The Griffins played their final PSAC West contest of the season on the road at Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon. The Griffins scored twice in the fourth quarter to cut the Rock lead five but Slippery Rock answered right back with a score and won the game by a 33-21 score. SHU drops to 5-5 overall and 2-5 in PSAC West play.
Neither team was able to crack the scoreboard in the first quarter of action. A big play on the Griffins first drive was when quarterback
Christian Strong was hit on a running play and forced to leave the game due to injury. Each team punted on their first five drives of the game.
The Rock took advantage of a Seton Hill interception to score the first points of the game. Slippery Rock went 50 yards on six plays, the last a one yard run to take a 7-0 lead with 9:03 left in the second quarter. SHU missed a 33 yard field goal with 3:32 left in the half and the Rock scored the final touchdown of the quarter on a 11 yard TD pass with 57 seconds left in the half.
Cory Cavanaugh was sacked in the end zone on the Griffins first drive of the second half, extending the Rock lead to 16-0. After the free kick, the Rock drove and kicked a 33 yard field goal to push their lead to 19-0 with 10:44 left in the third quarter. The Griffins twice drove into Rock territory in the third quarter but interceptions ended both drives.
SHU finally cracked the scoreboard on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Cavanaugh hit
Ty George with an eight yard TD pass to cut the Rock lead to 19-7. The defense forced a three and out on the next Rock possession. SHU took advantage and Cavanaugh found a streaking
Ardell Brown on a 54 yard TD pass and the Griffins trailed 19-14 with 12:03 to play. Slippery Rock answered right back with a scoring drive of their own and led 26-14 with 9:55 to play. The special teams blocked a 33 yard field goal attempt with 6:50 to play in the game, keeping the lead at 12 points. It did not take the Griffins long to score thanks to a special effort from Brown. Brown caught a pass from Cavanaugh near midfield and raced thru the entire Rock defense for a 66 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 26-21 with 5:10 to play.
The defense forced a punt and the offense took over at their own 13 yard line with 3:28 to play. Cavanaugh hit Kurt Atkins on a fourth and four to covert starting the drive. After a sack, an interception gave the Rock the ball back at the Seton Hill 44 yard line with 1:56 to play. The Rock took advantage of the short field and after two runs scored the TD to put the game away.
Ardell Brown finished the day with 6 receptions for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Khalil Howard added 194 yards on the ground.
Nicholas Boynton led the defense with 10 tackles.
Seton Hill will close out their season next week when they host Shippensburg for Senior Day.
