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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Minnesota Duluth built a 17-point lead and rushed for more than 370 yards, but Slippery Rock rallied for a 45-43 double-overtime victory Thursday night at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
DaOne Owens scored on the decisive two-point conversion after Slippery Rock answered Derrick Johnson’s touchdown in the second overtime. Minnesota Duluth’s mandatory two-point attempt had failed following Johnson’s score.
The loss ended the Bulldogs’ seven-game winning streak in season openers. Slippery Rock, which received votes in the preseason national poll, extended its winning streak to 17 games.
Johnson rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries for No. 12 UMD. The Bulldogs recorded their highest single-game rushing total since 2023 but could not protect leads of 24-7 and 30-14.
Slippery Rock scored on its first offensive play after UMD opened the game with a 37-yard field goal. Jahmil Perryman returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards before Vincent Berardi caught a 54-yard touchdown pass for a 7-3 lead.
Johnson completed a 79-yard touchdown drive that put the Bulldogs ahead 10-7. Jacob Eggert followed with a touchdown pass to Ben Fritsch late in the second quarter, giving UMD a 17-7 halftime lead.
Johnson broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown run early in the second half, extending the advantage to 24-7. Slippery Rock responded with JayJay Jordan’s 28-yard touchdown run, but Alex Riley answered with a 28-yard scoring run for UMD. A missed extra point left the Bulldogs ahead 30-14.
Slippery Rock cut the deficit to 30-20 on John Sabo’s touchdown before producing the game’s critical defensive play. UMD reached scoring range on Eggert’s 44-yard completion to Joey Flaherty, but two holding penalties and a false start pushed the Bulldogs backward. Slippery Rock then returned a fumble for a touchdown, trimming the lead to 30-27.
UMD recovered the ensuing onside kick but went three-and-out after another false-start penalty. Slippery Rock drove for the tying field goal, sending the Bulldogs to overtime for the first time since 2018.
Slippery Rock scored a touchdown on six plays in the first overtime. A holding penalty put UMD in trouble during its possession, but Eggert answered with a 20-yard run before scoring on a quarterback sneak. The extra point forced a second overtime.
Flaherty’s reception moved UMD to the goal line before Johnson scored his third touchdown. After the Bulldogs failed on the two-point conversion, Slippery Rock faced third-and-7 on its possession. A pass-interference penalty extended the drive, and the Rock scored on the next play before Owens ran for the winning conversion.
Eggert completed 9 of 15 passes for 142 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his first career start. He also rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown. Peyton Menzel led UMD with four receptions for 72 yards, while Ean Ackley recorded 10 tackles and a sack.
The Bulldogs will open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play against Augustana at 6 p.m. Thursday at Malosky Stadium.
