SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University football team scored 45 points in the first half and rolled to a 59-28 Homecoming win over Edinboro University Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Edinboro (4-3, 1-3 PSAC) got a 56-yard rush from Walter Fletcher on the first offensive play of the game and scored on a TD pass two plays later to jump out to a 7-0 lead just 58 seconds into the game. Slippery Rock (6-1, 4-0 PSAC) responded by scoring on its first three possessions to lead 17-7 and would never trail the rest of the day.
 
The victory, coupled with a Gannon win at California (Pa.) Saturday, gives SRU sole possession of first place in the PSAC West standings with an unblemished divisional record.


The Edinboro defense had no answers for The Rock offense Saturday as SRU scored on eight of its first nine possessions and punted just once in three quarters before pulling its starters. Slippery Rock put up 45 points and 448 total yards in the first half alone on the way to building a 45-21 lead at the break. The Rock scored on the first possession of the second half to extend the lead to 52-21 and put the game well out of reach.
 
Edinboro took advantage of multiple big plays, including a 75-yard touchdown pass, to account for most of its scoring on the day. Slippery Rock finished the game with no turnovers and a total 596 yards of offense, with 418 passing yards and 178 rushing yards. Edinboro posted 414 yards of total offense with 261 passing yards and 153 rushing yards.
 
Roland Rivers improved to 5-0 as the SRU starting quarterback with his best overall effort of the season. He completed 25-of-32 passes for 403 yards with five touchdowns while also adding 82 rushing yards and one score to account for 485 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. The 403 yards marked the 10th most yards by a quarterback in a single-game in SRU history.
 
Rivers completed passes to nine different players, led by the duo of Jermaine Wynn Jr. and Henry Litwin, who both topped the 100-yard mark. Wynn had a huge day to finish with six catches for 119 yards with three touchdowns, while Litwin pulled down a game-high nine passes for 131 yards and one score. Austin Scott caught two passes for 60 yards, Mike Merhaut caught a 57-yard pass and Zach Cirillo caught four passes for 33 yards.
 
Wes Hills averaged 7.3 yards per carry and finished with 88 rushing yards and one TD on just 12 carries to lead the SRU ground attack. Chacar Berry added a pair of touchdowns with a one-yard run and an 11-yard reception.
 
Jake Chapla was a perfect 8-for-8 on point after tries to run his current streak of consecutive made PATs to 69 dating back to midway through last season. He also converted his one field goal attempt from 36 yards for his ninth made field goal of the season.
 
The Rock defense put pressure on the Edinboro quarterback all day, finishing with six QB hurries, one sack and five tackles for loss. Brad Zaffram led the way with six total tackles and one TFL. Edgar Parrilla II and Trysten McDonald each had five tackles. Eric Glover-Williams recorded three pas breakups and Dalton Holt came up with his first career interception. The lone sack of the day belonged to Chad Kuhn, who also had two QB hurries.
 
Edinboro was paced by Fletcher with 144 rushing yards and one score. He also caught seven passes for 33 yards. Jarrod Kellar completed 22-of-44 passes for 261 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Ta'Nauz Gregory caught four passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Slippery Rock snapped a streak of two consecutive Homecoming losses with the first Homecoming win for third-year head coach Shawn Lutz. The Rock will now look to carry their momentum into a road game next Saturday at Clarion University.
 
 
Notes: SRU head coach Shawn Lutz won his first Homecoming game in his third try … SRU improved to 56-28-7 all-time against Edinboro … SRU improved to 30-2 in home games dating back to the beginning of the 2013 season … Roland Rivers threw for 403 yards and five TD with the 403 yards marking the 10th most in a single-game in program history … He accounted for six total TD in a game for the second time in the last five weeks and has now accounted for 22 touchdowns and just three turnovers in five games … SRU had two receivers over 100 yards in the same game for the second time this season with Henry Litwin (131 yards, 1 TD) and Jermaine Wynn Jr. (119 yards, 3 TD) … Wynn's 3 TD catches marked the first time this season an SRU receiver has grabbed three TD in a game … it was the first time since week four last year that an SRU player had three TD catches … Jake Chapla made all eight of his PAT kicks to run his current streak to 69 straight makes … he also booted his ninth field goal of the season … Chapla now has 130 career made PATs to rank fourth all-time at SRU … he needs just seven more to tie for second on the SRU ledger … his made field goal was the 31st of his career … he is now just four shy of tying the SRU record of 35, held by CJ Bahr and Morgan Anderson … SRU is 4-0 at home this year and is 3-0 in games when the opponent scores first.


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