SLIPPERY ROCK — A 100-yard interception return, a few fumbled snaps and a couple of botched handoffs.

In between all of that, Cody Endres was pretty good Saturday night.

The Slippery Rock University senior quarterback and University of Connecticut transfer completed 27-of-35 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns in SRU’s 27-13 victory over Clarion at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

Endres’ effort was SRU’s first 300-yard passing game since Nate Crookshank produced one in 2005.

Endres completed passes to seven different teammates. Both of his completions to tight end Josh Gardner went for scores. He connected with Devin Goda for a 32-yard TD toss with 1:16 left in the first half to give The Rock the lead for good.

“Our intention coming into tonight wasn’t to throw the ball so much,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “But they were set up to stop our run and the passing lanes were there, so we took them.

“I definitely feel we have a balanced offense. It was just a matter of Cody becoming comfortable with the offense.”

Endres agreed — and shrugged off his performance.

“That’s just the way the game played out,” he said of his passing numbers. “I’m just one of 11 guys out there. Everybody’s making it work.

“We were sloppy at times. We made a few mistakes. I know we can be a lot better.”

The Rock (4-1, 2-0 PSAC-West) began the game with consecutive red-zone turnovers.

A fumbled snap on second-and-goal from the 3-yard line was recovered by Clarion’s Nate Sipes, a former SRU player. On The Rock’s second possession, Endres threw a ball in the left flat on third-and-goal from the 6 that was intercepted and returned 100 yards for a touchdown by Karns City graduate Anthony Stimac.

“That one was on me,” Endres said. “Our receiver got jammed on that play. I never should have thrown the ball.”

Clarion (0-5, 0-2) botched the PAT with a bad snap, but had a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The Rock responded with the TD pass to Goda and a pair of Kurt Brackman field goals, the latter a 30-yarder with two seconds left in the half.

“A big momentum boost,” Mihalik said of the latter kick.

The Golden Eagles never scored on SRU’s defense — ranked No. 2 in all of Division II in yardage allowed per game. They returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to pull within seven points.

“Their defense has just been tremendous,” Clarion coach and former SRU defensive coordinator Jay Foster said. “They’ve been kicking the dog out of everybody.”

After the blocked punt pulled Clarion within 20-13 with 9:48 to play, defensive end Jeff Thompson returned a squibbed kickoff 32 yards, setting up a brief 33-yard touchdown drive that sealed The Rock win with 5:05 to play.

“I consider myself an athlete first, not a defensive end,” Thompson said. “I like to be a playmaker. That was an opportunity to make a play for my team.”

Prior to a 68-yard drive at the end of the game that came up empty, Clarion managed only 131 yards, 60 yards passing and seven first downs offensively.

“We couldn’t move the ball,” Foster said. “Defensively, I felt we could get to Endres if we got them throwing a lot. We not only didn’t sack him, I think we were able to touch him maybe three times.

“Their offensive line did a great job for them. I was disappointed we couldn’t get any pressure.”

Notes: Goda had eight receptions for 108 yards and has 27 catches for 315 yards in the past three games. ... Jake Wickline and Thompson had 11 tackles each for SRU. ... Sipes had 14 tackles, Stimac nine for Clarion. ... The Rock travels to Edinboro (4-1, 1-1) for a 2 p.m. kickoff Saturday.

SRU 27, Clarion 13Clarion 0 6 0 7 — 13Slippery Rock 0 13 7 7 — 27C SR11 First Downs 2624-62 Rushes-Yards 41-148137 Passing Yards 30512-30-0 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 27-35-1199 Total Yards 4530-0 Fumbles-Lost 5-17-69 Penalties-Yards 8-55

Second QuarterC — Anthony Stimac 100 interception return (kick failed), 13:59SRU — Kurt Brackman 28 field goal, 5:44SRU — Devin Goda 32 pass from Cody Endres (Brackman kick), 1:16SRU — Brackman 30 field goal, :02

Third QuarterSRU — Josh Gardner 9 pass from Endres (Brackman kick), 4:56

Fourth QuarterC — Mike Deitrick 34 blocked punt return (Tyler Ruark kick), 9:48SRU — Gardner 2 pass from Endres (Brackman kick), 5:05

Individual StatisticsPassing: Clarion, Ben Fiscus 12-30-137-0. SRU, Cody Endres 27-35-305-3.

Rushing: Clarion, John Fuhrer 8-25, Ben Fiscus 8-25, Brandon Akins 6-11, Tarik Leftenant 2-1. SRU, Jimmy Zubik 13-84, Aleem Satterfield 17-64, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling 6-20, Cody Endres 4-(-8), Team 1-(-12).

Receiving: Clarion, Jon Reid 6-52, Rob Tantlinger 2-38, Tarrean Barrett 2-30, Anthony Becoate 1-10, Ren Yonker 1-7. SRU, Devin Goda 8-108, Kevin Sanders 7-52, John Schademan 4-56, Ken Amos 3-47, Akeem Satterfield 2-27, Josh Gardner 2-11, Jimmy Zubik 1-4.