INDIANA — Simply put, the numbers weren’t pretty.

The traditionally stalwart Slippery Rock University defense — which prides itself by using the word ‘relentless’ as its moniker — had given up 93 points in losses to California (Pa.) and Mercyhurst.

Its pass defense is surrendering 331.1 yards per game, third from the bottom in all of NCAA Division II.

“Not where we want to be,” SRU defensive coordinator Shawn Lutz said. “People were calling us out, openly criticizing us, and rightfully so.”

SRU head coach George Mihalik heard the comments as well.

“Nobody thought Slippery Rock could play defense anymore,” Mihalik said. “It was up to us to prove otherwise.”

Saturday, they did.

While Indiana threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns, it also coughed up four interceptions in SRU’s 31-21 victory. Couple that with eight quarterback sacks and standout IUP running back Luigi Lista-Brinza amassing just 49 yards.

“We didn’t want to be that one-dimensional,” Crimson Hawks coach Curt Cignetti said. “They made us that way. They won the battle at the line of scrimmage.”

If not for penalties that kept two IUP touchdown drives alive in the first half and a meaningless 63-yard scoring strike late in the game, IUP might not have scored at all.

And The Rock defense succeeded without middle linebacker and Butler graduate Bob Vernick or its best cornerback, Admire Carter. Both were out with injuries.

“Coach Lutz came up with a great game-plan,” defensive end Marcus Martin said. “We used a lot of twists and stunts and were able to get to the quarterback.”

Martin had 3.5 sacks. Joe Phillips had three sacks, a forced fumble, 4.5 tackles for loss and an interception inside the IUP 10 that set up a field goal.

Devin Ghafoor, who started for Carter, had 11 tackles, nine solo stops and an interception inside The Rock 10 that thwarted an IUP scoring threat.

“We were able to put heat on the quarterback while only rushing four guys and putting everyone else back in coverage,” Lutz said. “That was the key. We got in his (QB Chase Haslett’s) face all day.

“Playing defense is all about 11 guys doing their jobs individually.”

Lutz said mental breakdowns cost the team against Mercyhurst last week.

“That’s why that hurt so much,” he said. “We weren’t communicating. Mercyhurst had guys running routes and we weren’t covering anybody. Guys were just left alone.”

Inside linebacker Miele, who joined Phillips, Ghafoor and Derrick Fulmore in getting interceptions Saturday, said communication was stressed in preparation for IUP.

“We talked about three things before this game,” the Mars graduate said. “Being physical, communication and controlling the line of scrimmage.

“I feel like we did all three. Last week hurt. It was embarrassing. We all had to look in the mirror.

“Today, I liked what we saw,” he added.