SLIPPERY ROCK - The LaVar Leap saved a win for the Penn State University football team a few years ago.

The Josh Jump did likewise for Slippery Rock University Saturday at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

The Rock (3-4, 2-1), going against a stiff wind, faced a third-and-2 from its 12-yard line while clinging to a six-point lead with 2:47 remaining against Millersville.

Senior running back Josh Kniess was handed the football - and the Marauder defense was waiting for him.

"It was just instinct," Kniess said. "We needed the first down and I saw the gap, then the linebacker filled it.

"He went low, so I went high."

Kniess jumped over the linebacker and landed on the 15-yard line.

Move the sticks. Mark a 21-15 homecoming win.

"I wanted to run out there and kiss him when I saw that," SRU coach George Mihalik said. "If we don't get that first down, they keep the momentum, we're punting against the wind, our punt game was struggling - I don't want to think about what might have happened."

Instead, Kniess carried the ball on all seven plays of The Rock's final possession as SRU killed the final 3:36.

The possession capped a career-best 210-yard rushing day for Kniess, who scored all three SRU touchdowns.

"Thank goodness for Josh Kniess," Mihalik said. "That's all I can say."

Saturday's game was played in a stiff wind that nearly wiped out hope of throwing the ball with any consistency.

The teams combined for 102 running plays and just 23 passes. Millersville freshman quarterback Derek Pope completed just one pass for 11 yards all day.

"This game had the look of two option teams going at it," Millersville coach Joe Trainer said. "It looked like an old Air Force vs. Navy game."

"Even with the wind, you couldn't throw much," Mihalik said. "It was tough for the quarterback to put any touch on the ball."

Rock quarterback Nate Crookshank completed eight passes for 80 yards, but nothing downfield. The game was placed in the hands of Kniess and Millersville running back Juan Jones, who had 32 carries for 231 yards and both Marauder (3-5) touchdowns.

SRU had a 21-2 lead through three quarters - Millersville's lone points coming when it blocked a Ray Rotell punt in the end zone - but the margin evaporated quickly.

A 38-yard run by Jones set up his own 6-yard scoring jaunt, capping an 80-yard drive that cut the gap to 21-9 with 12:45 left in the game.

Forced to punt on SRU's next possession, Rotell's kick was blocked by Brandon Shelton, giving Millersville possession at The Rock's 2-yard line. Jones scored on the next play and the PAT was blocked, but the Marauders were within 21-15 with 10:35 left.

"Three of our (punt) snaps were perfect and he (Rotell) just dropped or bobbled them," Mihalik said. "On that last one, he took too long to kick it because he was making sure he caught the ball first.

"Our team still hasn't learned how to put a team away. After we scored on our first possession of the third quarter, we took possession on their side of the 50 three more times - and scored zero points."

With the wind, SRU kicker Ryan Daniel was wide left on a 54-yard field goal attempt. The Rock went three and out on its other two opportunities.

But forced into a one-dimensional attack - and trying to stop Kniess - Millersville managed just one more possession after pulling within 21-15. That ended with a punt from midfield with 3:36 to play.

Cory Lacek and Josh Zeisloft had three quarterback sacks each for The Rock, which sacked Pope seven times.

"We wanted to get in his head right away, let him know we were there," Lacek said. "I think we took them out of their passing game early."

"It got to the point where they probably felt they were just wasting a down trying to throw the ball," Mihalik agreed.

Trainer conceded his offense would have run differently had veteran quarterback Dan Csencsitz, out with a broken finger, been available.

"We would have been more 60-40 run-pass, regardless of the conditions," he said. "You're limited with an inexperienced freshman back there."

Notes:

Kniess scored on touchdown runs of 43, 61 and 2 yards for The Rock. He is now tied for third on SRU's career touchdown list with 40. His 243 all-purpose yards move him within 450 yards on D.J. Flick's career all-purpose yardage mark. … Jones' previous collegiate rushing career-high was 160 yards for Millersville. … Lacek has 7½ sacks on the year. … SRU travels to Edinboro for a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday.