SLIPPERY ROCK — Make mistakes early. Make amends late.

Slippery Rock University rode that formula to a 31-27 football victory over Bowie State in a mutual season opener Saturday night at N.Kerr Thompson Stadium.

Sayquan Scott-Mitchell scored on a 23-yard run with 58.9 seconds left to provide the winning points for The Rock. He was in the game because Ryan Lehmeier departed with a separated shoulder three plays earlier.

SRU netted only 64 rushing yards all night before the game-deciding play.

"We have two new starters at tackle and they (Bowie State) had some powerful defensive ends and linebackers," Rock coach George Mihalik said. "They were giving us a rough time."

But after failing on pass plays on third-and-shirt and fourth-and-short situations earlier in the game, Mihalik called Scott-Mitchell's number on a fourth-and-2 play from midfield with two minutes left.

"If we punt the ball there, we may not get it back," Mihalik allowed. "Sayquan knew the situation. No time to dance. Get it and go."

Scott-Mitchell broke an ankle tackle behind the line of scrimmage and dove forward for the necessary yardage. He scored three plays later.

"That play was there," Scott-Mitchell said of his touchdown run. "I just read my blocks and scored.

"As for the fourth-and-2, I was a little surprised they called my number there. But it was a play and situation we ran in practice. I was ready."

The winning touchdown was set up by a 46-yard Kyle Witman punt that was downed at the Bulldogs' 1-yard line. Witman bobbled a snap in the first quarter that resulted in a blocked punt for Bowie State's first touchdown.

SRU's defense, which allowed scoring drives of 59 and 72 yards in the fourth quarter, along with a 73-yard TD march in the waning seconds of the first half, then forced a three-and-out.

"With a veteran punter like we have, that shouldn't happen," Mihalik said of the botched punt in the first quarter. "But Kyle atoned for that later with a couple of booming kicks when we needed them."

Leading 27-22, Bowie State coach Damon Wilson elected to take an intentional safety with 3:53 to play. Punter Michael Gagne took the snap and stepped out of the end zone despite facing no pressure.

The Bulldogs had their punter tackled in the backfield earlier and surrendered a safety in the third quarter when a snap sailed over Gagne's head.

"We were having problems in that area and I was worried about the punt block," Bowie State coach Damon Wilson said. "I'd rather give up two points there than six.

"I wanted to put the game in the hands of our defense. I figured, worst-case scenario, they kick a field goal and we go to overtime."

He was wrong.

Before Scott-Mitchell's touchdown, a pass interference call gave SRU the ball on the Bulldogs' 31-yard line. An 8-yard pass to Kenny Cottman preceded Scott-Mitchdell's score.

Bowie State was flagged 10 times for 136 yards on the night.

"All those pemalties, the problems with the punting game — Those are things we can correct," Wilson said.

The Rock trailed 14-13 at halftime. After being limited to one first down prior to its final possession of the half, Bowie State marched 73 yards in 10 plays. Quarterback Andre Johnson connected with Clifton Budd for a 26-yard scoring pass with 12 seconds left in

SRU regained the lead in the third quarter on Rocco Colavecchia's 40-yard bomb to Kevin Sanders. The pair hooked up for a 23-yard score in the first half.

"I had single coverage on both of those plays," Sanders said. "Kenny (Cottman) and I lined up on the same side and ran deep patterns. The safety went with him both times."

Leading 22-14 late in the third quarter, The Rock seemed ready to put the game away with a first down at the Bowie State 30. A reverse to receiver Jermale Cromerdie was fumbled in the backfield, however, and Bowie State recovered.

"That play gave them all the momentum," Mihalik admitted. "But we made plays at the end to pull it out."

Bowie State drove to SRU's 40 in the waning seconds before a Jayson Nickson interception ended the threat.

Notes: C.J. Bahr hit a 46-yard field goal in the first quarter, matching his career-long. ... Pat Marsilio and Knoch graduate Bill Elliott led SRU's defense with seven total tackles each. Elliott had three solos and eight assists, Marsilio 4.5 tackles for loss. ... SRU hosts Millersville at 6 p.m. Saturday.SRU 31, Bowie State 27

Bowie State 7 7 0 13 —27Slippery Rock 3 10 9 9 —31V H15 First Downs 1644-64 Rushes-Yards 40-87156 Passing Yards 13610-21-2 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 13-21-0220 Total Yards 2232-0 Fumbles/Lost 2-110-136 Penalties-Yards 5-43

First QuarterSRU — C.J. Bahr 46 field goal, 9:48BS — Gregory Jackson recovered blocked punt in end zone (Michael Gagne kick), 1:56

Second QuarterSRU— Bahr 22 field goal, 9:39SRU — Kevin Sanders 23 pass from Rocco Colavecchia (Bahr kick), 7:23BS — Clifton Budd 26 pass from Andre Johnson (Gagne kick), :12

Third QuarterSRU — Sanders 40 pass from Colavecchia (Bahr kick), 13:14SRU — Gagne illegally kicked ball out of end zone for safety, 9:36

Fourth QuarterBS — Johnson 13 run (pass failed), 14:32BS — Tariq Jones 12 run (Gagne kick), 8:02SRU — Gagne stepped out of end zone for safety, 3:53SRU — Sayquan Scott-Mitchell 23 run (Bahr kick), :59

Individual Statistics

Passing: Bowie State, Andre Johnson 10-21-156-2. SRU, Rocco Colavecchia 13-21-136-0.

Rushing: Bowie State, Rodney Webb 17-79, Andre Johnson 13-27, Tariq Jones 6-19, Keon Redhead 1-0, Clifton Budd 1-(-1), Ramono Flowers 3-(-3), Michael Gagne 2-(-27), Team 1-(-30). SRU, Ryan Lehmeier 13-50, Sayquan Scott-Mitchell 7-38, Damarcus Cleckley 4-9, Rocco Colavecchia 12-7, Team 3-(-6), Jermale Cromerdie 1-(-11)

Receiving: Bowie State, Clifton Budd 3-55, Rodney Webb 2-30, Brandon McDonald 2-19, Anthony Green 1-34, Tariq Jones 1-11, Ryan Callahan 1-7. SRU, Kenny Cottman 4-27, Kevin Sanders 3-62, Devin Goda 3-35, Kevin Guidish 3-12.