SLIPPERY ROCK - It was all about getting healthy - first off the field, then on it.

Saddled with an 0-3 record and forced to wait two weeks to play again, the Slippery Rock University football team overpowered out-manned Lock Haven, 55-7, Saturday night at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

The Rock avoided its first 0-4 start since 1986. The Bald Eagles (1-4) avoided being shut out four consecutive times for the first time since 1927 as they scored with 9:23 left in the game - while trailing 48-0.

"Whether the score is 55-54 or 55-7, I'm going to feel the same way after a loss," Lock Haven coach John Klacik said. "Be it at Lock Haven, Youngstown State or Ohio State, nobody likes losing."

Klacik was an assistant coach on four Division I-AA national championship teams at Youngstown State before taking over at Lock Haven reins this season.

His team has been outscored 244-7 since opening the season with a 17-16 win over Cheyney.

The Bald Eagles managed just 48 net yards Saturday - including zero net rushing yards - against The Rock.

"Holding any team to 48 yards offensively is tough to do," SRU coach George Mihalik said. "All around, we played a solid game tonight.

"This is what we needed. We'll see a different opponent (California) here next week, but they'll be seeing a different Slippery Rock, too."

Lock Haven picked up two first downs on the game's first possession and The Rock picked up 85 yards in penalties in the first quarter.

"I was thinking, 'Oh no, this is the way it's been going for us,' but things quickly changed," Mihalik said.

"We were confused with what they were doing at first," Rock nose guard Robert Minnie said. "They kept switching their formations from right to left and we missed some assignments.

"We adjusted and we were fine."

The Bald Eagles turned the ball over on downs at the SRU 34-yard line and managed only three first downs the rest of the night.

On The Rock's first offensive play, Josh Kniess rambled 66 yards for a touchdown. Kniess finished the day with 115 yards rushing and two TDs. He also had 84 yards in punt returns.

Slowed by a strained hamstring, Kniess began the day with only 131 yards rushing through three games.

"My hamstring feels pretty good now," he said. "This has been a rough start to the season for us, but this will serve as a nice confidence-builder.

"We played good football in the first half at Bloomsburg and we got back to that today. We're 1-0 in conference and that's what counts."

Mihalik agreed.

"We hated having to wait two weeks to play and having to sit with an 0-3 record," the coach said. "But we learned to hate losing, too. We got some guys healed up physically and mentally - yeah, that was a well-timed week off for us."

SRU added to its 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Lock Haven freshman quarterback Jason Eby fumbled the football while bring sacked by Jake Barzen and Clinton Forsha returned it 15 yards for a score.

Kniess capped a 72-yard drive with an 8-yard scoring run in the second quarter and John Benca rambled 29 yards ton a reverse for another score.

Ryan Daniel added a pair of field goals, including a career-long 49 yarder, and SRU had a 34-0 lead by halftime.

"I had been struggling a bit and it felt good to knock a couple through," Daniel said. "I didn't know how far (the 49-yard kick was) and I don't like to know, but I heard it on the intercom. I'm just happy I made it."

SRU's reserves played much of the second half. Ricardo Stuvaints rushed for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the final two quarters.

The 55 points scored by The Rock marked the team's most in a game since a 61-21 win at West Virginia Wesleyan in 2000.

SRU hadn't scored as many as 55 in a home game since a 73-0 shutout of Lock Haven in 1973.

The Bald Eagles ended their 15-quarter scoreless streak shortly after The Rock botched a punt out of its own end zone, handing Lock Haven possession at the SRU 9-yard line.

Backup quarterback Corey Cicilioni scored on a 3-yard run on third down.

"Injuries are forcing us to play young kids for 30 or 40 plays a game," Klacik said. "To properly develop young talent, they should only be out there for 10 or 12 plays per game.

"This (stretch of lopsided losses) is just something we have to go through. Nobody's giving up. Part of the challenge here is recruiting better players.

"I told the kids we're not ready to win yet. When we're ready to win, we'll win. We have to keep working toward it," he added.

Notes:

Slippery Rock High School graduate Travis Sarver recorded one of six SRU quarterback sacks. … Seneca Valley graduate and senior tight end Steve Fullerton suffered a knee injury and is sidelined indefinitely.