MERCER — The Slippery Rock football team’s offense did something Friday night that they haven’t done in three weeks: find the end zone.

The Rockets used a balanced offensive attack to defeat Mercer 43-7 Friday on the road.

“We executed much better in this game,” Slippery Rock coach Larry Wendereusz said. “We simplified some things and just stressed getting better at the things we do.”

Not only did the Rockets score, but they scored early and they scored often.

Slippery Rock (2-2, 2-2) rolled to a 36-0 halftime lead en route to the romp over the Mustangs (1-3, 1-3), who have now lost 21 of their last 22 games.

Slippery Rock scored touchdowns on five of its six first-half possessions, with the lone non-scoring drive ending with a fumble deep in Mercer territory.

The Rockets got on the board less than four minutes in, when Jacob Shaffer connected with Seth Slater on a 39-yard pass to give Slippery Rock a 7-0 lead. It was the first of three touchdown passes for Shaffer.

After Mercer’s next drive ended with a fumble, the Rockets struck again, this time on a Kaleb Kamerer 3-yard touchdown run to give the Rockets.

Kamerer led Slippery Rock with 74 yards on the ground.

The Rockets put the game away in the second quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 22-0, on the strength of Shaffer’s right arm.

He connected with Patrick Shea for an 85-yard strike and Hunter Prementine for a 20-yard score in the quarter. Shaffer, who only played the first half, was 4-of-7 for 167 yards and three touchdowns for the game.

“Jake’s getting better and better each game,” Wendereusz said. “Two of his three touchdown passes were just great reads.”

Prementine added a 31-yard touchdown in the quarter, and the defense even got into the act, tackling Austin Hesselgesser for a safety.

As impressive as Slippery Rock’s offense was, the defense was just as impressive, as the Rockets held the Mustangs to just three total yards in the first half. The Rockets outgained the Mustangs 325-3 before halftime.

“Coach Christie is doing a good job on that side of the ball,” Wendereusz said. “Our defense has looked good this season. We just try to be as aggressive as possible.”

The Mustangs finally got on the board about midway through the fourth quarter when Jimmy Amon scored on a three-yard run. Amon led the Mustangs with 70 yards rushing, but was held 65 yards below his season average of 135 yards per game.

Prementine capped off the scoring, as he scored his third touchdown of the game, by returning the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a score.

Slippery Rock 14 22 0 7 — 43

Mercer 0 0 0 7 — 7

First Quarter

S — Seth Slater 39 pass from Jacob Shaffer (Nathaniel Willison kick), 8:17

S — Kaleb Kamerer 3 run (Willison kick), 3:28

Second Quarter

S — Hunter Prementine 31 run (Willison kick), 10:39

S — Patrick Shea 85 pass from Shaffer (Willison kick), 8:40

S — Austin Hesselgesser tackled in endzone for safety, 3:37

S — Prementine 20 pass from Shaffer (kick failed), 1:23

Fourth Quarter

M — Jimmy Amon 3 run (RJ Carson kick), 8:25

S — Prementine 75 kickoff return (Willison kick), 7:32

Individual Statistics

Rushing:Slippery Rock, Hunter Prementine 3-39, Kaleb Kamerer 6-74, Rod Williams 3-26, Jake Shaffer 5-16, Vito Pelosi 2-12, Seth Slater 2-3, Kid Scarborough 3-4, Jon Whitmer 3-3. Mercer, Jimmy Amon 15-70, Dylan Hetrick 9-(-5), Andrew Weinel 4-(-4), PJ Boggs 12-66, Zack Previty 1-4, Austin Hesselgesser 4-(-18).

Passing:Slippery Rock, Jake Shaffer 4-7-167-0. Mercer, Dylan Hetrick 3-6-56-0.

Receiving:Slippery Rock, Patrick Shea 1-85, Seth Slater 1-39, Hunter Prementine 2-43. Mercer, Jimmy Amon 2-41, Austin Hesselgesser 1-15.