EAST STROUDSBURG — Run the football and control the clock.

Slippery Rock University executed that game-plan Saturday afternoon in their football season finale at East Stroudsburg.

Besides that, however, everything went awry for The Rock in a 54-28 defeat.

SRU quarterbacks Ryan O'Rourke and Rocco Colavecchia combined to throw six interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

"The turnovers were the difference," SRU coach George Mihalik said. "That and we gave up too many big plays early."

The Rock suffered seven turnovers on the day. East Stroudsburg entered the game leading the PSAC in takeaways and now has 33 on the season.

SRU rushed for 279 yards and possessed the football for 35 minutes and 49 seconds, compared to East Stroudsburg's 24:11.

East Stroudsburg (8-3) scored three touchdowns on its first five offensive plays. All were Matt Marshall touchdown passes, including an 80-yard strike to Ed Kiser that gave the Warriors a 20-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

The Rock (6-5) fought back, using touchdown runs of two yards by Damarcus Cleckley and seven yards by Ryan Lehmeier to pull within 20-14 with 12:49 left in the first half.

East Stroudsburg scored the game's next 27 points, including two of the interception returns for TDs, to put the game away. The Warriors had a 40-14 lead at halftime.

"We gave up too many points too quickly," Mihalik said.

Cleckley wrapped up his collegiate career with a career-high 169 yards on 30 carries. Akeem Satterfield added 98 yards on 17 carries. He scored a touchdown as well.

SayQuan Scott-Mitchell did not play due to an ankle injury.

The Rock dropped four of its final five games.

"It's disappointing, given the 5-1 start we were off to," Mihalik said. "The biggest thing we wanted to do this year was have an established quarterback in place for 2010. We didn't get that done."

SRU quarterbacks combined to complete just five of 21 passes Saturday. Three of Colavecchia's four passes were intercepted.

Marshall threw for 284 yards and four touchdowns for East Stroudsburg. He has thrown eight TD passes against The Rock over the past two years.

Brandon Watters and Andre Freeman intercepted passes for SRU. Tyler Henderson had 10 tackles, including seven solo stops, in a losing cause.

The Rock allowed 54 points in a game for the first time since a 54-28 loss to Clarion in 1996.

E. Stroudsburg 54, SRU 28

Slippery Rock 7 7 7 7 — 28East Stroudsburg 20 20 7 7 — 54SRU ES22 First Downs 1361-279 Rushes-Yards 26-9393 Passing Yards 2845-21-6 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 12-24-2372 Total Yards 3771-1 Fumbles-Lost 0-02-25 Penalties-Yards 10-76

First QuarterESU — Kendrick Williams 22 pass from Matt Marshall (Drew Reinhard kick), 13:55ESU — Jordan Hallman 24 pass from Marshall (kick blocked), 13:41ESU — Ed Kiser 80 pass from Marshall (Reinhard kick), 10:37SRU — Damarcus Cleckley 2 run (C.J. Bahr kick), 6:00

Second QuarterSRU — Ryan Lehmeier 7 run (Bahr kick), 12:49ESU — Williams 47 run (Reinhard kick), 9:03ESU — Hallman 6 pass from Marshall (kick blocked), 4:01ESU — Shawnte Carroll 36 interception return (Reinhard kkck), 2:59

Third QuarterESU — Nick Artinger 45 interception return (Reinhard kick), 13:04SRU — Akeem Satterfield 7 run (Bahr kick), 7:57

Fourth QuarterSRU — Kenny Cottman 30 pass from Ryan O'Rourke (Bahr kick), 13:52ESU — Carroll 40 interception return (Reinhard kick), 5:17

Individual StatisticsPassing: SRU, Ryan O'Rourke 5-17-93-3, Rocco Coavecchia 0-4-0-3. East Stroudsburg, Matt Marshall 12-24-284-2.

Rushing: SRU, Damarcus Cleckley 30-169, Akeem Satterfield 17-98, Ryan O'Rourke 4-16, Ryan Lehmeier 6-15, Rocco Colavecchia 4-(-19). East Stroudsburg, Kendrick Williams 11-83, Eric Deery 8-24, Sam Shuman 1-4, Brent Jones 1-4, Matt Marshall 5-(-22).

Receiving: SRU, Kenny Cottman 4-82, Jermale Cromerdie 1-11. East Stroudsburg, Jordan Hallman 5-102, Ed Kiser 2-86, Kendrick Williams 2-56, Bryan Ogden 2-36, Eric Deery 1-4.