninth-ranked Slippery Rock University football team couldn't overcome a slew of injuries to its top offensive players in a 23-21 loss to Kutztown University in the regular season finale Saturday from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The Rock were hampered significantly by injuries for the first time this season, losing nearly all of their top offensive threats during the week leading up to the game. Starting QB Noah Grover, starting running back Chris D'Or, backup running back Chris Wells and starting wide receiver Kyle Sheets were all ruled out with minor injuries, in addition to wide receiver Jacob Odom being out for the rest of the season.
 
Grover, D'Or, Sheets and Wells are all expected to be cleared to return to play next week, if SRU should qualify for the NCAA Playoffs.
 
Missing that production from the lineup was a difficult task against the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's top defense in Kutztown, but The Rock nearly pulled it out.
 
Slippery Rock took its first lead of the game with 7:19 to play when Tyler Settle blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown to give The Rock a 21-17 lead.
 
Kutztown had punted on every drive of the second half leading up to that score and The Rock defense continued to be dominant on the next series, forcing another punt.
 
The tide of the game turned when SRU was called for a roughing the punter that negated the change of possession and handed the ball back to Kutztown near midfield. The Golden Bears took advantage of the penalty when Donny Blaine hit Jerome Kapp for a 61-yard touchdown to give the visitors a 23-21 lead with 5:59 to play after a missed PAT.
 
Slippery Rock turned the ball over on the next offensive possession when a trick play went awry. Receiver Gavyn Barnes tried to heave a deep pass down the sideline, but underthrew the ball and Kutztown defensive back Cody Scherer camped under the pass for the easy interception.
 
The Rock defense held again, but the SRU offense was pinned at its own four-yard line for its final drive and could not mount a game-winning drive.
 
"It's obviously hard when you are missing that many key pieces of your offense," said SRU head coach Shawn Lutz. "But, no excuse. Kutztown has a heck of a defense and their offense won more battles than we did today. We hope we did enough this year to get into the Playoffs and we'll refocus and work on getting better next week."
 
With Grover sidelined, sophomore Brayden Long was forced to make his first career start at the QB position. Long had played sparingly in a clean-up role over the last two seasons, but saw his first serious competition since his senior year of high school in 2019. He performed admirably against one of the best defensive fronts in the region, which had the green light to send pressure all day with SRU missing multiple weapons. Long completed 24-of-42 passes for 227 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He was sacked five times for a loss of 26 yards.
 
Max Maciejewski caught nine passes for 92 yards, but was also forced to leave the game in the third quarter with an injury. Cohen Russell grabbed six passes for 74 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown. Barnes pulled down four passes for 37 yards.
 
Tim Smith got all of the running back carries in the game and finished with 51 rushing yards and one touchdown on 12 touches. He also caught three passes for 18 yards.
 
The Rock defense was limited to five tackles for loss and no sacks. Jalen Dangerfield finished with a team-high seven tackles. D.J. Adediwura tallied six tackles and Jacob Williams had five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Brandon Bischof pulled down one interception for his third pick in the last two games and the only takeaway on the day for SRU.
 
Kutztown struggled to find success in the running game, averaging 2.9 yards per carry on 37 attempts, but managed to beat The Rock on a number of deep passes. Blaine completed 14-of-30 passes for 256 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Kapp caught eight of those 14 passes for 155 yards and the game-winning TD, which he pulled away from two Rock defenders before racing to the end zone. Tyreek Husser caught the other TD pass from 17 yards out and Darryl Davis-McNeil rushed for 45 yards and one score.
 
Kutztown posted a 365-256 advantage in total offense with 109 rushing yards and 256 passing yards to SRU's 227 passing yards and 29 net rushing yards after the lost yardage from sacks.
 
Slippery Rock has now put its fate in the hands of the NCAA Division II Football Committee to see if its season will continue in the NCAA Playoffs. The Rock have a strong resume with a 9-2 overall record and are likely headed to the postseason as one of the last two seeds in Super Region One, but that will not be known until the NCAA selection show airs Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. on ncaa.com.
 
The Rock's playoff fate and postseason information will be announced at www.RockAthletics.com Sunday evening after the selection show.
 
 

 
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