SLIPPERY ROCK — A classic showdown quickly turned into a classic mismatch.

Slippery Rock University's offense went through and over the Indiana (Pa.) defense to the tune of 676 yards as The Rock captured a pivotal PSAC-West football clash, 42-16 Saturday afternoon at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The Crimson Hawks were ranked No. 7 in the nation and entered the game with the top-ranked defense in all of NCAA Division II, but it didn't take long for the unit to begin to melt from the heat applied by The Rock's no-huddle and diverse attack.

“After a while, I saw their guys on defense hunched over and grabbing at their knees,” said SRU quarterback Nigel Barksdale, who accounted for 517 yards (425 passing, 68 rushing), even snagging a 24-yard catch that set up The Rock's fourth and final touchdown of the first half. “I could tell that they were tired.”

“That's the reason we've switched to this style of offense,” said Rock coach George Mihalik. “We want to be able to set the tempo.”

After going three-and-out on its first drive of the game, Slippery Rock hit its stride on the second series.

Running back Shamar Greene got things started with a 20-yard run to move the ball up to SRU's 40-yard line.

Barksdale then connected on three straight passes to Jaimire Dutrieuille (6 and 13 yards) and Greene (21). Teddy Blakeman rumbled for 18 yards and, two plays later, Brett Crenshaw scored on a 1-yard plunge. The entire seven-play, 80-yard drive took just 1:39 off the clock.

Barksdale connected with John Schademan on a 38-yard touchdown pass the next time The Rock (5-1, 2-1) got the ball and SRU held a 14-0 lead 38 seconds into the second quarter.

“I had a feeling we would struggle early, trying to adjust to the pace of the game,” said third-year IUP coach Curt Cignetti. “This is the first time since I've been the head coach here that we've been whipped physically. We have to get back to playing tough, hard-nosed football.”

The Crimson Hawks (5-1, 2-1) tried to do that Saturday, but ran into a wall of green more times than not.

IUP used six runs and three passes to move the ball 32 yards on its first drive of the day, picking up two first downs in the process. But the march stalled on The Rock's 44 and a punt followed. On its next five series, IUP managed just 55 total yards and senior quarterback Mike Box began to struggle, completing just five of 10 passes for 41 yards in that span.

One of those completions went for 11 yards to Drew Carswell midway through the second quarter, but the receiver fumbled the ball and linebacker Gary Allen made the recovery to set SRU up at the Hawks' 16.

Blakeman scored the first of his two first-half touchdowns three plays later for a 21-0 edge.

Trailing 28-0 late in the first half, IUP finally broke back into Rock territory. A 40-yard pass from Box to Terrill Barnes moved the ball to SRU's 15. But on third down, Box was sacked by defensive end Matt Peacock, forcing the Hawks to settle for Brett Ullman's 44-yard field goal.

SRU's defense held the Hawks to 127 yards of offense in the first half, including a paltry 30 yards rushing on 12 attempts from running backs De'Antwan Williams and Izzy Green.

“We just stayed focused,” said nose guard Tony Papley, a Slippery Rock High product who ended the game with seven tackles. “We knew if we remained physical, we'd end up beating them by a wide margin.”

Barksdale rushed for one touchdown in the third quarter and passed for another to Schademan, this time from 42 yards out, giving the Rock a 42-3 lead.

“IUP played a lot of zone today,” said Barksdale. “That surprised me because they are usually a man defense. It was just a matter of making the reads and making the throws.”

Five regular-season games remain for The Rock, beginning with next Saturday's home game against Clarion. Mihalik knows his team's latest effort is a great one to build on.

“We thought we had a great opportunity today, facing the seventh-ranked team in the country,” he said. “We couldn't let that pass us by without being prepared.”

Schademan caught six passes for 170 yards and Greene tallied 17 carries for 101 yards on the ground for SRU.

SRU 42, IUP 16

Indiana 0 3 0 13 — 16

Slippery Rock 7 21 14 0 — 42

IUP SRU

16 First Downs 31

28-59 Rushes-Yards 48-227

278 Passing Yards 449

18-41-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 28-39-1

337 Total Yards 676

4-1 Fumbles-Lost 2-1

4-30 Penalty Yards 6-66

First Quarter

SRU — Brett Crenshaw 1 run (Brian Shaw kick), 7:11

Second Quarter

SRU — John Schademan 38 pass from Nigel Barksdale (Shaw kick), 14:22

SRU — Teddy Blakeman 2 run (Shaw kick), 7:37

SRU — Blakeman 3 run (Shaw kick), 3:54

IUP — Brett Ullman 44 field goal, 1:08

Third Quarter

SRU — Barksdale 1 run (Shaw kick), 11:47

SRU — Schademan 42 pass from Barksdale (Shaw kick), 9:17

Fourth Quarter

IUP — Terrill Barnes 23 pass from Mike Box (Ullman kick), 13:34

IUP — De'Antwan Williams 1 run (pass failed), 6:33

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Indiana, De'Antwan Williams 13-34, Izzy Green 9-28, Pat Brewer 1-1, Erik Finklea 2-(-1), Mike Box 3-(-3). Slippery Rock, Shamar Greene 17-101, Nigel Barksdale 17-68, Teddy Blakeman 11-55, Brett Crenshaw 3-3.

Passing: Indiana, Mike Box 18-41-278-1. Slippery Rock, Nigel Barksdale 27-38-425-1, Robert Joyce 1-1-24-0.

Receiving: Indiana, Terrill Barnes 9-160, Drew Carswell 7-103, Pat Brewer 2-15. Slippery Rock, Ken Amos 9-85, John Schademan 6-170, Jaimire Dutrieuille 5-50, Robert Joyce 2-54, Shamar Greene 2-37, Nigel Barksdale 1-24, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling 1-18, Julian Harrell 1-11, Andrew Bridgeforth 1-0.