Slippery Rock Football Season Ends but the Rock Goes Down Swinging

Last Saturday Slippery Rock University sent their football team to Michigan to play the Ferris State Bulldogs with the winner heading to the NCAA Division II championship game. As indicated in an earlier article titled “David vs. Goliath” the Rock was heavy underdogs with Ferris State having won two of the last three titles and having mowed down opponents in reaching the semifinals. 

Slippery Rock had pulled surprises on their way to this game, knocking off the previously undefeated Kutztown and then earning revenge on their only loss of the regular season by defeating California University of Pennsylvania to reach the final four in Division II.

As the first quarter of this last game came to a close, there were high hopes for fans of the Rock. Slippery Rock had built a 21-7 lead and there must have been the belief that perhaps the Green and White could pull a miracle. But this scoring machine, known as the Bulldogs, came storming back in the second quarter with 20 points, but the Rock would not go away, scoring 17 of their own. With a 38-27 lead at the half, the alum like me was excited. Those 38 points would be the last for SRU and the second half belonged to Ferris State as they took the lead with two scores making it 41-38 then added another touchdown to close the show.

As I had indicated in my preview for this game, win or lose, alumni and fans of Slippery Rock should hold their heads high. After all, we can say that we were one of the four best teams in the entire country in 2024. With the loss, the Rock are now 0-4 when reaching the semifinals and overall have a record of 15-12 in the NCAA playoff games. By finishing 12-2 on the year, it marks the second best record in Rock football history. 

Kudos to head coach Shawn Lutz who completes his ninth year on the sidelines for Slippery Rock and along the way has won 82 games and lost just 21. Quarterback Brayden Long leaves Slippery Rock with the season over setting the school record for completions (631) and completion percentage with a mark of 67%. His college passing yards total of 7,527 is second best in history and with 64 touchdowns he is in second place in that category. 

Wide receiver Logan Ramper caught three touchdown passes against Ferris State, tying the school record for most in one game. Kylon Wilson is the school record setter for kickoff return yards in one season moving past his own previous record with 842 yards. Just as the Steelers T.J. Watt does in the NFL, Josh Stokes recovered his fourth fumble in 2024, which is the most of any player in Division II.

Aside from Slippery Rock and Ferris State, the other semifinal saw the top ranked Valdosta State beating Minnesota State 35-21 so this Saturday Ferris will try to win yet another title while Valdosta State will try to win the title without a loss this season. Ferris State has lost just once, that in their season opener to Pittsburg State 19-3. The championship game will be played in McKinney, Texas on December 21. For the record, heading into the semifinals, Slippery Rock was seeded third among the four teams.



Hats off to Shawn Lutz and his team for an amazing season and congratulations on being one of the four best teams in the United States among Division II teams. I’m sure every Rock fan everywhere, like myself, is already anticipating next year.