SLIPPERY ROCK –– Losing is bad enough, but losing in a rivalry game is even worse. And losing a rivalry game you feel like you should have won? Well, that’s probably the worst loss of all.
That’s where the IUP Crimson Hawks are today.
The Crimson Hawks were penalized 15 times for 151 yards, and host Slippery Rock took advantage of the gifts and scored a 30-27 win in a PSAC West game Saturday.
“We just didn’t play very good,” said IUP head coach Paul Tortorella. “Now, the other team has something to do with that.”
IUP (4-2 overall, 2-1 PSAC West) led 20-10 at halftime, but couldn’t hang on, mainly due to those penalties. Slippery Rock got the ball with 8:21 left to play and didn’t give it back to IUP. The Crimson Hawks continued getting penalties and extended the drive.
The last one was a roughing penalty on a punt that would have given IUP the ball back with a chance to tie or win the game with less than two minutes to play.
“We didn’t play very good, to be honest, in the second half,” Tortorella said. “I mean, that last drive, we can’t even get the ball back for our offense because we got three 15-yard penalties. So, that’s it in a nutshell.”
IUP outgained Slippery Rock (5-2, 2-2), 349 to 326, and held the league’s best rushing offense to 143 yards, 75 of which came on The Rock’s first play from scrimmage, on a 75-yard touchdown run by JayJay Jordan.
IUP scored first, on Tavian Banks’ 5-yard run. After Jordan responded with his long run, The teams traded field goals, and then IUP quarterback Matthew Rueve ran 17 yards for a score, and Nick Andrassi booted his second field goal for a 20-10 lead.
In the second half, Slippery Rock scored on two rushing touchdowns by quarterback DaOne Owens and a 24-yard pass from Owens to Xavier McClure. IUP’s lone score of the half came on Leon Parson’s 8-yard run.
Rueve finished the day 18 for 33 for 233 yards and one interception. Parson led the rushing attack with 37 yards, and Conno Shamany had four catches for 96 yards.
Jordan, the PSAC’s leading rusher, was held to 99 yards on 20 carries.
“Everybody else could feel differently, but I think this is starting to get respect from both teams,” said Slippery Rock coach Shawn Lutz. “We don’t like them, and they don’t like us, but I think there is a respect there between the two.”
IUP hosts California on Saturday.
