EDINBORO — Four touchdowns called back by penalties? Three turnovers? Two key starters unable to play?

None of it mattered on this day.

Slippery Rock University was not to be denied Saturday at Sox Harrison Stadium, jumping out to a 21-3 first-quarter lead en route to a 52-10 football victory over winless Edinboro.

The win puts 13th-ranked SRU (8-1, 5-1) in position to wrap up its third consecutive PSAC West title with a win over Clarion this Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

“I’m so proud of this football team,” Rock coach George Mihalik said. “They worked hard to put themselves in the position they will be in next week.”

The Rock rolled up 600 yards of offense, including 377 on the ground. Julian Durden ran for 111 yards and a touchdown, Shamar Greene 105 yards and two scores.

SRU scored four rushing touchdowns on the day — Jaimire Dutrieuille adding a 2-yard score — to give it 35 TDs on the ground this season, one shy of the school record with at least two games to play.

“Credit has to go to those big guys up front,” Mihalik said. “They clear the holes and all our backs need is a crease and they can make things happen.

“And our running backs are so unselfish. They cheer for each other.”

Rock quarterback Dante Nania threw three touchdown passes — one each to Dutrieuille, Marcus Johnson and Cornelius Raye — and his day was done before the start of the fourth quarter.

“As well as we played offensively, we still left a lot of plays out there,” Nania said. “There’s no limit to what we’re capable of doing if we put a complete game together.”

The Rock lost a pair of fumbles and Nania threw an interception. Isiah Neely had a 10-yard TD run called back by a penalty. A 19-yard TD pass to Raye was wiped out by as flag as well. The play before that, Neely scored on a 17-yard run that was called back.

SRU was flagged 11 times for 101 yards in the game.

“We don’t like the penalties, but when our receivers are getting called for holding when they’re trying to make aggressive blocks downfield ... it’s hard for me to have a problem with that,” Mihalik said.

Dutrieuille had a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown called back because of an illegal block.

“That was a bummer because my mom wanted me to run one back today, but the other guys on special teams are trying to do their job so I can do my job,” Dutrieuille said. “And as receivers blocking downfield, we’re taught to get our hands out there on the guy.

“Sometimes you happen to grab somebody and you get flagged ... It’s football. It happens.”

The Fighting Scots (0-9, 0-6) have started as many as nine freshmen on defense this year and were no match for The Rock attack.

“They came up here ready to play today. They took it to us,” Edinboro coach Scott Browning said.

Edinboro managed only 215 yards of offense. Receiver Darren Massey extended his Scots’ career record to 179 catches by pulling in 15 passes Saturday, but managed only 73 yards.

Deonte Flemings, making his first start at safety for SRU, had six tackles and fellow safety Derek Morgan had four as the pair repeatedly attacked the line of scrimmage and stopped Edinboro’s bubble screens.

“The bubble screen is what they like to do and we knew we had to be aggressive there and make plays,” Morgan said.

“Good teams adjust to what you’re doing — and they’re a good team,” Browning said.

Notes: SRU defeated Edinboro for the sixth straight time and has a 56-26-6 record in the all-time series. ... Edinboro finished a season winless at Sox Harrison Stadium for the first time since 1966. ... Alfon Cook paced The Rock with nine tackles while Butler graduate Bob Vernick had seven. ... Slippery Rock High grad Forrest Christmann saw time at defensive tackle for Edinboro and had three tackles. ... SRU defensive end Cody Conway and receiver Taishan Tucker missed the game with nagging injuries. TJ Matrascia and Johnson replaced them as starters.

SRU 52, Edinboro 10

Slippery Rock 21 10 14 7 — 52

Edinboro 3 7 0 0 — 10

SRU E

32 First Downs 13

57-377 Rushes-Yards 25-44

223 Passing Yards 171

19-33-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 23-44-1

600 Total Yards 215

2-2 Fumbles-Lost 1-1

11-101 Penalty Yards 5-45

First Quarter

SRU — Shamar Greene 2 run (Andrew Huska kick), 12”21

SRU — Jaimire Dutrieuille 2 run (Huska kick), 8:05

E — Austin Reese 28 field goal, 2:57

SRU — Dutrieuille 32 pass from Dante Nania (Huska kick), 1:00

Second Quarter

SRU — Greene 3 run (Huska kick), 7:47

SRU — Huska 34 field goal, 3:41

E — Alex Caratelli 1 pass from Jake Sisson (Reese kick), :06

Third Quarter

SRU — Marcus Johnson 12 pass from Nania (Huska kick), 13:08

SRU — Cornelius Raye 6 pass from Nania (Huska kick), 10:01

Fourth Quarter

SRU — Julian Durden 26 run (Huska kick), 14:54

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SRU, Julian Durden 11-113, Shamar Greene 18-105, Dominic Dingle 11-63, Dante Nania 8-54, Isiah Neely 7-42, Jaimire Dutrieuille 1-2, TEAM 1-(-2). Edinboro, Jake Sisson 9-19, Cory Bell 10-16, Ryan Harkness 5-5, Ja’maal Eveillard 1-4.

Passing: SRU, Dante Nania 16-29-169-1, Zack Newsock 3-4-54-0. Edinboro, Jake Sisson 23-44-171-1.

Receiving: SRU. Cornelius Raye 4-57, Jaimire Dutrieuille 4-56, Marcus Johnson 3-38, Marcus Carter 3-27, Leroy McClain 3-25, Carnel Harley 2-20. Edinboro, Darren Massey 15-73, Sean Rolick 4-29, Alex Caratelli 2-37, James Jackson 1-23, Nick Helmick 1-9.