FRANKFORT, Ky. — The numbers were staggering. They just weren't the ones Slippery Rock University coach Shawn Lutz were expecting.

Tanner Garry threw for 390 yards and five touchdowns, Marcus Johnson caught 10 passes for 231 yards and three scores Saturday as The Rock rolled to a 42-21 season-opening college football victory at Kentucky State.

“Our quarterback was making his first start and we have five veteran starters on the offensive line,” Lutz said. “I thought we'd come down here and grind it out.

“We rushed for 84 yards, fumbled a couple of times ... I didn't think we'd win if we didn't run the ball better than that.”

While Lutz emphasized that “our ground game has to get better,” he couldn't have been happier with the immediate emergence of his passing game.

Garry, a transfer from Youngstown State in his final season of eligibility, had not started a football game since his senior year at Fort Cherry High School. He found Johnson for touchdown strikes of 3, 47 and 48 yards.

Garry also connected with Corneluis “Milly” Raye — who had seven catches for 132 yards — from 57 yards out and tight end Brian McNally for a 7-yard scoring toss.

“Tanner showed a lot of poise in the pocket and he throws a tight spiral,” Lutz said. “He was outstanding. And with Marcus and Milly, we have a very effective outside and inside combo.

“Marcus can go get the football and Milly can make people miss.”

The Rock had a 21-0 lead at halftime and a four-touchdown lead midway through the third quarter.

Defensively, SRU permitted only 245 yards andless than two yards per carry on the ground despite starting five freshmen on that side of the ball.

Senior defensive end Marcus Martin broke a school record by recording six tackles for loss in a single game. He had 10 tackles and a sack in the contest while Butler graduate Tim Vernick had 10 tackles and a sack.

Vernick, a red-shirt freshman, was making his first collegiate start at middle linebacker. Tavarus Sample, a converted wide receiver now playing defensive back, led the team with 11 tackles.

SRU's defense allowed only 14 points. Kentucky State's final score of the day was on a 93-yard kickoff return.

“That kick return for a touchdown was the only disappointing thing about this game,” Lutz said. “We can't allow that stuff.

“Our defense recorded four sacks, but probably hit their quarterback 15 times. We had about 17 tackles for loss.”

The Rock plays its home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium against West Chester. Favored to win the PSAC East, the Golden Rams defeated Bentley 51-9 Saturday.

“They are a loaded football team and we've beaten them the last couple of times we've met,” Lutz said. “We're in for a challenge there.”

SRU 42, Ky. State 21

Slippery Rock 7 14 7 14 — 42

Kentucky State 0 0 6 15 — 21

SRU KS

23 First Downs 16

27-84 Rushes-Yards 41-77

403 Passing Yards 168

23-36-0 Comp.-Att.-Int 22-33-0

487 Total Yards 245

2-1 Fumbles-Lost 2-1

8-77 Penalty Yards 11-94

First Quarter

SRU — Marcus Johnson 3 pass from Tanner Garry (Jake Chapla kick), 11:26

Second Quarter

SRU — Brian McNally 7 pass from Garry (Chapla kick), 11:02

SRU — Johnson 47 pass from Garry (Chapla kick), 4:42

Third Quarter

SRU — Isiah Neely 5 run (Chapla kick), 10:10

KS — Demetrius Anderson 4 pass from Paul Campbell (kick failed), 4:08

Fourth Quarter

KS — Campbell 4 run (Andwerson pass from Campbell), 13:00

SRU — Johnson 48 pass from Garry (Chapla kick), 10:28

SRU — Cornelius Raye 57 pass from Garry (Chapla kick), 8:23

KS — Brett Sylve 93 kick return (Mahureyaa Kao kick), 8:07

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SRU, Isiah Neely 14-54, Chacar Berry 9-18, Marcus Johnson 1-7, Braden Fochtman 2-7, Tanner Garry 1-(-2). Kentucky State, Brett Sylve 9-35, Lavelle Cloyd 12-28, Paul Campbell 15-12, Tyron Wilkerson 2-6, Demetrius Anderson 2-0, TEAM 1-(-4).

Passing: SRU, Tanner Garry 22-34-390-0, Andrew Koester 1-1-13-0. Kentucky State, Paul Campbell 22-333-168-0.

Receiving: SRU, Marcus Johnson 12-231, Cornelius Raye 7-132, Andrew Bridgeforth 2-20, Landon Yeartie 1-13, Brian McNally 1-7. Kentucky State, Demetrius Anderson 10-74, Cory Groathouse 4-36, Johnathan Powell 2-28, Camron Gore 2-17, Brett Sylve 2-7, Jordan Level 1-4, Jaylin Johnson 1-2.