INDIANA, Pa. -- The 21st-ranked IUP football program had just 12.9 seconds left to respond after ninth-ranked Slippery Rock scored the go-ahead touchdown. The Hawks fell to Slippery Rock 33-32 following a missed 54-yard field goal as time expired Saturday afternoon at Miller Stadium on Homecoming.
The Hawks drop to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC West during their homecoming game, while Slippery Rock improves to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC West.
IUP controlled possession for 27:12 minutes, converting 25 first downs, with 171 total rushing yards, 181 total passing yards, four touchdowns, and two field goals.
IUP quarterback Karst Hunter threw for 181-yards and three touchdowns, including a 36-yard heave to Maurice Massey. Hunter rushed for a total of 113-yards, including a touchdown he took in himself.
Massey recorded five receptions for 97-yards and one touchdown. Hilton Ridley, Daniel Deabner, and Cyair Clark each had three receptions and combined for 80-yards. On the ground, Kaleb Monaco was the sole rusher with 58-yards on 14 attempts. Kicker Nick Andrasi contributed eight points, six of which came from field goals.
Noah Johnstown had a standout game with a career best of 15 total tackles and a diving interception. Charles Ingram followed closely with 12 tackles, and Garett Cox contributed 10. Kalen Frazier added six tackles and three pass breakups.
Slippery Rock raced ahead 21-0 in the first half before IUP responded with 10 points heading into halftime. Slippery Rock scored on their first possession, and then back to back during the second quarter, controlling the pace of the first half.
IUP's opening score of the day came on a two-yard pass over the top to Marcus Day. The drive included a 26-yard completion to Hilton Ridley and a 35-yard scamper from Hunter, setting up the opening touchdown for the Crimson Hawks. Nick Andrasi tacked on a field goal just before the half.
After halftime, IUP showed out and shutout Slippery Rock in the third quarter, after a six-yard rush touchdown from Hunter himself and later on a field goal from Nick Andrasi. Logan Danielson recovered a Slippery Rock fumble near midfield and IUP capitalized for its first lead of the day just two plays later.
Hunter connected with Maurice Massey for a 36-yard touchdown with 14:04 left in the game, electrifying the rowdy Miller Stadium crowd.
Slippery Rock regained possession and ended its scoring drought with an 83-yard drive that took 8:59 off the clock.
Mike Solomon hauled in the first of two fourth quarter touchdowns on a tipped pass, handing the momentum back to SRU at 27-26 following a missed two-point conversion.
In response, IUP used 3:17 and nine plays to regain the lead. Despite a 10-yard penalty setback, Hunter rushed for 38-yards, and a 10-yard pass to Hilton Ridley secured their advantage.
With Slippery Rock trailing by five and just 1:31 remaining, Brayden Long connected with Soloman in the back of the end zone for a toe-tap touchdown and a 33-32 lead. Long orchestrated two go-ahead scoring drives for SRU in the fourth quarter, showing poise down the stretch while finishing with 22 completions and three touchdown passes.
Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against SRU gave IUP solid field position, setting up a dramatic finish with 12.9 seconds left. The Hawks advanced the ball for a field goal attempt that ultimately fell short from 54-yards out.
Up Next
IUP travels to Edinboro, Pa. next Saturday, October 12 to play Edinboro, set for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
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