SLIPPERY ROCK — As Roland Rivers flows, so flows the Slippery Rock University offense.

Rivers was raging Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The SRU quarterback threw for 403 yards and five touchdowns, ran for 82 yards and another score in three quarters of action as The Rock dismantled Edinboro, 59-28, on homecoming.

While Rivers was in the game, SRU (6-1, 4-0) scored eight touchdowns and a field goal in 10 possessions. The one time The Rock didn't score, it turned the ball over on downs at the Edinboro 37.

“We were comfortable, but that all starts with practice,” Rivers said. “We work hard every day and spend a lot of time watching film.

“Our offensive line did a great job. I had plenty of time to make all of my reads and distribute the ball.”

Rivers completed passes to eight different receivers. Three of the touchdown tosses — covering 32, 29 and 24 yards — went to Jermaine Wynn Jr. All three of his scores were in the second quarter. Wynn caught six passes for 119 yards.

Henry Litwin caught nine passes for 131 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown late in the third quarter for The Rock's final points.

“With so many of us capable of making plays, you just find a way to get open and Roland will find you,” Wynn said. “They (Edinboro defense) pay attention to somebody else and things open up.

“He (Rivers) had plenty of time back there. A defensive back can only stay with a receiver for so long.”

Litwin said The Rock passing attack is all about strength in numbers.

“You can't double-team everybody and Roland is great at distributing the ball,” he said.

The Rock is 5-0 in Rivers' five starts. He has accounted for 22 touchdowns and only three turnovers.

SRU did not turn the ball over at all Saturday. Edinboro (4-3, 1-3) entered the game leading all of NCAA Division II football with 25 takeaways.

“Our offense just can't be stopped right now,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “It's amazing watching what that unit is turning into.

“It all starts with the quarterback. Roland is making great decisions. He's not forcing things like he did a few times in his first couple of starts.”

SRU rolled up 578 yards of offense in the first three quarters. Taylor King played the fourth period behind center for The Rock.

“We didn't have any answers for them,” Edinboro coach Wayne Bradford said of The Rock offense. “What makes them so good? Big. Strong. Fast. Deep. They've got weapons everywhere.

“We couldn't get to their quarterback. We tried different things to apply pressure. When we did get in there, we couldn't bring him down.”

Wes Hills had 12 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown to lead SRU's running game. The Rock amassed 178 yards on the ground.

“That's the biggest difference in our offense this year,” Lutz said. “Last year, we couldn't run the ball. This year, we can.”

Rock defensive back Dalton Holt had the only takeaway of the day. His 30-yard interception return set up Wynn's third TD catch of the second quarter.

“We gave up some big plays on defense, which I didn't like, but overall, we didn't play that bad defensively,” Lutz said.

“We didn't get off to a good start, but we sure responded.”

Edinboro scored three plays into the game as Walter Fletcher's 56-yard run on the first play from scrimmage set up Jarrod Kellar's 14-yard TD passs to Grove City High graduate A.J. Turner, his tight end.

Kellar, a junior and transfer from Lenoir-Rhyne, is the Fighting Scots' backup quarterback. He got the start in place of the injured Andrew Tomko and threw for 261 yards and three scores. Ta'Nauz Gregory caught the other two TD passes, including a 75-yarder.

But Rivers and The Rock offense stole the show.

“I consider myself a drop-back quarterback,” Rivers said. “I like to survey the field and make my progressions. But if things break down, I'll use my legs to make a play if I have to.”

SRU is averaging 47 points per game in Rivers' five starts.

“It's scary, what those guys are capable of,” Lutz said.

Notes: Lutz recorded his first homecoming victory at The Rock in three tries. ... SRU leads the series against Edinboro 56-28-7. ... Jake Chapla has connected on 69 consecutive PATs and his 36-yard field goal Saturday was the 31st of his career. The junior is four field goals behind SRU career record holders C.J. Bahr and Morgan Anderson. .... Linebacker Brad Zaffram led SRU with six tackles and batted down four passes. ... The Rock is alone at the top of the PSAC West with its 4-0 record as California (Pa.) fell to 3-1 with a loss to Gannon. ... SRU travels to Clarion for a noon kickoff Saturday.

Edinboro 14 7 7 0 — 28

Slippery Rock 17 28 14 0 — 59

First Quarter

E — A.J. Turner 14 pass from Jarrod Kellar (Jake Monroe kick), 14:02

SRU — Chacar Berry 1 run (Jake Chapla kick), 9:21

SRU — Wes Hills 22 run (Chapla kick), 7:35

SRU — Chapla 36 field goal, 3:10

E — Walter Fletcher 33 run (Monroe kick), 1:59

Second Quarter

SRU — Jermaine Wynn Jr. 32 pass from Roland Rivers (Chapla kick), 13:27

SRU — Wynn Jr. 29 pass from Rivers (Chapla kick), 8:55

SRU — Wynn Jr. 24 pass from Rivers (Chapla kick), 8:01

E — Ta'Nauz Gregory 75 pass from Kellar (Monroe kick), 7:48

SRU — Rivers 20 run (Chapla kick), 2:32

Third Quarter

SRU — Chacar Berry 11 pass from Rivers (Chapla kick), 10:50

E — Gregory 8 pass from Kellar (Monroe kick), 5:29

SRU — Henry Litwin 35 pass from Rivers (Chapla kick), 2:31

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Edinboro, Walter Fletcher 15-144, Kyle Galyk 5-35, Jarrod Kellar 1-(-4). SRU, Wes Hills 12-88, Roland Rivers 13-82, Nassir Weaver 5-11, Braden Fochtman 3-5, Chacar Berry 5-4, TEAM 1-(-1), Jermaine Wynn Jr. 1-(-3), Taylor King 3-(-8).

Passing: Edinboro, Jarrod Kellar 22-44-261-1. SRU, Roland Rivers 25-32-403-0, Taylor King 2-3-15-0.

Receiving: Edinboro, Walter Fletcher 7-33, Ta'Nauz Gregory 4-109, Kyle Galyk 3-22, Blake Reddick 2-23, Kahlil Jackson 2-22, A.J. Turner 2-18, Jon Long 1-28, Kyle Carrington 1-6. SRU, Henry Litwin 9-131, Jermaine Wynn Jr. 6-119, Zach Cirillo 4-33, Austin Scott 2-60, Aramis Alexander 2-1, Mike Merhaut 1-57, Chacar Berry 1-11, Wes Hills 1-5, Braden Fochtman 1-1.