WEST CHESTER — On a day the temperatures rose, the records fell.

Shamar Greene became Slippery Rock University's all-time leading rusher and Marcus Martin broke the PSAC's career quarterback sacks record Saturday in SRU's 36-28 college football victory at West Chester.

“This was the hottest day I've ever coached in a football game,” first-year Rock head coach Shawn Lutz said. “The temperature was 96 out here and the heat index on the field was 103.

“A lot of our players grew up today in terms of gaining experience. We had to use a lot of people.”

Greene rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns for The Rock (2-0). It was his second successive 100-yard game to start the season and upped his collegiate career rushing total to 4.033 yards. Stan Kennedy set the previous record of 3,932 yards in 2000.

“Shamar has been so consistent here,” Lutz said. “It's hard to believe the numbers he's been able to put up. He's one of those once-in-a-lifetime running backs a guy gets to coach.”

Martin had two quarterback sacks to go with his eight tackles on the day. He was one of many Rock defenders who gutted it out as West Chester (1-1) ran 99 plays and possessed the ball for 40 minutes. Martin has 35 career sacks, a PSAC record.

And he's only a junior.

“Our offense was productive and did a good job, but we kept scoring quickly,” Lutz said. “We had a lot of big plays.

“Marcus is just a great athlete. To do what he's done and only be two games into his junior year is incredible.”

Don King III completed only 13 of his 30 passes Saturday, but he connected with seven different receivers and tossed three touchdown passes. He found Leroy McClain for a 6-yard touchdown and Cornelius Raye for a 19-yard score in the second quarter.

King's biggest scoring toss of the day may have been his 56-yarder to Marcus Johnson early in the third quarter. That play occurred only 21 seconds after West Chester quarterback Andrew Derr scored on a 1-yard run to pull the Golden Rams within 22-14.

Derr threw for 435 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw 63 passes as The Rock defense limited West Chester to 65 yards rushing.

“This is what we're going to see,” Lutz said of the numerous pass attempts against his defense. “But the more passes a team throws against you, the more opportunities you have for sacks and interceptions. We need to generate more of those.”

SRU had four sacks and three interceptions Saturday. Butler graduate Bob Vernick had an interception to go with his 10 tackles. Kyle Hall picked off two passes for The Rock.

Linebacker Anthony Zappone led SRU with 12 tackles.

West Chester pulled within 36-28 on a fourth-down TD pass with 2:14 to play. Dominic Dingle recovered the ensuing onsides kick for The Rock, but Greene lost a fumble as SRU was trying to kill the clock with 1:35 to go.

The Rock defense turned West Chester over on downs near midfield to finally secure the win.

“This was a tough game and a tough win, but you have to feel good when you can beat the team picked to win the PSAC East on their field,” Lutz said. “I don't know of any team that's opened the season with two opponents the caliber we've faced.

“I feel good about where we are right now.”

The Rock travels to Lock Haven for a noon Saturday kickoff.

SRU 36, West Chester 28

Slippery Rock 6 16 7 7 — 36

West Chester 7 0 7 14 — 28

SRU WC

17 First Downs 26

38-170 Rushes-Yards 36-65

171 Passing Yards 465

13-30-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 31-63-3

341 Total Yards 500

1-1 Fumbles-Lost 0-0

8-67 Penalty Yards 11-79

First Quarter

SRU — Shamar Greene 2 run (kick failed), 9:04

WC — Shannon Mayer 28 pass from Andrew Derr (Brandon Paulison kick), 1:30

Second Quarter

SRU — Leroy McClain 6 pass from Don King III (kick blocked), 13:36

SRU — Chapla 23 field goal, 7:57

SRU — Cornelius Raye 19 pass from King III (Chapla kick), 4:26

Third Quarter

WC — Derr 1 run (Paulison kick), 10:42

SRU — Marcus Johnson 56 pass from King III (Chapla kick), 10:21

Fourth Quarter

WC — Mayer 14 pass from Derr (Paulison kick), 13:15

SRU — Greene 1 run (Chapla kick), 10:24

WC — Jordan Banks 15 pass from Derr (Paulison kick), 2:14

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SRU, Shamar Greene 19-117, Don King III 7-26, Cornelius Raye 1-14, Dominic Dingle 6-11, Isiah Neely 1-7, Drew Scales 1-2, Dontez Rash 1-0. West Chester, Jarel Elder 15-40, Andrew Derr 12-27, Pat Moriarty 2-4, Mike Class 3-4, Eerin Young 3-(-3). Shannon Mayer 1-(-7).

Passing: SRU, Don King III 13-30-171-3. West Chester, Andrew Derr 31-62-435-3, Pat Moriarty 0-1-0-0.

Receiving: SRU, Marcus Johnson 1-56, Cornelius Raye 4-39, Leroy McClasin 3-31, Taishan Tucker 2-21, Dreew Scales 1-12, Carnel Harley 1-11, Tavarus Sample 1-1. West Chester, Shannon Mayer 9-128, Tyler Karpinski 5-84, Eerin Young 6-74, Jiordan Banks 5-65, Marcus Sydnor 3-45, Anthony Brown 2-24, Brandon Kuntz 1-15.