SLIPPERY ROCK — The circus was back in town.

Slippery Rock’s energetic and entertaining offense exploded for 609 yards Saturday night at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. SRU scored five touchdowns and a field goal on its first six possessions and rolled past Mercyhurst, 58-34, for its first PSAC West football win of the season.

Six of SRU’s scoring drives took less than two minutes off the clock. Its longest scoring march lasted 2:17.

“They are a talented team and they were very motivated tonight ... probably because of what we did to them last year and what happened to them last week,” Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle said.

The Lakers built a 31-7 lead by halftime before defeating The Rock, 38-23, last season. SRU was embarrassed by 16 penalties, four turnovers and failure to produce in the red zone in a 38-27 loss at Gannon last week.

“We were pretty quiet on the sidelines before the game tonight,” Rock quarterback Nigel Barksdale said. “That wasn’t nerves or being on edge. We were focused.”

“They definitely wanted to atone for last week,” Rock coach George Mihalik said.

And they did.

Consider the following:

Barksdale completed 27 passes for 439 yards — and did not play in the fourth quarter.

John Schademan caught 11 passes for 229 yards. He had touchdown catches from three different teammates: Barksdale, Teddy Blakeman and Zack Newsock. Schademan’s 229 receiving yards broke the school’s single-game record of 225, set by Devin Goda in 2011.

Blakeman rushed for three touchdowns, threw a TD pass and caught a 37-yard touchdown strike.

All in a day’s work for this group, which surpassed 50 points for the third time in four games.

“We’re not about the stats, we’re about the game,” defensive tackle Derek Walker said. “We have the best offense in the PSAC.”

“Everyone has a job to do on every play, whether it’s run the ball, throw a block, catch a hitch, whatever,” running back Blakeman said. “As long as we all do our jobs, we’ll be OK.”

Nine players caught passes and six ran the ball Saturday night for The Rock (3-1, 1-1), which responded twice from rough starts.

Mercyhurst (1-3, 0-2) hit a 44-yard pass play down the middle on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Anthony Vendemia scored on an 8-yard run for a 7-0 lead just 1:29 into the game.

The Rock was in the end zone barely two minutes later, Brett Crenshaw scoring on a 6-yard run. SRU had a 38-10 lead by halftime.

“Nobody likes to start a game the way we did tonight,” Mihalik said. “But there’s a resolve to this team. The offense went right to work.”

Early in the third quarter, Barksdale was intercepted by Colin Kimball, who returned the theft 58 yards for a score. The Rock lost a fumble at its own 15, but held the Lakers to a field goal with 8:31 left in the quarter. Blakeman scored on an 8-yard run and his 37-yard catch before period’s end.

“It was a seam route right down the middle — and it was wide open,” said Blakeman, uncovered on the play.

SRU built a 58-20 lead before Mercyhurst scored twice in the fourth quarter. The Rock held the Lakers’ vaunted ground game to 3.7 yards per carry.

Mars graduate Austin Miele again led The Rock in tackles. collecting 10. Mercyhurst used three quarterbacks and stayed with its running game most of the night.

“I was surprised by that, but I thought we plugged it up pretty good,” Walker said. “This was definitely our best effort defensively.”

“Our game is running the football and we have to do what we do best,” Schaetzle said. “Right now, it’s all about us becoming a better football team.”

The all-time series is even between the teams at 3-3. The visiting team has never won.

SRU travels to Kutztown Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

SRU 58, Mercyhurst 34

Mercyhurst 7 3 10 14 — 34

Slippery Rock 17 21 13 7 — 58

M SRU

18 First Downs 31

40-146 Rushes-Yards 41-110

194 Passing Yards 499

15-35-0 Comp.-Att.-Int 32-42-1

340 Total Yards 609

2-0 Fumbles-Lost 4-1

8-89 Penalty Yards 9-68

First Quarter

M — Anthony Vendemia 8 run (Steven Wakefield kick), 13:31

SRU — Brett Crenshaw 6 run (Miie Wainauskis kick), 11:14

SRU — Wainauskis 32 field goal, 7:37

SRU — Teddy Blakeman 3 run (Wainauskis kick), 4:12

Second Quarter

SRU — John Schademan 25 pass from Teddy Blakeman (Wainauskis kick), 14:52

SRU — Schademan 67 pass from Nigel Barksdale (Wainauskis kick), 10:51

M — Wakefield 33 field goal, 6:11

SRU — Blakeman 1 run (Wainauskis kick), 4:34

Third Quarter

M — Colin Kimball 58 interception return (Wakefield kick), 10:11

M — Wakefield 30 field goal, 8:31

SRU — Blakeman 8 run (Wainauskis kick), 6:47

SRU — Blakeman 37 pass from Barksdale (run failed), :59

Fourth Quarter

SRU — Schademan 14 pass from Zack Newsock (Wainauskis kick), 12:51

M — Chris Lyle 43 run (Wakefield kick), 9:53

M — Kyle Briggs 11 pass from Zach Emerick (Wakefield kick), :28

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Mercyhurst, Brandon Brown-Dukes 23-119, Chris Lyle 4-48, Anthony Vendemia 3-12, Milton Revell 5-4, Drew Robinson 1-1, Alec Swartz 2-(-18). SRU, Brett Crenshaw 7-45, Shamar Greene 8-43, Teddy Blakeman 8-29, Jimmy Zubik 6-8, Zack Newsock 1-2, Nigel Barksdale 8-(-3).

Passing: Mercyhurst, Anthony Vendemia 6-18-111-0, Zach Emerick 7-12-67-0, Alec Swartz 2-5-16-0. SRU, Nigel Barksdale 27-36-439-1, Zack Newsock 4-5-35-0, Teddy Blakeman 1-1-25-0.

Receiving: Mercyhurst, Pat Barry 3-27, Jaquan Williams 2-50, Kyle Briggs 2-27, Ozzie Lumpkin 2-16, Milton Revell 1-23, John Matarazzo 1-18, R.J. Miller 1-11, Brandon Brown-Dukes 1-11, Chris Lyle 1-9, T.J. Latimer 1-2. SRU, John Schademan 11-229, Jaimire Dutrieuille 6-88, Ken Amos 5-81, Andrew Bridgeforth 3-27, Julian Harrell 2-12, Shamar Greene 2-11, Teddy Blakeman 1-37, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling 1-11, Jimmy Zubik 1-3.