FRANKFORT, Ky. — The numbers were staggering. They just weren't the ones Slippery Rock University coach Shawn Lutz were expecting.

Tanner Garry threw for 390 yards and five touchdowns, Marcus Johnson caught 10 passes for 231 yards and three scores Saturday as The Rock rolled to a 42-21 season-opening college football victory at Kentucky State.

“Our quarterback was making his first start and we have five veteran starters on the offensive line,” Lutz said. “I thought we'd come down here and grind it out."

Garry, a transfer from Youngstown State in his final season of eligibility, had not started a football game since his senior year at Fort Cherry High School.

While Lutz emphasized that “our ground game has to get better,” he couldn't have been happier with the immediate emergence of his passing game.

The Rock plays its home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium against West Chester. Favored to win the PSAC East, the Golden Rams defeated Bentley 51-9 Saturday.

A full report will appear in the Butler Eagle.