SLIPPERY ROCK — You know things are going good for you when ...

• Your team runs one offensive play in the second quarter, yet you outscore the opposition 14-6 during that time.

• The opposition runs 61 plays to your 20 in the first half — and you lead by 22 points at halftime.

• You limit your opponent to five first downs in the second half despite missing two of your best defenders because of injury.

All of those scenarios played out for Slippery Rock University during its 45-9 football victory over Kutztown on Saturday night at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

"We were looking to make modern-day history as a program tonight and we were able to achieve that,"SRU coach George Mihalik said.

Albeit in bizarre fashion.

The Rock moved to 4-0 for the first time since 1962. That 1962 team won its first six games on its way to a PSACchampionship.

SRUtook a 17-3 lead into the second quarter Saturday — using a 31-yard field goal by C.J. Bahr, a 2-yard TDrun by Corey Manfull and a 15-yard scoring run by Paul Favers on a reverse to build that cushion.

The Rock was to get the football again on the first play of the second quarter, but Robert Doiley muffed a punt and Kutztown (2-2) recovered. A 12-play drive resulted in the second of three Matt Dineen field goals.

A muffled kickoff and holding penalty then gave SRUpossession at its own 4-yard line. Manfull quickly alleviated that situation by rambling 96 yards for a touchdown on his team's lone offensive play of the quarter.

"I've got to give it to the line on that one,"Manfull said. "They opened it up. All I did was run. But that was a long way. I was a little winded after that play."

He had plenty of time to rest. The final 29 snaps of the half belonged to Kutztown.

The Golden Bears marched 61 yards on 13 plays on their next possession — the 13th play proving unlucky indeed.

While Rock defender Mike White was draped all over him, Kutztown quarterback Kyle Spotts blindly drilled a pass right into the arms of sophomore linebacker Richie Barnes, who returned it 87 yards for a score.

"That was the back-breaker,"Kutztown coach Raymond Monica said. "If we take that possession in, we're down 24-13 with maybe a chance to get another possession before the half."

On their final possession of the half, the Golden Bears did drive 49 yards on 16 plays, but settled for a field goal on the period's final play.

"Now I know why we work so hard on conditioning during summer camp,"Barnes said. "That came in handy tonight."

SRUlost senior linebacker and co-captain Jamal Palmer to a dislocated ankle late in the first half. Scheduled for surgery Monday, Palmer is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season.

The Rock played Saturday's game without all-conference defensive end Corey Lacek, who injured his groin in practice last week. Lacek is expected to return this week.

"Our offense and defense were outstanding tonight,"Mihalik said. "Our special teams have some things we need to work on."

SRUadded a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter before Mihalik emptied his bench.

The Rock hosts rival Indiana (Pa.) in its PSACWest opener at 6 p.m. Saturday.

"How good is Slippery Rock? I guess we'll find that out next week,"Monica said. "I was disappointed in our performance tonight. I definitely thought our defense would play better."

Notes: SRUis 6-0 all-time against Kutztown, the series dating back to 1984. ... Manfull rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns, setting a personal-high in rushing yardage for the fourth straight week. ... White, playing for Lacek, shared the team lead with six tackles Saturday. ... Barnes had two interceptions and SRUforced four turnovers in the game.SRU45, Kutztown 9

Kutztown 3 6 0 0—9Slippery Rock 17 14 14 0—45K SRU19 First Downs 1844-108 Rushes-Yards 42-262190 Passing Yards 17420-42-3 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 10-15-0298 Total Yards 4362-1 Fumbles/Lost 1-19-71 Penalties-Yards 6-53

First QuarterSRU— C.J. Bahr 31 field goal, 8:17SRU — Corey Manfull 2 run (Bahr kick), 5:50K — Matt Dineen 35 field goal, 3:44SRU — Paul Favers 14 run (Bahr kick), 1:37

Second QuarterK — Dineen 21 field goal, 9:57SRU — Manfull 96 run (Bahr kick), 9:35SRU— Richie Barnes 87 interception return (Bahr kick), 2:41K — Dineen 30 field goal, :00

Third QuarterSRU — Nate Crookshank 27 run (Bahr kick), 11:11SRU— Manfull 6 run (Bahr kick), 6:30

Individual Statistics

Passing: Kutztown, Kyle Spotts 20-41-190-2. SRU, Nate Crookshank 9-13-168-0, Brad Galvan 1-2-6-0.

Rushing: Kutztown, Ty Dinnis 17-72, Joe Strauss 5-16, Dontay Wilson 6-14, Kyle Spotts 6-14, TEAM2-(-27), Ryan Nye 1-10, Cory McFadden 3-4. SRU, Corey Manfull 19-170, Damarcus Cleckley 4-39, Nate Crookshank 3-21, Paul Favers 1-14, Travis Sarver 5-11, TEAM1-(-1), Ryan Lehmeier 7-(-1), Nate Sipes 1-5, Justin Guadagni 1-2.

Receiving: Kutztown, Elfren Quiles 5-44, Alex Zukas 4-46, Ty Dinnis 4-38, Dan Onorato 3-32, Joe Strauss 1-4, Will Brown 2-18, Robbie Clews 1-9. SRU, Paul Favers 5-71, Terry Grossetti 3-81, Coin Golden 1-16, Kevin Guidish 1-6.