Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Liam Nadler (Leipsic, Ohio/Leipsic Local) set school single-game records for completions (35) and attempts (63), Matt Szczupakowski (Spencerport, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) broke the school record for field goals in a game (4) and Justin Caliste (Roseville, Calif./Oakmont) tied a school single-game record for receptions (12) Saturday night at Slippery Rock. But the records weren't enough as the Gannon football team dropped a 38-18 decision in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division opener for both squads. The victory was the Rock's first against Gannon since the 2008 campaign.

One would have thought Gannon was in control by looking at the statistics sheet. The Golden Knights churned out 391 yards of total offense, including 325 through the air. The squad was 7-of-19 on third-down conversions and held the ball for 30 minutes and 10 seconds. But it was missed scoring opportunities early and big plays from the Slippery Rock defense and special teams that proved to be the difference.

Gannon reached the red zone four times during the first half, but only came away with three field goals during those trips. Two of those scoring chances came during the Golden Knights' first two possessions.

After a Will Giles' (Nyack, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional) interception on the second play of the game set Gannon up at the Slippery Rock 22-yard line, the Golden Knights reached the 17-yard line before settling for a Szczupakowski 32-yard field goal.

Gannon then drove 73 yards on 11 plays during its next possession. However, a dropped pass on a third-and-one from the Slippery Rock 17-yard line forced Szczupakowski to kick a 35-yarder for a 6-0 lead 7:49 into the affair.

The Slippery Rock fireworks began on the next kickoff. Jaimire Dutrieuille returned a kickoff 92 yards down the sideline to push the Rock in front 7-6. On the next Gannon possession, Anthony Saunders took an interception 42 yards to paydirt for a 14-6 advantage. The two scores happened one minute and 24 seconds apart.

The Gannon defense recorded its second interception when Tashawn Sneed (Brooklyn, N.Y./Campus Magnet) returned his first career pick to midfield. It appeared the play would put the Golden Knights back in the game. The squad reached the Rock 12-yard line, but a personal foul pushed the ball back to the 27-yard line. Facing a long field goal, Gannon went for it on fourth-and-25 and turned the ball over on downs.

The teams traded field goals during the second quarter. For Gannon, the field goal was another missed opportunity. The Golden Knights drove 64 yards late in the quarter, picking up a first down at the Slippery Rock 18-yard line. However, the drive stalled on the 10-yard line and forced another Szczupakowski field goal. This one from 28 yards out with 1:41 left in the half produced a 17-9 SRU advantage at the intermission.

Slippery Rock wasted little time assuming control in the second half, going 51 yards on nine plays during its first possession. The Rock bumped its lead to 24-9 when it converted a nine-yard touchdown pass from holder Michael Bongivengo to the tight end Josh Gardner on a fake field goal.

The two teams split the final four scores. Szczupakowski kicked his school-record fourth field goal of the evening with 5:40 left in the third quarter, hitting from 31 yards out. Abraham Ocasio (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) added his fourth receiving touchdown of the season with a one-yard connection from Nadler at the 6:56 mark of the fourth quarter. The Rock accounted for their final scores on a John Schademan four-yard touchdown catch from Jared Buck late in the third quarter and a Buck one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

The Gannon offensive statistics looked impressive minus the four turnovers and missed opportunities inside the red zone. Nadler finished 35-of-63 for 325 yards and one touchdown. The redshirt freshman broke Zach Boedicker's school records for completions (27) and attempts (56) set against Kutztown in 2010. He also became only the third quarterback in school history to record a pair of 300-yard passing games in the same season after he threw for a school record 420 yards during the season opener against Lake Erie. Todd Heigley (1996) and Darmel Whitfield (2003 and 2004) are the only quarterbacks to accomplish the feat prior to Nadler.

Six different receivers hauled in passes. Caliste led the onslaught with 12 catches, tying a school record set by Lee Castana against Canisius in 1997. In the process, Caliste produced exactly 100 yards which gave him a second consecutive 100-yard game. In all, Gannon receivers have recorded five 100-yard games during the first three contests. That also represents a new school record. The previous mark was four set during the 1997 campaign.

Gannon finished the game with advantages in first downs (19-16), total yards (391-298), passing yards (325-196) and time of possession (30:10-29:50). Slippery Rock out-gained the Golden Knights 102-66 on the ground and won the turnover battle 4-2.

Ta'Von Bailey (Lanham, Md./DeMatha Catholic) led the Gannon defensive unit with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops. Both figures represent career-highs for the sophomore defensive back. Matt Jones (Rochester, N.Y./The Aquinas Institute) and Khayree Connors-McChristian (Sicklerville, N.J./Winslow Township) followed with nine tackles each.

Gannon dropped to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC Western Division with its second consecutive loss. Slippery Rock improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Golden Knights return home next Saturday, September 22 to host Clarion at Gannon University Field. The final night game of the season is scheduled for 6 p.m.