Game 604: Slippery Rock lead in final minute overcomes Kutztown, 37-35, to take PSAC title and No. 1 seed in D-2 Super Eastern Regionals starting next week

Kutztown, PA – In the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship game between two undefeated Division II ranked teams, No. 8 Slippery Rock bested No. 15 Kutztown University with 26 seconds left to win the conference title, 37-35.  With seconds left, Kutztown HC Jim Clement opted for a 51-yard FG attempt into the wind with his struggling kicker instead of attempting a long pass as time expired. KU had taken a two-touchdown lead into the final period and also opted out of a FG attempt to extend their lead while The Rock (11-0) scored 17 unanswered points to take the title and gain a bye week in the opening round of the upcoming playoffs.  For Collegefootballfan.com, it was our fourth straight game with the final score unsettled until the last play of the game.

    Kutztown got on the board first with an eight-yard TD pass from Collin DiGalbo to TE Jack Pilkerton to cap an 8-yard drive.  On its next possession, The Rock countered with a 22-yard TD pass from Roland Rivers III (28 for 41, 302 yards, four TDs, one INT) to Henry Litwin to even up the first quarter score.

Punch, counter-punch 

      A 34-yard pass to Pilkerton got the Golden Bears to the seven and Abdul Hassan Nesblett (15 carries, 141 yards, two TDs) scored from the two.  Guest Game Analyst Paul Fraley noted that Pilkerton, listed at 6-3, 245 lbs. had great hands and along with a few others on the field may spawn some interest at the professional level.  Once again Slippery Rock countered on a 75-yard scoring drive finishing with another Rivers TD pass to Litwin from 14 yards out.  A see-saw battled brewed.  Nesblett gave the Golden Bears the lead once again, 21-14 with his 12-yard run.  With the wind at KU’s back during the second period, their kickoffs sailed through the end zone.  SRU’s next 75-yard drive culminated on Rivers seven-yard TD pass to Jermaine Wynn (9 catches, 85 yards, one TD) to knot the score at 21.

Getting their kicks

    A 40-yard Golden Bear kickoff return put KU on the fifty.  The Bears went to work through the air and on a third and eight at The Rock’s 13, DiGalbo connected with Pilkerton (10 catches, 129 yards, two TDs) for a 28-21 lead into halftime.  The Kutztown Marching Band entertained the raucous, SRO crowd of 5,817 at Andre Reed Stadium who were all into this game.  A text out to Bob “Slippery Rock” Jones who followed his Alma Mater online since he couldn’t be at the game texted, “First team to punt loses.” It seemed that way on this cold, clear, sunny, windy day perfect for a football game.

But not from Kutztown

     SRU punted to end their first possession of the second half. I texted Bob back, “Uh oh!” A short punt held up by the wind started KU on their 20.  A Nesblett burst for 45 yard put the Bears at the Slippery Rock Pride 25.  DiGalbo (21 of 32 passing, 227 yards two TDs; 9 for 92 yards rushing, one TD) faked a handoff to Nesblett around right end and dove over from the three to put the Bears up, 35-21.  The Bears took more control stopping the next Rock drive with Nyiem Nevarez’s INT to gain possession at their 14.  Their drive to the SRU 22 indicated a lack of confidence in their kicking game which had been rarely called on during their dominant 10-0 season with no game margin less than a touchdown and extra point.  Paul noted in the game program that PK Dean Krcic converted only one of three field goals all season, the good one from 35.  Forgoing a field goal on fourth and ten at the 22, KU completed a pass to the six, but a holding call pushed them back for a fourth and twenty.  With a strong steady wind at their backs where the kicker had plenty of distance on kickoffs, why not go for three and go up by 17? Instead a pass fell incomplete a and KU turned the ball over on downs up by 14.

Slippery Rock get theirs

     The Rock drove down to the seven for a fourth and goal, but an interference call in the end zone gave them a fresh set of downs.  Rivers connected with DeSean Dinkins for a two-yard TD pass to close to within seven early in Q4.  Later in the period, Slippery Rock drove into Kutztown’s red zone, but Rivers fumbled and Nevarez recovered at the 18.  An unsportsmanlike against The Rock put KU at the 33.  The possession eventually resulted in a punt by Krcic. Jermaine Wynn, returning the punt for SRU, raised his arm quickly up and quickly down before catching the punt.  Two KU defenders seemed to hesitate before both collided with Wynn not wrapping their arms.  He then found a seam and raced 59 yards to KU’s 11. No penalty called. The Bear defense held, and The Rock settled for Jake Chapla’s 31-yard FG.

TV or not TV

    Slippery Rock held the Bears to a three-and-out.  Like the previous punt fielded by Wynn, he raised his left arm even more blatantly this time before pulling it down before the catch and he started running up field with the ball again.  He got a few yards down field before the refs seemed to notice, but this was the second time he tried to get away with this.  The refs spotted the ball where he caught it announcing that there was no call on the subsequent tackle because the whistle never blew. The point that they missed was that he tried this again because he got away with it the first time.  It’s enjoyable watching a game without any media stoppage, but in this case, both returns should have been reviewed and disallowed or penalized.  The refs missed the previous return that should not have been allowed.

Here we go again!

     Slippery Rock started from their 35 with 2:06 remaining.  Rivers got to work running and passing.  On a third and ten he completed a pass to Wynn at the 17 followed by an eight-yard pass to Qaadri Dixon.   From there Charles Snorweah took it over to gain SRU the 37-35 lead.  Chapla’s conversion failed to retain the lead by only two.

   KU with three time-outs still in their pockets had the ball again with 25 seconds left.  Pilkerton caught a pass for 21 yards at The Rock 42.  He gathered in another at the 34 with two second left.  Kutztown lined up looking like they were going to attempt a “Hail Mary”. Clement called a second time-out with Krcic now preparing for a 51-yard attempt into the 14-mph wind.  Fans in the home stands were astonished and lacked confidence.  Clement voided a shorter attempt earlier with the wind at his kicker’s back. The Dartmouth “Hail Mary” two weeks ago appeared fresh in my mind.  I should tell the Head Coach that I was there. Throw the pass!  It’ll work. Keep my streak of games won on the final play intact! SRU HC Shawn Lutz called for a time-out because he had one left to burn to “ice” Krcic.   No one on the Kutztown side seemed to believe he had a chance.  His kick went short, low, and not even close, rolling on the ground.  I’d seen better attempts at halftime from students from the stands trying to win prize money from the school bookstore to pay for books.

Until we meet again?

  SRU celebrated its big championship victory. These two could be back on a collision course to meet again for the Super East Region title game on December 7 to get into the Semi-final Round of D-2 football.  If they do, surely Kutztown HC Jim Clement will insist before the game that the officials keep their eyes open for Slippery Rock fair catch signals before they start advancing down the field.

Next!

   On Sunday, the parings front the NCAA Division II championship were announced.  Slippery Rock finished with the No. 1 seed in the East as expected.  After a bye next week, they host the winner between their arch-rival Indiana University of Pennsylvania (10-1) and Shepherd (9-2), a perennial D-2 power who joined the PSAC from the Mountain East Conference this season. In the regular season, The Rock edged IUP, 45-42. They did not play Shepherd.   Kutztown, seeded No. 2, will host Tiffin (9-1) of Ohio, champions of the Great Midwest Conference.  If the Golden Bears win, we may go see them on November 30 play the winner between West Chester (9-2) who they defeated,30-17, and Notre Dame of Ohio (10-1).  We’ll consider this game among other FCS and D-3 playoff options that weekend.

    For CFF.com, we’ll attend a key American Athletic Conference West division game this Saturday when Navy (7-2, 5-1) hosts No. 21 SMU (9-1, 5-1).  Both squads lost to No. 18 Memphis (9-1, 5-1).  Should be another high-scoring event between Navy’s triple option and SMU’s passing game.