CLARION — Feed Wes Hills the football as often as you like. The Slippery Rock University running back never seems to get full.

Clarion's defense couldn't stomach him, however.

Hills rambled for 206 yards on 27 carries Saturday at Memorial Stadium, leading The Rock (7-1, 5-0) to a 28-13 victory over the Golden Eagles.

“Wes was a beast out there. He looked like a man among boys,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “He was overpowering.”

Hills' production came against a Clarion rushing defense that ranked among the nation's best. The Golden Eagles (4-4, 2-3) entered the game ranked 11th nationally against the run, giving up 87.6 rushing yards per game. Clarion had not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season.

Hills had 106 yards and a touchdown by halftime. The senior has rushed for more than 100 yards in three of the four games he's played in this year.

“We got off to a slow start offensively and (Hills) definitely got us going,” Lutz said. “He opened up a lot of things.”

Roland Rivers III wound up throwing for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those went to Jermaine Wynn Jr., who now has five TD catches in the past two games.

Rivers connected with seven different receivers Saturday. SRU's offense amassed 505 yards.

The Rock also committed 15 penalties for 163 yards and turned the ball over three times.

“Clarion wasn't stopping us. We were stopping ourselves,” Lutz said. “Our defense did a great job of holding them at bay until we got untracked.

“We have to find away to limit those penalties, though. We keep that up, it's gonna cost us a game.”

Butler graduate and Rock middle linebacker Tim Vernick led the defense. He had 12 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. Brad Zaffram contributed 10 tackles.

“Vernick was making big plays all day,” Lutz said.

Clarion's lone touchdown was set up by an interception by Chris Gildea early in the third quarter. Gildea returned the theft to the Rock 1-yard line. Running back Mylique McGriff scored from there.

McGriff, Clarion's top runner, was limited to 27 yards on 19 carries.

SRU can clinch the PSAC West Division title with a win at California (Pa.) on Saturday. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Notes: Hills became the first Rock running back with a 200-yard rushing game since Shamar Greene ran for 238 vs. Millersville in 2014. ... Rock PK Jake Chapla has now made 73 consecutive PATs. ... SRU improved to 8-1 vs. Clarion since the Milk Jug began being presented to the winning team in the annual rivalry. SRU is 54-24-3 vs. Clarion all-time. ... Rivers is 6-0 as SRU's starting quarterback and has accounted for 25 touchdowns in those games. ... Clarion had to close the game with freshman Tanner Jones at quarterback. Starter Jeff Clemens and backup Jovante Seard were injured in the same quarter.

Slippery Rock 0 14 7 7 — 28

Clarion 3 0 7 3 — 13

First Quarter

C — James Metzgar 23 field goal, 2:55

Second Quarter

SRU — Wes Hills 2 run (Jake Chapla kick), 8:51

SRU — Zach Cirillo 19 pass from Roland Rivers (Chapla kick), 2:39

Third Quarter

C — Mylique McGriff 1 run (Metzgar kick), 13:49

SRU — Jermaine Wynn Jr. 9 pass from Rivers (Chapla kick), 12:01

Fourth Quarter

SRU — Wynn 41 pass from Rivers (Chapla kick), 14:51

C — Metzgar 27 field goal, 8:26

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SRU, Wes Hills 27-206, Roland Rivers III 11-72, Jermaine Wynn Jr. 1-5, Chacar Berry 1-5. Clarion, Jeff Clemens 8-39, Mylique McGriff 19-27, Devin Clark 7-0, Tanner Jones 3-(-5), Jovante Seard 1-(-8).

Passing: SRU, Roland Rivers III 17-29-217-2. Clarion, Jeff Clemens 12-25-109-0, Tanner Jones 2-9-48-0, Jovante Seard 1-2-4-0.

Receiving: SRU, Jermaine Wynn Jr. 6-90, Austin Scott 1-36, Henry Litwin 1-25, Wes Hills 5-24, Zach Cirillo 2-22, Mike Merhaut 1-11, Carnel Harley 1-9. Clarion, Mark Lewis 5-66, AZ Britt 1-43, Dana Jackson 4-36, Mylique McGriff 3-15, Isaiah McNair 1-13, Dervonn Holton 1-3.