Luke Pugliese spent his first year as a starter with an up-close view of one of the nation’s top NCAA Division II football players.
As Slippery Rock’s starting right guard, Pugliese protected quarterback Brayden Long — a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, which is annually awarded to the nation’s top Division II player — during the Rock’s run to the 2024 NCAA playoff semifinals.
This time around, the perspective is slightly different.
Pugliese, a Penn Hills product, is a leader and returning starter on a veteran offensive line, which has the opportunity this season to be the catalyst to keep No. 4 Slippery Rock among the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and nation’s elite.
“We think that we are the best line in the country,” Pugliese said. “We all put the work in and it definitely shows on Saturdays.”
For the second weekend in a row, that was certainly the case.
No. 4 Slippery Rock rushed for 125 yards and three second-half touchdowns Saturday evening to emerge with a thrilling 35-28 comeback victory in overtime against Shepherd at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
Running back JayJay Jordan led the way for the Rock (2-0) with 70 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries against the PSAC East Division Rams (0-2). Quarterback DaOne Owens, in his first action at Slippery Rock, came on in relief of starter Anthony Vespo and rushed for 46 yards on four carries.
Owens tied the game at 28-28 when he found the end zone on a 16-yard run with just 36 seconds remaining in regulation.
Jordan then won the game with a 19-yard touchdown run in overtime. The running back added four catches for 35 yards and a touchdown to finish with 105 all-purpose yards.
A week ago, Slippery Rock rushed for 254 yards and two touchdowns, while conceding just one sack, in a 24-13 victory on the road against Franklin Pierce.
The Rock only gave up one sack against Shepherd, as well.
“I don’t think our offense is going to ever really change,” said Shawn Lutz, now in his ninth season coaching the Rock. “We’ve got three really premier running backs in JayJay Jordan, Quentin Harrison and Luke McCoy, and we might be a little different this year. Last year, we had some really experienced receivers. We’ve still got really good receivers, but I think we are going to lean on our line a little bit more.”
And that begins with left tackle Joe Cooper.
The 6-foot-7, 320-pound redshirt senior was one of just 10 Division II players to be named to the East-West Shrine Bowl watch list.
Lutz said Cooper has already received visits from multiple NFL scouts.
South Park product Eli Podgorski, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound redshirt senior left guard, also provides a veteran presence on the left side of the Rock offensive line, while Matthew Prudhomme and Pace transfer Dom Clifford are both seeing early action at center.
The right side of the line is led by Pugliese and redshirt freshman tackle Luke Caldwell, who made his second start in place of veteran Jake Jonassen against Shepherd.
Jonassen was a returning starter but suffered a season-ending injury during preseason camp.
“We’ve got three guys that have had that playing experience,” Lutz said. “With Luke’s experience, Podgorski’s and Joe Cooper … I like what we’re doing. I think we can be one of the better lines in the country.
“I think we can be a pound-and-ground team,” he added, “and still be a big-play team with our receivers.”
Lutz said associate head coach and offensive line coach Chris Conrad, now in his 14th season at Slippery Rock, has also been critical to the line’s success.
“If you can just grind it our running the football, impose your will, it’s really frustrating for a team and a defense,” Lutz said. “The biggest thing about running the football, when it gets late, we’re used to playing late with being in the playoffs, it gets cold, it gets rainy, the wind conditions, the weather; you’ve got to be able to run the rock. That’s what we’ve got to be able to be really good at.”
And Slippery Rock intends to do just that en route to making its seventh consecutive trip to the postseason.
The Rock led eventual national champion Ferris State through three quarters in the national semifinals last season before eventually falling to the nation’s current No. 1 team, 48-38.
Lutz’s team has the second longest NCAA playoff streak in the country at six behind only Ferris State’s 10 straight years.
Pugliese said the Rock’s playoff run of a year ago showed his program belongs among the nation’s elite teams. He added Slippery Rock intends to remain in that conversation.
“I think it should be a great year this year,” Pugliese said. “We’ll just go week by week, one game by one game.”
California University of Pennsylvania hangs on to remain undefeated
No. 10 California University of Pennsylvania outscored West Chester by just four fourth-quarter points Saturday afternoon to avoid an upset bid and remain undefeated with a 26-24 victory at Adamson Stadium in California.
After Harry Radcliffe hit a 35-yard field goal to give the Vulcans (2-0) a 26-17 lead with just 2:22 remaining in the contest, the PSAC East Division Golden Rams (1-1) responded with a four-play 77-yard drive that culminated in a 4-yard touchdown run by Khalil Owens with 1:42 left.
The two-point deficit was as close as West Chester would get.
Quarterback Roman Purcell led California’s offense. He threw for just 82 yards and an interception but carried the football a team-high 18 times for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Bobbie Boyd Jr., a McKeesport graduate, rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Linebacker Malachi Thomas recorded nine tackles, 2½ for a loss, with 1½ sacks for the Vulcans, while Freedom product Alexie Sangster Jr. tallied four tackles and an interception.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania offense comes to life for first win
Graduate student quarterback Matthew Rueve completed 24 of 32 passes for 365 yards, five touchdowns and an interception to lead Indiana University of Pennsylvania to its first win of the season, a 42-10 decision over Lock Haven Saturday afternoon at George P. Miller Stadium in Indiana.
Wide receiver Devin Whitlock, a Belle Vernon product and Pitt transfer, caught seven passes for a game-high 150 yards and a touchdown for the Crimson Hawks (1-1) against the Bald Eagles (1-1).
IUP freshman Jeremiah Coleman also caught three passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns, while Aliquippa product Cyair Clark caught a 30-yard scoring strike from Rueve. Maurice Massey added three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown.
Seton Hill wins second straight
Quarterback Boden St. Marie rushed for an 11-yard touchdown run with 54 seconds remaining Saturday afternoon to hand Seton Hill a 31-28 victory over visiting PSAC East Division foe Bloomsburg at Offutt Field in Greensburg.
St. Marie completed 21 of 29 passes for 268 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Griffins (2-1) against the Huskies (0-2). He also rushed six times for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Ky’Ron Craggette, a Connellsville native, rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries for Seton Hill.
No. 17 Carnegie Mellon drops first home game of season to No. 9 Wisconsin-La Crosse
No. 17 Carnegie Mellon hung tough early but absorbed 24 unanswered points from No. 9 Wisconsin-La Crosse in a 38-14 loss Saturday afternoon at Gesling Stadium in Oakland.
Quarterback Joey McGinnis IV threw for 245 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Tartans (1-1) against the Eagles (2-0).
Junior wide receiver Brendan McCullough caught seven passes for 199 yards. He caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from McGinnis in the second quarter and added a 34-yard scoring strike with the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.
Wisconsin-La Crosse quarterback Kyle Haas threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, while the Eagles also rushed for 173 yards.
Carnegie Mellon was held to just 27 yards on the ground and turned the football over four times.
Grove City defense struggles in loss to Mount Union
Grove City’s defense conceded 498 yards of total offense and dropped its first home game of the season Saturday afternoon, 49-14, to perennial NCAA Division III power Mount Union at Robert E. Thorn Field in Grove City.
Quarterback Ellis Sutton got the Wolverines (1-1) out to an early 7-0 lead with a 10-yard, first-quarter touchdown run, but the Purple Raiders (2-0) responded with 49 unanswered points over the ensuing three quarters.
Junior wide receiver Daniel Sullivan wrapped up the scoring for Grove City with a 10-yard touchdown catch from backup quarterback Ethan Wiley late in the fourth quarter.
Running back Ian Demeri, a Penn-Trafford product, carried the football 13 times for a team-high 76 yards to lead the Wolverines offense.
Mount Union quarterback Mikey Maloney threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns, while Darnell Williams rushed for 116 yards and three scores.
Washington & Jefferson shines on offense but remains winless
Washington & Jefferson amassed 491 yards of offense, but a 21-point third quarter scoring outburst by Hampden-Sydney doomed the Presidents in a 38-31 loss Saturday afternoon at Lewis C. Everett Stadium in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia.
Running back Andrew Sharp, a Baldwin product, ran 20 times for 119 yards and a touchdown for W&J (0-2), while quarterback Kellan Stahl threw for 281 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He also ran for 65 yards and a score against the Tigers (2-0).
Wide receiver John Peduzzi caught 11 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown for the Presidents, while Peters Township product Jacob Macosko added seven catches for 76 yards.
Sophomore quarterback Sean O’Shea leads Westminster to win in first career start
Sophomore quarterback Sean O’Shea, a Seneca Valley graduate, rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries in his first career start to lead Westminster to a 27-7 victory over Franklin & Marshall Saturday afternoon at Shadek Stadium in Lancaster.
O’Shea threw for 78 yards and Clayton Cannon Jr. added 72 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Titans (1-1). Westminster’s Andrew Caranna kicked field goals of 35 and 30 yards.
The Diplomats fell to 1-1.
Waynesburg upended by Dickinson
Running back Zayne Cawley rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns for Waynesburg in a 52-19 loss to Dickinson Saturday afternoon at Biddle Field in Carlisle.
Tight end Giovanni Cipoletti, a Trinity graduate, caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Burke III for the Yellow Jackets (0-2). The Red Devils improved to 1-1.
Duquesne fails to complete rally for upset of No. 10 Lehigh
Duquesne pulled within seven points in the fourth quarter when North Allegheny product Logan Kushner scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run, but No. 10 Lehigh managed to quell the Dukes’ upset bid Saturday afternoon and win, 35-21, at Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field in Oakland.
Graduate student quarterback Tyler Riddell threw for 211 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for Duquesne (1-2). His favorite target was wide receiver Joey Isabella, who caught eight passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.
Dukes tight end Daniel Tarabrella, a Penn-Trafford product, also caught an eight-yard touchdown against the Mountain Hawks (3-0).
Ethan Shine shines to lead Robert Morris to first win
Junior running back Ethan Shine rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries to lead NCAA Division I FCS Robert Morris to a 28-14 victory over Division II West Liberty Saturday night at Joe Walton Stadium in Moon.
The Colonials (1-2) rushed for 242 yards against the Hilltoppers (0-3), who allowed 58 yards and a score to Colonials running back Donta Whack.
Quarterback Zach Tanner completed 8 of 9 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns for Robert Morris.
Wide receiver Thomas Lee caught five passes for 44 yards and a touchdown for the Colonials, while Jagai Carter added two catches for 25 yards and a score.
Pitt drops heartbreaker to WVU in Backyard Brawl
Pitt led by 10 points with 9:23 remaining in the Backyard Brawl, before West Virginia rallied to force overtime and eventually emerged with a 31-24 victory Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown.
Quarterback Eli Holstein completed 22 of 37 passes for 303 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Panthers (2-1). His 14-yard touchdown pass to Raphael Williams Jr. handed Pitt a seemingly commanding 24-14 lead over the Mountaineers (2-1) midway through the fourth quarter.
WVU responded, though, as kicker Kade Hensley made a 21-yard field goal and backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol found Grayson Barnes on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.
Tye Edwards, who rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, crossed the goal line for the Mountaineers’ game-winning score from two yards out.
The Panthers turned the ball over on downs on their offensive possession in overtime.
Williams caught six passes for 119 yards to lead the Pitt offense.
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.