SLIPPERY ROCK — Indeed, a day fit for a King.

Don King III threw for 527 yards and seven touchdowns — both school records — Saturday as Slippery Rock University closed its football season with a 57-15 rout of East Stroudsburg at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

“What a great, great way for our seniors to go out,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said.

The game began with emotion when, immediately following a ceremony introducing The Rock’s 22 seniors, senior defensive end Cody Conway got down on a knee and proposed marriage to SRU alumnus Alissa Kelty.

The competitive portion of the game ended in the third quarter when SRU (7-4) exploded for 30 points in a span of 5:48. The Rock had taken a scant 14-9 lead to the locker room at halftime.

“This game was just typical of the up and down season we’ve had,” Lutz said.

Four of King’s touchdown passes landed in the hands of Marcus Johnson, who had 10 catches for a school-record 237 yards on the day. Johnson caught three of the TD tosses — covering 51, 25 and 70 yards — during that third-quarter outburst.

“I had a few games like this in high school (University Prep),” Johnsion said. “I might have had over 300 yards in a game there.

“Being able to help your team win by having a game like this ... It’s just fun.”

Johnson’s four TD catches in a game tied a Rock record set by Devin Goda against Lock Haven in 2011. The 237 yards receiving snapped the mark of 229 set by John Schademan against Mercyhurst in 2013.

“The deep ball was there all day,” King III said. “Our receivers were making excellent reads.”

King’s 527 yards passing broke the school mark of 502, set by John Linhart against Clarion in 1992. The seven TD passes eclipsed the six Nigel Barksdale threw against Northwood in 2013.

The Rock recovered an onsides kick and Titus Howard recovered an East Stroudsburg fumble to help facilitate the 30-point third quarter.

“The wheels came off for us in the third,” Warriors coach Denny Douds said. “Injuries caught up to us, especially in the secondary. We’ve had freshmen replacing freshmen. That’s not good.

“They found out where we were vulnerable and they took advantage of it.”

Allowing an average of 286 yards rushing per game coming in, East Stroudsburg (4-7) limited SRU to 41 net yards running the ball. But the faulty pass defense doomed the Warriors to their fifth straight loss.

Senior linebackers Anthony Zappone and Bob Vernick led SRU defensively with 12 tackles each. Zappone closed the day’s scoring with a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown, his team-leading fifth pick of the season.

Vernick ended his Rock career as a three-year starter, compiling 105 solo tackles, 243 stops, six interceptions, six sacks and 23 tackles for loss.

“Best linebacker to ever come through this program,” first-year defensive coordinator Dom Razzano blurted out during the postgame media session.

Vernick was one of the last seniors to come off the field late in the fourth quarter.

“Once I knew we weren’t going to make the playoffs this year, I began working on keeping my emotions in check for this game,” said Vernick.

“I didn’t want to come out. I wanted to go in on offense and run the ball.”

“I’ve been accused of overworking this word, but relentless ... That’s Bobby Vernick,” Lutz said.

Senior receiver Drew Scales caught a pair of touchdown passes and extended his Rock career record to 1,851 yards in kick return yardage. He had 220 all-purpose yards Saturday.

Notes: Seneca Valley graduate and offensive lineman Dean Ketterer joined Vernick as Butler County players among SRU’s 22 seniors. ... The Rock senior class ended its career with a 37-12 record, including 22-1 at home, three PSAC West titles and two state championships.

SRU 57, East Stroudsburg 15

E. Stroudsburg 6 3 6 0 — 15

Slippery Rock 7 7 30 13 — 57

ES SRU

16 First Downs 26

30-28 Rushes-Yards 36-41

197 Passing Yards 527

17-40-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 28-38-1

225 Total Yards 568

0-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-0

10-83 Penalty Yards 10-102

First Quarter

ES — Nicolas Ruiz 38 field goal, 10:16

SRU — Drew Scales 13 pass from Don King III (Jake Chapla kick), 7:08

ES — Ruiz 35 field goal, 2:54

Second Quarter

ES — Ruiz 31 field goal, 4:37

SRU — Marcus Johnson 13 pass from King III (Chapla kick), 1:08

Third Quarter

SRU — Johnson 51 pass from King III (Chapla kick), 13:21

ES — Tim Wilson 70 pass from Bruce Campbell (kick failed), 12:07

SRU — Johnson 25 pass from King III (Chapla kick), 9:44

SRU — Johnson 70 pass from King III (Chapla kick), 9:28

SRU — Titus Howard tackled Marquiz Fells for safety, 9:14

SRU — Andrew Bridgeforth 38 pass from King III (Chapla kick), 7:33

Fourth Quarter

SRU — Scales 5 pass from King III (kick failed), 7:40

SRU — Anthony Zappone 63 interception return (Chapla kick), 5:42

Individual Statistics

Rushing: East Stroudsburg, Marquis Fells 21-57, Gabe French 1-(-7), Bruce Campbell 1-(-9), Tim DiGiorgio 5-(-13). SRU, Dominic Dingle 13-43, Isiah Neely 6-13, Dontez Rash 4-8, Nassir Weaver 2-5, TEAM 1-(-3), Don King III 9-(-11), Josiah Davis 1-(-14).

Passing: East Stroudsburg, Tim DiGiorgio 9-19-87-0, Bruce Campbell 8-17-110-0, Gabe French 0-4-0-1. SRU, Don King III 28-38-527-1.

Receiving: East Stroudsburg, Elijah Rehm 5-46, Tommy House 4-38, Tim Wilson 3-79, Sean Roth 2-15, Marquis Fells 2-9, Varney Dassin 1-10. SRU, Marcus Johnson 10-237, Drew Scales 6-87, Taishan Tucker 4-92, Cornelius Raye 3-33, Leroy McClain 2-18, Andrew Bridgeforth 1-38, Tavarus Sample 1-13, Dylan Stapleton 1-9.