SLIPPERY ROCK — No Ryan Lehmeier meant no difference to Slippery Rock University's running game Saturday night.

SRU's No. 1 running back is sidelined for several weeks with a separated shoulder.

But The Rock's offensive line imposed its will on Millersville to the tune of a 31-14 victory at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium

"The story of this game was their offensive line controlling our line in the trenches," Millersville coach Greg Colby said. "Those guys moved us back repeatedly.

"When we needed to stop them, we couldn't stop them. They ran right through us."

SRU rolled up 434 yards of offense in 74 plays — including 280 yards on 51 rushes — and had nearly a 13-minute edge in time of possession.

"Our line was more cohesive tonight," SRU coach George Mihalik said. "They had a lot more time to jell. Everyone's in place now up front and everyone's healthy."

The Rock offensive front features Seneca Valley graduate Brandon Fusco at center, Brian Henion at right tackle, Mike Tomaino at right guard, North Allegheny graduate Austin Fedell at left guard and A.J. Hopp at left tackle. Henion and Hopp are first-year starters.

The prime beneficiary of the offensive line's work was junior running back SayQuan Scott-Mitchell, who carried 28 times for a career-high 205 yards. Mitchell's 22-yard touchdown run with 4:06 remaining sealed the victory.

Damarcus Cleckley scored on a pair of short runs in the second half as well.

"Our line was outstanding," Scott-Mitchell said. "The holes were there. All I had to do was read them. ... We were all on the same page tonight."

Quarterback Rocco Colavecchia was sacked only once. He threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Cottman with 45 seconds left in the first half, capping an 8-play, 80-yard march during a two-minute drill to give SRU a 10-0 lead.

Both teams missed prime scoring opportunities in the first half. Cottman had a 31-yard TD reception wiped out by a holding penalty. SRU's first two possessions wound up inside the Millersville 5-yard line, but Scott-Miotchell lost a fumble and Colavecchia was intercepted in the end zone.

"I made the mistake of sticking the ball out while trying to reach the goal line," Scott-Mitchell said. "The ball hit the ground and rolled out of my hand.

"I thought I was going to hear it from Coach (Mihalik) on the sidelines, but he told me to put it out of my mind and re-focus."

Millersville (1-1) was wide left on a 37-yard field goal attempt, had a 48-yard TD pass to Jamal Smith wiped out by a penalty and fumbled into the Rock end zone. SRU's Pat Marsolio recovered the ball. All of that happened in the first half.

But the Marauders pulled within 10-7 on the first possession of the third quarter. SRU answered with a 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive of its own.

Smith caught a 39-yard TD pass from Bill Shirk to pull the visitors within 17-14 with 1:49 left in the third quarter. Again, SRU put a scoring drive together, marching 88 yards in 12 plays.,

"It was critical that we respond to both of their scores and we did," Mihalik said.

Colavecchia connected with Devin Goda for a 34-yard bomb on third-and-14 to keep the latter drive going.

Notes: SRU is one of five PSAC teams to start the season 2-0. The Rock travels to Kutztown for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff Saturday. ... Scott-Mitchell was named PSAC Offensive Player of the Week and Rock strong safety Jayson Nickson was named Defensive Player of the Week. Nickson had eight tackles, including five solo stops. ... Knoch graduate and SRU defensive end Bill Elliott left the game with a knee injury and isn't expected to play this week.

SRU 31, Millersville 14Millersville 0 0 14 0 — 14Slippery Rock 0 10 7 14 — 31M SRU15 First Downs 2623-50 Rushes-Yards 51-280214 Passing Yards 15418-32-1 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 13-23-2264 Total Yards 4341-1 Fumbles-Lost 2-18-69 Penalties-Yards 9-63

First QuarterSecond QuarterSRU — C.J. Bahr 41 field goal, 10:25SRU — Kenny Cottman 19 pass from Rocco Colavecchia (Bahr kick), :45

Third QuarterM — Brad Lantz 1 run (John Banzhof kick), 10:52SRU — Damarcus Cleckley 1 run (Bahr kick), 3:45M — Jamal Smith 39 pass from Bill Shirk (Banzhof kick), 1:49

Fourth QuarterSRU — Cleckley 2 run (Bahr kick), 8:20SRU — SayQuan Scott-Mitchell 22 run (Bahr kick), 4:06

Individual StatisticsPassing: Millersville, Bill Shirk 18-32-214-1. SRU, Rocco Colavecchia 12-22-151-2, Ryan O'Rourke 1-1-3-0.

Rushing: Millersville, Brad Lantz 13-57, Cardoza Jacks 3-6, Bill Shirk 7-(-13). SRU, SayQuan Scott-Mitchell 28-205, Damarcus Cleckley 13-37, Andrew O'Saben 4-29, Rocco Colavecchia 3-13, Ryan O'Rourke 1-(-1).

Receiving: Millersville, Jamal Smith 7-112, Matt Egenrieder 4-58, Lou Brown 4-22, Greg Frantz 2-16, Brad Lantz 1-6. SRU, Kenny Cottman 5-55, Devin Goda 3-58, SayQuan Scott-Mitchell 3-21, Jermale Cromerdie 1-17, Richie Burnworth 1-3.