SLIPPERY ROCK — In a game that featured 55 first downs and 260 yards in penalties, something had to emerge as a difference-maker.

So Slippery Rock University's running game stepped into the forefront.

The Rock's ground attack chewed up 230 yards — 50 more than the team's vaunted passing game — in leading No. 9 SRU to a 45-42 homecoming football win over No. 16 Indiana (Pa.) in a battle of rivals Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The win puts The Rock (6-0, 3-0) alone at the top of the PSAC West standings.

IUP (5-1, 2-1) entered the game allowing an average of only 87 yards rushing.

“They were spreading out to cover our receivers and taking people out of the box,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “We were able to take advantage of that.

“Charles Snorweah had his best game so far. He's not a real big guy, but he runs hard. He was breaking tackles and getting extra yards.”

Snorweah rushed for 123 yards — the first 100-yard game by a Rock running back this year. Quarterback Roland Rivers III ran for 81 yards and a touchdown while DeSean Dinkins scored on runs of 2 and 29 yards.

Snorweah capped the game-clinching 14-play, 75-yard drive with a 12-yard scoring run with 1:30 left in the game, giving SRU (6-0, 3-0) a 45-35 lead at the time.

The Crimson Hawks drove 65 yards to score with nine seconds left, but SRU's Jermaine Wynn Jr. covered the onsides kick to prevent further damage.

Rivers was not surprised over his team's success running the ball.

“Coach Lutz teaches us to be a physical football team,” he said. “We know we can run the football. The opportunities were there in the running game and that's what we went with.”

The Rock had built a 31-7 with 3:45 left in the first half. Linebacker Trysten McDonald returned an interception five yards for an early score and a 14-0 Rock advantage.

“We dug ourselves a hole with mistakes,” IUP coach Paul Torterella said. “We hurt ourselves with penalties. We were scoring points otherwise.”

Crimson Hawks quarterback Quinton Maxwell completed only eight of 22 passes for 72 yards and the costly interception in the first half. He wound up hitting on 36 of 50 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns and led a furious rally to get ghis team back in the game.

“We didn't execute plays in the first half and a lot of that was on me,” Maxwell said. “Guys were breaking open and I was missing them.

“When you're playing a great team, you can't afford to fall behind like we did. That pick-six ... I didn't even see the guy. He made a great play. I just hope he's OK.”

McDonald was injured on the play and did not return.

“This was two teams who are mirror images of each other,” Lutz said. “I know there are lots of games left and anybody can beat you, but I really do believe we're two national championship-quality teams.

“We had the better of the play in the first half. Things went their way in the second half.”

IUP scored on its final possession of the first half , then on the first possession of the second to pull within 31-21.

“Those two drives got them back in it,” Lutz said.

Rivers lofted a 38-yard scoring pass down the right sideline to Wynn Jr., who out-leaped the defender and pulled it in for a touchdown that hiked The Rock lead to 38-21.

“Beautiful throw and a beautiful catch,” Tortorella said. “Gotta give them credit.”

Dom McNeil and JoJo Gause caught 17-yard touchdown passes to pull IUP within three, but no closer.

“They have an excellent corps of receivers,” Lutz said. “We were staying on them for a while, but you always wonder when they're gonna break loose.”

Yellow flags were breaking loose all day. IUP was flagged 14 times for 135 yards, SRU 10 times for 125. There were numerous offsetting fouls as well.

“It's definitely tough (to maintain composure) when you play this game with so much passion,” Rock linebacker Brad Zaffram admitted. “But the calls were going both ways.”

“This was a hyped-up game. Everything was out of whack emotionally,” IUP strong safety Shaq Jones said. “This was a highly competitive game.”

Tortorella said the officiating in the PSAC “just hasn't been consistent. You never know what they're gonna call or when, so you just play.”

Lutz agreed.

“We can't look at IUP and call them a dirty team and I don't think they look at us that way,” Lutz said. “We're two teams that play chippy, aggressive football.

“I won't be surprised if we play them again. Not at all.”

Notes: IUP had 29 first downs, SRU 26. ... Zaffram and Selvin Haynes led SRU with eight tackles each. ... Rock DE Chad Kuhn had a QB sack for the sixth consecutive game. ... SRU has won 26 of its last 32 homecoming games and is 7-7-1 at home against IUP on homecoming. ... The Rock has won 34 of 37 home games since 2013 and 12 PSAC West games in a row. ... Place-kicker Jake Chapla increased his SRU career records to 45 field goals, 198 PATs and 333 points. ... McDonald's pick-six was SRU's first defensive touchdown of the season. ... Wynn Jr. has caught a TD pass in every game this season. ... SRU travels to Edinboro for a noon game Saturday.

Indiana (Pa.) 0 14 14 14 — 42

Slippery Rock 17 14 7 7 — 45

First Quarter

SRU — DeSean Dinkins 2 run (Jake Chapla kick), 10:35

SRU — Trysten McDonald 5 interception return (Chapla kick), 9:45

SRU — Chapla 26 field goal, 3:54

Second Quarter

IUP — Justice Evans 10 run (Dillon Sarka kick), 14:28

SRU — Roland Rivers III 12 run (Chapla kick), 10:41

SRU — Dinkins 29 run (Chapla kick), 3:45

IUP — Duane Brown 2 pass from Quinton Maxwell (Sarka kick), :30

Third Quarter

IUP — Dom McNeil 8 pass from Maxwell (Sarka kick), 11:38

SRU — Jermaine Wynn Jr. 38 pass from Rivers (Chapla kick), 11:03

IUP — McNeil 17 pass from Maxwell (Sarka kick), 8:49

Fourth Quarter

IUP — JoJo Gause 17 pass from Maxwell (Sarka kick), 8:35

SRU — Charles Snorweah 12 run (Chapla kick), 1:30

IUP — Maxwell 1 run (Sarka kick),:09

Individual Statistics

Rushing: IUP, Samir Bullock 6-71, Justice Evans 8-37, Qashah Carter 1-(-2), Duane Brown 1-(-4), Quinton Maxwell 6-(-6). SRU, Charles Snorweah 20-123, Roland Rivers III 18-81, DeSean Dinkins 3-32, TEAM 2-(-2), Cinque Sweeting 1-(-4).

Passing: IUP, Quinton Maxwell 26-50-360-1, TEAM 0-2-0-0. SRU, Roland Rivers III 15-24-180-1.

Receiving: IUP, Dom McNeil 10-141, Duane Brown 5-44, JoJo Gause 4-63, Jacob Watts 3-34, Justice Evans 2-58, Qashah Carter 1-15, Grant Smith 1-5. SRU, Jermaine Wynn Jr. 6-76, Cinque Sweeting 5-84, Charles Snorweah 2-11, Henry Litwin 2-9.