Slippery Rock University Athletics

Highlights  |  Postgame Interview  |  Photos (more will be added next week)

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The eighth-ranked Slippery Rock University football team outscored Gannon University 35-0 in the second half to run away with a 49-10 win Saturday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division game from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The Rock improve to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC West and avenge an upset loss at Gannon last fall that derailed the 2025 season. The Golden Knights drop to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC West.
 
Slippery Rock scored on its first possession when DaOne Owens connected with John Sabo on a four-yard TD pass that capped an 83-yard drive and made it 7-0 early in the first.
 
Gannon took advantage of good field position after a short punt and evened the score at 7-7 with 10 seconds left in the first quarter when Nasean Hill recovered a fumbled snap and rushed in from three yards out to send it to the second all square.
 
Slippery Rock retook the lead for good with 8:22 to play in the second quarter when Owens hit Ethan Trettel on a 13-yard TD pass that capped a 12-play, 73-yard drive and made it 14-7.
 
Gannon closed the half with a nearly perfect drive, holding the ball for the final 8:15 of the second quarter and keeping it away from SRU. The Knights settled for a 26-yard field goal at the buzzer to send it to halftime with The Rock leading 14-10.
 
"That first half was a blur it went so fast," said SRU head coach Shawn Lutz. "It was a perfect half for Gannon because they kept our offense off the field. I think our defense forcing a field goal there started the momentum swing and then we played the best 30-minute half of football we have all season in the second half."
 
Slippery Rock scored touchdowns on five straight drives and forced three turnovers in the second half in a convincing 35-0 performance over the final 30 minutes.
 
The Rock defense got a pair of interceptions from Evan Harper and a forced fumble from Teddy Gregory Jr. that was recovered by Nick Frisco. The defensive unit also got two more forced fumbles from Brian Young Jr.
 
The special teams unit got in on the fun with punter Connor Macek successfully converting a fake punt that extended a touchdown drive and Telly Palmer recording a 63-yard kick return that set up another TD drive. The offense did what it has all year, scoring points in bunches and not turning the ball over at all.
 
JayJay Jordan opened the second half scoring with a 10-yard run that made it 21-10 just 2:24 into the third quarter. Sabo extended the lead to 28-10 with 7:56 to play in the third when he caught a highlight-reel TD in the back of the end zone. Jordan tacked on his second TD run of the game with a 70-yard burst with 1:30 to play in the third to account for a 21-0 third quarter. He then picked up his third rushing TD of the night with 13:30 to play in the fourth and Carson Heckathorn capped the scoring with a one-yard TD grab with 7:08 to play.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game with a 445-204 advantage in total offense after running just 51 total plays and averaging 8.7 yards per play. The Rock threw for 249 yards and ran for 196 yards while limiting Gannon to 162 rushing yards and just 42 passing yards.
 
Owens was nearly perfect at the QB position, completing 23-of-27 passes for 249 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He wasn't sacked at all and finished with 17 rushing yards on five carries.
 
Jordan ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries for an average of 11.7 yards per carry.
 
Trettel had the best game of his career and caught all eight of his targets for 118 yards and one touchdown. Sabo caught two passes for 20 yards and two touchdowns, Hamilton Gates caught two passes for 47 yards, Vincent Berardi caught four passes for 20 yards and Heckathorn caught one TD pass. Eight different players caught at least one pass in the game.
 
Tyree Johnson finished with a team-high eight tackles and one tackle for loss to pace the defense. Ben Lane and Young each had six tackles with Young finishing with one sack and two forced fumbles. JuJu Johnson, Brett Kwoka, John Frangos and Gregory each had five tackles with Kwoka recording 1.5 tackles for loss and Gregory forcing one fumble. The defense combined for seven tackles for loss and three takeaways.
 
Gannon used freshman QB Andre Underwood with starter Ty Hurst missing the game due to injury. Underwood completed 4-of-11 passes for 42 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He did most of his work on the ground with a team-high 77 rushing yards on 17 carries.
 
Slippery Rock played its first home game since Aug. 27 after playing three straight road games in September. The Rock will stay home for a second straight week and host Seton Hill next Saturday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Game.
 
GAME NOTES: Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz improved to 93-25 … SRU improved to 14-7 all-time against Gannon and 11-1 in the last 12 meetings … SRU improved to 40-1 in its last 41night games that kicked at 4 p.m. or later … SRU is now 50-10 in home night games since lights were installed in 2003 … RB JayJay Jordan extended his streak of games with at least one touchdown to 11 straight … WR John Sabo extended his games with a catch streak to 11 straight … WR Ethan Trettel had his first career 100+ yard receiving game with 118 yards … DB Evan Harper had a career-high two INT … SRU forced three turnovers on defense and had no turnovers on offense to mark the fourth time in five games with no turnovers this season … SRU did not allow a sack for the fourth time in five games this season and has now allowed just one sack this fall … SRU scored a touchdown on its first possession for the fourth time in five games this season.