WEST HAVEN, Conn. — Welcome back, RR III.

After struggling through the past five games, Slippery Rock University quarterback Roland Rivers III bounced back with a vengeance Saturday. Rivers III completed 18 of 24 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns as SRU cruised past New Haven, 59-20, at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The Rock will travel to unbeaten Notre Dame, Ohio (12-0) for the Super Region One championship in Cleveland this Saturday. Time of the game will be announced Monday.

SRU (11-2) scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions and never punted in the contest.

“We challenged Roland this week and he responded,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “Things came pretty easily for him in his first few games and maybe he got a little complacent.

“He knows he has to make good decisions and play smart football to make our offense work.”

Lutz admitted that backup quarterback Taylor King got “plenty of reps” in practice leading up to the New Haven game.

“We were gonna have him ready to play,” Lutz said. “We hoped it wouldn't come to that, but you do whatever puts you in the best position to win.”

By the time King entered the game in the fourth quarter Saturday, the issue had long been decided.

Rivers III threw touchdown tosses to Dakota Clanagan, Henry Litwin, Mike Merhaut and Aramis Alexander. The Rock scored three touchdowns in the final 6:04 of the first half to take a 35-10 lead into intermission.

The Rock took the first possession of the third quarter and drove for yet another touchdown and a 42-10 advantage. New Haven (9-3) never threatened to get back in the game.

“I didn't think I was playing badly in the past few games, but I was turning the ball over,” Rivers III said. “I can't commit turnovers ... and shouldn't with all of the offensive weapons we have.

“If we don't turn the ball over and make mistakes, we can have production like this against anybody we play.”

Running back Wes Hills had 23 carries for 188 yards and two touchdowns — and didn't play in the fourth quarter.

“When Roland is making the passing game go like he did today, it makes running the ball that much easier,” Hills said. “We've got a great offensive line, too.”

Hills needs just 42 yards in the Super Region One title game to break the SRU single-season rushing record of 1,601 yards, set by LaMonte Coleman in 1994.

“I know about that record,” Hills said. “I only have one year to play football here (at SRU) and I want to leave my mark, leave my legacy.

“That (record) would be a good way to do it.”

Jermaine Wynn Jr. had a 30-yard punt return, Mark Carter a 60-yard kickoff return to help set up touchdowns.

“This was a complete team effort,” Lutz said. “Offense, defense, special teams ... Everybody did well.”

Butler graduate Tim Vernick led The Rock with six tackles. Eric Glover-Williams intercepted a pass and returned it 46 yards to set up a score.

“Playing corner is all reaction and Eric's athleticism has really stood out since we moved him over to that side of the ball,” Lutz said of the transfer from Ohio State.

SRU amassed 526 net yards — 263 passing and 263 rushing.

New Haven was limited to 108 yards rushing. Ajee Patterson — formerly a starting quarterback at Rutgers — threw for 271 yards and rushed for a pair of touchdowns. Standout receiver Ju'an Williams had six catches for 136 yards.

“Those guys are the real deal,” Lutz said. “But, once again, our defense did a good job of limiting a potent offense.”

Notes: SRU kicker Jake Chapla booted a field goal and was 8-for-8 on PATs. He became The Rock's all-time scoring leader among kickers with 270 points. Morgan Anderson held the previous record of 266. ... Of the eight teams remaining in the Div. II playoff field, six are undefeated. SRU is the only No. 7 seed still playing. The rest of the field consists of four No. 1 seeds, two No. 2 seeds and a No. 3 seed.

Slippery Rock 7 28 14 10 —59

New Haven 0 10 7 3 — 20

First Quarter

SRU — Wes Hills 3 run (Jake Chapla kick), 3:08

Second Quarter

SRU — Dakota Clanagan 20 pass from Roland Rivers III (Chapla kick), 14:14

NH — Ajee Patterson 5 run (Michael Staleny kick), 9:58

SRU — Henry Litwin 59 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 6:04

NH — Staleny 24 field goal, 3:09

SRU — Hills 9 run (Chapla kick), 1:35

SRU — Mike Merhaut 13 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), :06

Third Quarter

SRU — Hills 39 run (Chapla kick), 8:29

NH — Patterson 4 run (Staleny kick), 8:57

SRU — Aramis Alexander 19 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 5:30

Fourth Quarter

NH — Staleny 26 field goal, 9:11

SRU — Braden Fochtman 11 run (Chapla kick), 2:04

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SRU, Wes Hills 23-188, Braden Fochtman 12-41, Roland Rivers III 7-34. New Haven, Chris Liggio 10-36, Ryan McCarthy 10-35, Ajee Patterson 6-32, AJ Greene 1-5.

Passing: SRU, Roland Rivers III 18-24-249-0, Taylor King 3-5-14-0. New Haven, Ajee Patterson 20-31-271-1.

Receiving: SRU, Henry Litwin 5-88, Mike Merhaut 4-57, Jermaine Wynn Jr. 4-54, Aramis Alexander 3-35, Dakota Clanagan 3-23, Ahmad-Morris Walker 1-5, Jesse Nwabueze-Ogbo 1-1. New Haven, Ju'an Williams 6-136, Paul Cooper 4-56, Brett Huber 3-30, Chris Carlyle 1-20, Damon Rodgers 1-15, Ryan McCarthy 1-5, Jonathan Badyna 3-5, Chris Liggio 1-4.