When IUP travels to Slippery Rock on Saturday, the Crimson Hawks will have a lot to play for–– in addition to a win.
They’ll be able to get revenge for the last two meetings with Slippery Rock, a blowout loss in 2023 and a one-point heartbreaker last season. They’ll also be able to more or less eliminate their most bitter rival from division and conference title contention, and also pull the plug on its already dying playoff hopes.
And, most importantly, the Crimson Hawks (4-1 overall, 2-0 PSAC West) can give themselves some breathing room in the PSAC West race.
But those are things IUP head coach Paul Tortorella said probably haven’t entered the minds of his players this week.
“We don’t talk about that,” he said. “It’s always just the next game.”
So this is the next game. But it’s Slippery Rock (4-2, 1-2), so that means it’s a big game. Throw out emotions and past grievances, and the fact remains that for either team to achieve its goals for the season, winning this game is a huge piece of the puzzle.
But then, when you include the emotions of a rivalry game, things get heightened. Two years ago, the last time IUP visited Slippery Rock, the hosts jumped out to a 28-0 early lead and rolled to a 42-21 win. Afterward, SRU coach Shawn Lutz said what a lot of his players and their fans believe: “It’s not a good year,” he said, “if you don’t beat IUP.”
The environment will be intense—Slippery Rock’s homecoming always adds extra energy and a few thousand extra fans—and Tortorella knows how critical a fast start can be.
Last season, IUP fell behind again, this time in a 21-0 hole, before rallying to take an improbable lead, 32-27, with 1:35 left to play. But then The Rock marched down the field and scored the winning touchdown with just 12 seconds left.
“Last year, they jumped on us and we had to chase the whole game,” Tortorella said. “You don’t want that.”
This season, IUP has not allowed a single point in the first quarter of any of its games, which Tortorella attributes to having a team of veteran players with lots of playing experience.
Getting ahead of Slippery Rock would be a boost for IUP because the hosts are the best rushing team in the PSAC, and if the Crimson Hawks jump out to an early lead, SRU will likely have to abandon the run and try to get back into the game through the air, and that’s not its strength just yet.
The Rock is being led on offense by redshirt freshman quarterback DaOne Owens, who took over as the starter in the third game of the season and has not let go of the role. A dual-threat QB, Owens keeps defenses on their feet with his ability to take off and run, plus his left-handed magic when throwing the ball.
Owens is such a promising talent that Tortorella wonders if the Ohio native will finish his career at Slippery Rock or jump into the Transfer Portal for a Division I opportunity.
“He’s talented,” Tortorella said. “Strong arm, athletic. I’d be surprised if he’s still there after two years.”
But Owens isn’t IUP’s biggest concern. That’s running back JayJay Jordan, the PSAC’s leading rusher, who has 892 yards.
“(Jordan) was their third guy last year, but he was productive even then,” Tortorella said. “It’s no surprise—he’s the real deal.”
Slippery Rock got back on track last week by beating Seton Hill, 49-7, in a game that wasn’t even that close. The Rock lost its two games before that, to California and Gannon, falling temporarily to the basement of the PSAC.
But Tortorella said the Seton Hill game probably gives Slippery Rock a much-needed boost entering the game against IUP, which has won four in a row, all blowouts, since losing the season-opener to Ashland.
“That was probably their best game of the year,” Tortorella said. “Defensively, they were all over Seton Hill. Offensively, they moved the ball up and down the field. Seton Hill had just beaten Cal, so it says something.”
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