Slippery Rock Rallies Past IUP

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Shane Lux | October 18, 2025

Slippery Rock – Xander McClure’s 24-yard touchdown reception from DaOne Owens with 12:48 to play proved the difference as Slippery Rock downed IUP 30-27.

“I don’t know what to say, I’m speechless,” said Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz. “Our support from the students and the community was amazing here today. If people wanted to see a Division II football game, they should’ve been here today. It was packed, there was energy, and it was a beautiful day. It feels amazing to get this win today. It could’ve gone either way. Everybody was writing us off, and they should’ve. But the way these guys bounced back shows how resilient they are.”

The Rock had to rally from a 20-10 halftime deficit, scoring a pair of third-quarter touchdowns on runs of 1 and 24 yards from quarterback DaOne Owens.

Owens led a 10-play 72-yard drive, capping it off with a 1-yard run, pulling the Rock to within 20-16 with 4:55 to play in the third stanza following an unsuccessful extra point.

Carmen Metcalfe then intercepted Matthew Rueve on the Crimson Hawks’ second snap of their succeeding drive and returned the ball to the IUP 24-yard line.

On the ensuing snap, Owens ran 24 yards for a touchdown, putting the Rock ahead for the first time in the contest, 23-20.

“I really thought the turning point in the game was Metcalfe’s interception,” Lutz said. “Then we scored on the first play to go in front. I joked with him on the sideline that if he didn’t trip on the turf, he probably could’ve scored.”

IUP responded to take the lead back at 27-23 following an 8-yard run by Leon Parson with 1:34 to play in the third stanza. Rueve threw a 65-yard completion to Connor Shamany on the drive.

The Rock then put the winning drive together, marching 61 yards in eight plays with McClure hauling in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Owens at the 12:48 mark of the fourth quarter on a 2nd-and-20.

DaOne Owens ran for 22 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while completing 11 of 19 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown.

The Crimson Hawks drove to the Rock 46-yard line before punting, giving Slippery Rock the ball back at their 6-yard line with 8:21 to play.

Indiana never saw the football again, as the Rock went on a 15-play 66-yard drive that ate up the rest of the clock. The drive was aided by four penalties on IUP for 50 yards, including a roughing the kicker penalty on Robinson Waddell with less than two minutes to play when the Crimson Hawks were looking to get the ball back at their 20-yard line.

“It’s a credit to those guys,” said Lutz. “How about our offensive line? They were bringing the house because they had to get the ball back. That was one of the most dramatic drives I’ve been a part of. We’ve now beaten IUP three years in a row. I’m fired up about that because they’re a great program.”

The Crimson Hawks took the football and the lead when Tavion Banks capped a 10-play 75-yard drive. The Rock answered in one play as JayJay Jordan ran 75 yards for a touchdown.

The two schools then traded field goals before Matthew Rueve scored on a 17-yard run with 2:20 to play in the half, putting IUP ahead 17-10

Rueve led Indiana, completing 15 of 33 passes for 233 yards, while rushing for 18 yards.

Nick Andrasi then booted a 43-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the half, giving the Crimson Hawks a 20-10 lead heading to the locker room.

The Rock improves to 5-2 on the season and will host Clarion next Saturday at 1 PM. IUP will host California next Saturday at 2 PM. The Crimson Hawks fall to 4-2 on the season.

Game Highlights:

Offensive

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