MILLERSVILLE — Slippery Rock University football coach Shawn Lutz didn’t like the way his team started Saturday’s game at Millersville.

He loved the way it responded.

After falling behind 7-0 early at Biemesderfer Stadium, The Rock scored 47 seconds later and limited the host Marauders to 76 yards of offense in the final three quarters while rolling to a 45-14 victory.

“We started off well in our first two games and we rode that momentum,” Lutz said. “We didn’t get the quick start this time. We made a couple of early mistakes, but I liked the way our guys handled that adversity.

“They just took care of business after that.”

SRU (3-0) turned the ball over in the red zone on its first possession. Millersville quickly went the other way as Anthony Butler connected with Jaheim Morris for a 68-yard touchdown strike. A Rock defender missed a tackle on Morris to allow him to reach the end zone.

The early deficit was quickly wiped out. On SRU’s next possession, Noah Grover found Jacob Odom for a 56-yard touchdown pass. He then completed drives of 59 and 38 yards with TD tosses of 21 yards to Kyle Sheets and 8 yards to Odom as The Rock assumed a 21-7 advantage.

Cohen Russell’s 10-yard scoring run capped a 65-yard march with 5:20 left in the half as SRU took a 28-7 lead into intermission.

“We’re running the ball extremely well right now,” Lutz said. “Our mix on offense is right where we want it to be.”

If the game wasn’t over by halftime, it was over shortly thereafter.

SRU used the first possession of the second half to march 75 yards in 16 plays, eating more than nine minutes off the clock. Grover’s fourth scoring pass of the day — this one 13 yards to tight end Max Maciejewski — gave The Rock a 35-7 lead with 5:43 left in the third quarter.

Grover threw for 289 yards in three quarters. Brayden Long stepped behind center for the final period and directed two scoring drives. Chris Wells concluded the scoring with a 29-yard TD run.

Millersville slipped to 0-3 with the loss.

“I like where we are right now,” Lutz said. “We came out of this game with no injuries and now we head into PSAC West play. It will be nice to play at home next week after going on two straight long road trips.

“Seton Hill next week, then we go to IUP ... It’s on. We have to be ready.”

Defensively, Brandon Tuck-Hayden led SRU in tackles for the third straight game with five stops. He had an interception and a quarterback sack as well. Cottrell Hatchett recovered a fumble and Eddie Faulkner IV had a pick-six wiped out by an offsides penalty.

Notes: SRU leads the series with Millersville 20-4-1 and has defeated the Marauders 10 straight times. ... Chris D’Or rushed for 116 yards, his second consecutive 100-yard game. ... The Rock outgained Millersville in yardage 571-202, rushing for 268 yards and throwing for 303. ... Sheets had 110 yards receiving for his first career 100-yard game. ... DJ Opsatnik has made 40 consecutive PATs, dating back to last season. ... Lutz improved to 51-14 as Rock head coach.

Slippery Rock 14 14 7 10 — 45

Millersville 7 0 7 0 — 14

First Quarter

M — Jaheim Morris 68 pass from Anthony Butler (Chris Makanoeich kick), 11:01

SRU — Jacob Odom 56 pass from Noah Grover (DJ Opsatnik kick), 10:14

SRU — Kyle Sheets 21 pass from Grover (Opsatnik kick), 1:45

Second Quarter

SRU — Odom 8 pass from Grover (Opsatnik kick), 11:35

SRU — Cohen Russell 10 run (Opsatnik kick), 5:20

Third Quarter

SRU — Max Maciejewski 13 pass from Grover (Opsatnik kick), 5:43

M — Morris 2 run (Makanoeich kick), 2:50

Fourth Quarter

SRU — Opsatnik 22 field goal, 8:40

SRU — Chris Wells 29 run (Opsatnik kick), 3:20

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SRU, Chris D’or 23-116, Chris Wells 8-45, Tim Smith 11-43, Noah Grover 5-22, Brayden Long 2-20, Isaiah Edwards 7-18, Cohen Russell 1-10. Millersville, Jaheim Morris 15-62, Matt Frauen 2-(-1), TEAM 1-(-2), Anthony Butler 3-(-17).

Passing: SRU, Noah Grover 16-24-289-0, Brayden Long 1-1-14. Millersville, Anthony Butler 13-21-160-1.

Receiving: SRU, Kyle Sheets 8-110, Jacob Odom 3-89, Max Maciejewski 3-62, Jawon Hall 1-24, Chris D’Or 1-12, Cohen Russell 1-6. Millersville, Jaheim Morris 3-74, Chris Drayton III 2-52, Eli Workinger 2-14, Mekhi Alexander 2-8, Marcus Pierce 2-7, Brian Richardson 1-4, Matt Frauen 1-1.