NCAA Division II playoffs: Run games the focus in New Haven vs Slippery Rock rematch
SLIPPERY ROCK — Run vs. run.
That’s how Slippery Rock University football coach Shawn Lutz views his team’s first-round NCAA Division II playoff game vs. New Haven this Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
“Whoever wins the line of scrimmage is going to win this game,” Lutz said. “The forecast is calling for 40 degrees and a lot of wind. I don’t think either team is going to throw the ball all that much.”
The Rock (9-1) and Chargers (8-2) will kick off at 1 p.m. in a rematch of their season opener. SRU won that game 22-7, a contest that featured a combined 22 penalties. Neither team mustered 300 yards of offense.
Since that opener, New Haven is averaging 37 points per game and has scored more than 40 points six times. The Rock have not scored 40 points in a game this season.
“We had four turnovers in that first game,” New Haven coach Chris Pincince said. “It was the first, and we were sloppy. Slippery Rock presents a lot of problems for any team they play. We have to eliminate the turnovers. We’re hoping for a different outcome this time.”
Lutz doesn’t believe much can be taken from that season opener.
“It was so long ago, and both teams were still trying to figure out where to put people, still developing as a unit,” the SRU coach said. “New Haven still plays the same way it did then. ... But they’ve obviously gotten better.”
SRU has won its last eight games against Northeast 10 Conference foes, the last loss being a 49-21 decision to New Haven in the 1997 playoffs.
The Chargers enter the game leading all of Division II with 42 quarterback sacks while allowing only four. Six New Haven players have at least four sacks on the year. Their running game is 10th in the nation at 252 yards per game, and their rushing defense is second in the country, allowing 65 yards per contest.
Christopher Ais has 1,055 yards rushing and eight touchdowns for New Haven. Zaon Laney has contributed 760 yards and five TDs on the ground.
SRU’s run game is led by Idris Lawrence, who has 683 yards and five touchdowns on 120 carries, and Chris D’Or, who has 658 yards and three TDs on 122 carries.
“The weather forecast favors them, actually,” Lutz said. “They don’t want to throw the ball.”
While New Haven dominated the Northeast 10 Conference this season, Lutz said he believes the PSAC is a stronger league “and I hope that plays out this week. But they have a very good team. Any team you face in the playoffs has a good team.”
Only 28 of the 162 Division II teams qualify for postseason play. SRU is in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. Ferris State (10 times) is the only D-II team in the country with a longer active streak.
New Haven is in the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
“We have three seniors up front, and we rely on our offensive line,” Pincince said. “When we can’t run the football, we struggle. But our defense has been playing well.”
The Chargers have allowed only 51 points in their last six games. Quarterback Daelon Menard has thrown for 1,546 yards, 16 TDs and seven interceptions. He completed only 16 of 40 passes in New Haven’s loss to SRU and was intercepted twice.
Josh Hamel has kicked three field goals for the Chargers, the longest only 25 yards. SRU’s Mason Yohn has connected on field goals of 40 and 41 yards the past two weeks.
“Mason’s punted well, too, and the kicking game always plays a factor in the playoffs,” Lutz said.
New Haven’s Kha-lil Eason leads the nation with a 40.6-yard average on kickoff returns this year. He’s brought back three for touchdowns.
The All-PSAC West team was announced this week, and Rock defensive end Todd Hill has been named Defensive Player of the Year. Left tackle Joe Cooper, tight end Kam Kruzelyak, running back D’Or, defensive tackle Munchie Johnson and return specialist Kylon Wilson made first team. Second team honors went to quarterback Brayden Long, running back Lawrence, defensive back Eddie Faulkner IV, defensive back Josh Stokes and linebacker Jacob Snow.
“I think Joe Cooper is the best tackle in the country,” Lutz said.
