SLIPPERY ROCK — Appearances can be deceiving.

Slippery Rock University's football team did not look too pretty on the field, but its result looked nice on the scoreboard.

The Rock overcame three turnovers, three missed scoring opportunities inside the Millersville 10-yard line and 101 yards in penalties to defeat the Marauders, 21-5, Saturday at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

"We had plenty of chances to take control of this game much sooner than we did,"SRU coach George Mihalik said. "That was definitely frustrating."

The Rock (2-0) marched inside the 10 on its first two possessions, only to come up empty. Corey Manfull fumbled into the end zone on a first-and-goal from the 9-yard line and was stopped short on 4th-and-1 from the 8-yard line.

SRUfinally took a 7-0 lead on a 69-yard drive, highlighted by a screen pass to Manfull that netted 47 yards. Nate Crookshank tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ross Hornish.

Crookshank went on to complete 15 0f 21 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns. He was 10 of 13 for 223 yards in the first half alone.

"I thought Crookshank was the second-best quarterback in our league last year, behind (Jim)Terwilliger of East Stroudsburg,"Millersville coach Joe Trainer said. "He makes great decisions with the ball in his hands."

One of those decisions turned the game in SRU's favor for good.

Trailing 7-2, Millersville (0-2) was stopped short on fourth-and one from The Rock's 21-yard line. Three plays later, Crookshank hooked up with Paul Favers for a 75-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-six play.

"We ran a wheel play and (fellow receiver)Terry Grossetti cut inside,"Favers said. "The cornerback and safety both went with him and I thought the pass was going to Terry.

"Nate made a great read to see me on the outside and get me the ball. From there, I just turned and ran as fast as I could."

Mihalik grinned as he recalled the play.

"As soon as Paul caught the ball, it was a touchdown,"he said. "They weren't gonna catch him."

Favers also caught a 22-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter and finished the game with six catches for a career-high 169 yards.

Defensively, The Rock overcame two Manfull fumbles, a Crookshank interception on a deep pass, and a blocked punt that gave the Marauders possession in SRUterritory.

Millersville failed to score a touchdown for the second consecutive game. SRUhad six quarterback sacks, three by end Cory Lacek.

"Our defensive scheme included me bull-rushing around the outside and getting into the backfield,"Lacek said. "I'm always hoping the quarterback is dropping back to pass. Today, it worked out.

"Our defense wants to be aggressive and intense regardless of the situation. It doesn't matter what our offense is doing. The defense you saw today is the defense you'll see on a regular basis."

Jake Barzen and Clint Forsha had nine tackles and two sacks each Saturday.

Manfull had 25 carries for 150 yards despite fumbling the ball into the end zone twice. SRUattempted three punts all day — one was blocked and one resulted in a safety when the snap sailed over punter Kyle Witman's head.

"We can't afford to turn the ball over and our special teams play has to improve,"Mihalik said. "We need to get better in those areas."

But the team is 2-0 heading to Bowie State (Md.)this Saturday.

"Slippery Rock was decent two years ago and made strides troward the playoffs last year,"Trainer said. "Now they're right there. They should be a major player in the (PSAC)West, that's for sure."

SRU21, Millersville 5

Millersville 0 2 3 0—5Slippery Rock 0 14 0 7—21M SRU14 First Downs 1949-114 Rushes-Yards 43-16572 Passing Yards 2936-16-0 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 15-21-1186 Total Yards 4580-0 Fumbles/Lost 3-28-62 Penalties-Yards 8-101

Second QuarterSRU— Ross Hornish 1 pass from Nate Crookshank (C.J. Bahr kick), 14:11M— Punter Kyle Witman kicked ball out of end zone for safety, 7:50SRU— Paul Favers 75 pass from Crookshank (Bahr kick), 1:26

Third QuarterM— John Banzhof 42 field goal, 2:06

Fourth QuarterSRU— Favers 22 pass from Crookshank (Bahr kick), 7:22

Individual Statistics

Passing: Millersville, Jamal Smith 6-14-72-0, Bill Shirk 0-2-0-0. SRU, Nate Crookshank15-21-293-1.

Rushing: Millersville, Cardoza Jacks 18-76, Brad Lantz 11-18, Jamal Smith 16-16, Bill Shirk 3-3, Jimmie Cotton 1-1. SRU, Corey Manfull 25-150, Damarcus Cleckley 9-37, Nate Crookshank 4-12, Paul Favers 1-5, Travis Sarver 1-5, Brad Galvan 1-(-2).

Receiving: Millersville, Brad Lantz 2-22, Randall Eggleton 2-20, Derek Fry 1-21, Andrew Tischbein 1-9. SRU, Paul Favers 6-169, Terry Grossetti 4-47, Josh Progorac 3-29, Corey Manfull 1-47, Ross Hornish 1-1.