BOWIE, Md. — Playing its first road game of the season, Slippery Rock University's football team continued its winning ways Saturday.

Once it got to the field, that is.

The Rock's 35-7 triumph at Bowie State (0-3) had to wait until firemen could free six SRU players from a stuck elevator at the team's hotel.

"Those guys and two other people were stuck in there for 50 minutes,"SRU coach George Mihalik said. "I guess it was getting pretty warm in there — and they had no idea how long they were gonna be stuck in there.

"I've been coaching for 32 years and never saw anything like that. I guess it's true ... Stick around long enough and you'll see everything.'

Corey Manfull posted a career-high single-game rushing total for the third straight contest and Nate Crookshank tossed four touchdown passes as SRU overcame a slow start to cruise to the win.

The Rock (3-0) has outscored its opposition 107-36 thus far.

"They wanted us off the field at 12:25, 35 minutes before kickoff,"Mihalik said. "We were 50 minutes behind to begin with, then had to do a lot of sitting around.

"Those distractions may have caused our slow start."

Senior H-back Colin Golden, who figured to be sidelined for a while with a cracked ankle, returned after just a one-game absence to catch six passes for 56 yards as SRUovercame an early 7-0 deficit.

"Colin practiced Thursday and the ankle wasn't a problem, so we decided to go with him,"SRU coach George Mihalik said.

Manfull had 21 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown. He entered the game as the PSAC's leading rusher.

That rushing total Saturday does not include a 55-yard scoring run that was wiped out by a holding penalty.

"He's been a workhorse for us,"Mihalik said of Manfull. "But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the play of our offensive line as well. They're opening up holes for him and he's taking advantage."

Crookshank completed 14 of 20 passes for 163 yards and the four TDs. None of The Rock's starting skilled players — including Crookshank — played during the game's final 21 minutes.

Crookshank's third touchdown pass — a 20-yarder to Josh Prigorac — came off an audible called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.

"Nate's not only making good throws and running the offense well, he's making good decisions,"Mihalik said.

The Rock was led defensively by lineman Clint Forsha and linebacker Jake Barzen. SRUtallied three takeaways as well. Tyler Boudreau and Richie Barnes recovered fumbles while A.J. Saunders intercepted a pass.

With the score tied at 7, SRU's special teams unit blocked a punt and recovered the ball at the Bowie State 1-yard line. Manfull punched it in from there to give The Rock the lead it never lost.

"That was a turning point in this game in terms of momentum,"Mihalik said.

<B>Slippery Rock 7 14 14 0—35Bowie State 7 0 0 0—7SRU BS</B>20 First Downs 1445-282 Rushes-Yards 44-199163 Passing Yards 8714-26-1 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 8-26-1445 Total Yards 2860-0 Fumbles/Lost 2-26-38 Penalties-Yards 5-32<B>First Quarter</B>BS — Tristan Martin 25 run (Ronald Walls kick), 2:01SRU— Frank Cremonese 10 pass from Nate Cerookshank (C.J. Bahr kick), :00<B>Second Quarter</B>SRU— Corey Manfull 1 run (Bahr kick), 5:46SRU— Terry Grossetti 25 pass from Crookshank (Bahr kick), :41<B>Third Quarter</B>SRU— Josh Prigorac 20 pass from Crookshank (Bahr kick), 6:27SRU— Paul Favers 15 pass from Crookshank (Bahr kick), :58<B>Individual Statistics</B><B>Passing:</B> SRU, Nate Crookshank 14-20-163-1, Brad Galvan 0-4-0-0, Brian Frohnapple 0-2-0-0. Bowie State, Jason Scott 8-26-87-1.<B>Rushing:</B> SRU, Corey Manfull 21-159, Damarcus Cleckley 5-44, Ryan Lehmeier 7-31, Nate Crookshank 3-23, Travis Sarver 5-21, Nate Sipes 2-4, TEAM2-0. Bowie State, Rodney Webb 20-88, Tristan Martin 11-61, Jason Scott 9-47, Peter Mensah 4-3.<B>Receiving:</B> SRU, Colin Golden 6-56, Josh Prigorac 4-53, Paul Favers 2-19, Terry Grossetti 1-25, Frank Cremonese 1-10. Bowie State, Tristan Martin 3-35, Jamaal Wright 2-19, Calvin Ford 1-14, Brandon McDonald 1-12, Anthony Howe 1-7.