Michael Henwood’s relentless play secures Slippery Rock football win in NCAA D-II first round
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock quarterback Brayden Long throws a pass during a NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock wide receiver John Sabo catches a pass during a NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defensive backs Kanye Thompson (36) and Eddie Faulkner (32) tackle New Haven’s Josh Zamot during a NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated New Haven 14-7 in an NCAA Division II first-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Slippery Rock University's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
SLIPPERY ROCK — Beaten on the play, Michael Henwood got a little punchy.
His Slippery Rock University teammates didn’t mind a bit.
With SRU leading New Haven by a touchdown late in the third quarter, Henwood’s job as a safety in The Rock’s Cover-2 defense was to pick up Chargers receiver Logan Schmidt down the right sideline. He allowed Schmidt to get behind him for what appeared to be a certain 60-yard scoring pass.
But Henwood chased Schmidt down, punching the ball out of his hands at the 2-yard line. The ball bounced through the end zone for a touchback, preserving The Rock’s 14-7 NCAA Division II first-round playoff win on a misty, chilly day at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
The Rock (10-1) travels to PSAC champion Kutztown for a second-round playoff game at 1 p.m. Nov. 30. The unbeaten Golden Bears are ranked No. 1 in Super Region One and had a first-round bye.
“He made a big mistake on the play, but never stopped, never gave up on the play,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said of Henwood. “That’s the definition of relentless.”
New Haven (8-3) never got inside The Rock’s 35-yard line again.
“I don’t think he (Schmidt) knew I was there,” Henwood said. “He was carrying the ball kinda loosely as he was running down the sideline. I tried punching it out. I fell to the turf afterward and didn’t realize what had happened, where the ball went.
“I got up and my teammates started congratulating me.”
Neither team could get a running game going Saturday, both having to rely on pass plays, defense and field position to survive the day.
The Chargers entered the contest averaging 34 points and 250 yards rushing per game. They were limited to a single touchdown and 63 net yards on the ground Saturday.
“Credit Slippery Rock. I was surprised we struggled to run the ball, but we ran into a pretty good defense,” New Haven coach Chris Pincince said. “We have to finish off drives when we have the chance. We didn’t do that today.
“We’ve been to the playoffs four straight years, and this is the third time we lost in the first round. We have to learn from this and keep working toward taking the next step.”
SRU netted 37 yards rushing, and quarterback Brayden Long was sacked three times. But The Rock scored on their first possession of the day as Kylon Wilson’s 4-yard touchdown run capped an eight-play, 72-yard march. That lead expanded to 14-0 when Carson Heckathorn’s 19-yard TD catch completed an eight-play, 75-yard drive to begin the third quarter.
The Rock’s Mason Yohn was wide right on a 39-yard field goal attempt late in the first half. New Haven’s Josh Hamel’s 44-yard field goal try was blocked by Eddie Faulker IV earlier in the half as both teams struggled to get on the board.
“Something bad happens, like a sack, just forget it and move on to the next play,” Long said. “That’s always our mindset. Their defense was aggressive and kept coming.”
A 19-yard touchdown catch by Mikey Caines midway through the third quarter got New Haven back in the game, but the Chargers got no closer.
Yohn put four of his six punts inside the New Haven 20-yard line, giving the Chargers poor field position.
“The kicking game is vital in weather conditions like this, and Mason did the job,” Lutz said. “He’s always smiling. He loves to play football. And Andrew Vince stepped up and had a huge game for us today.”
Vince, a linebacker, has missed most of this season with a concussion. He made his first start Saturday and led the team with 14 tackles.
“Our defense was just swarming out there,” Lutz said. “They played region championship caliber football today.”
Notes: SRU won a game while scoring only 14 points for the first time since Nov. 2, 2002, a 14-7 victory at Lock Haven. ... Heckathorn’s touchdown was the first of his collegiate career. ... SRU receiver Logan Ramper had six catches for 123 yards, his first 100-yard game with The Rock. ... Saturday marked Lutz’s 100th game as SRU head coach. His record is 80-20. ... SRU is now 9-3 in home playoff games.
New Haven 0 0 7 0 — 7
Slippery Rock 7 0 7 0 — 14
First Quarter
SRU — Kylon Wilson 4 run (Mason Yohn kick), 8:46
Third Quarter
SRU — Carson Heckathorn 19 pass from Brayden Long (Yohn kick), 10:12
NH — Mikey Caines 19 pass from Daelen Menard (Josh Hamel kick), 6:14
Individual Statistics
Passing: New Haven, Daelen Menard 18-32-205-0. SRU, Brayden Long 21-34-270-0.
Rushing: New Haven, Justin Felder 8-43, Christopher Ais 10-13, Zaon Laney 6-7, Daelen Menard 1-0. SRU, Idris Lawrence 13-42, Chris D’Or 10-15, Kylon Wilson 1-4, TEAM 1-1, Brayden Long 3-(-25).
Receiving: New Haven, Logan Schmidt 4-78, Zaon Laney 4-11, Josh Zamot 3-45, Mikey Caines 2-33, Christopher Ais 2-14, Matt Chandler 1-15, Justin Felder 1-13, Daelen Menard 1-(-4). SRU, Logan Ramper 6-123, Mike Solomon 5-60, Kylon Wilson 4-50, Kam Kruzelyak 2-12, Chris D’Or 2-3, Carson Heckathorn 1-19, John Sabo 1-3.
