SLIPPERY ROCK — The names and faces changed. The results didn't.

Slippery Rock University's defense posted its first shutout since 2015 Saturday night as SRU cruised past Millersville, 49-0, in a PSAC football game at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The Marauders (0-3) got inside The Rock's 20-yard line only once all night. Connor Zahm's 41-yard field goal attempt was short with six seconds left in the third quarter.

By then, Millersville was simply trying to spoil the shutout as two Marauder turnovers helped The Rock (3-0) build a 28-0 lead in the first quarter.

Millersville was limited to 177 total yards, only 23 rushing on 26 attempts. The Rock tallied seven quarterback sacks.

“I don't care who you're playing. It's tough to shut any team out,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “What I'm most impressed about is we had all our of starters out of the game defensively by early in the third quarter.

“Everybody did a good job of preserving that shutout.”

Shane Schuback, a reserve linebacker, led The Rock with eight tackles. Chad Kuhn and Jevon Lang — the latter a true freshman playing his first game — had 1.5 sacks each.

Khadir Roberts intercepted a T.J. Pergine pass on the third play of the game, setting up SRU's first touchdown. Braden Fochtman forced a fumble on a kickoff return late in the first quarter, Edgar Parrilla II recovering at the Millersville 25 to set up SRU's fourth score.

“We really wanted to get this shutout for coach (defensive coordinator Dom) Razzano,” Kuhn said. “It doesn't matter who's in the game, whether you're first, second or third team.

“Coach Razzano brainwashes us into being relentless all the time. I don't care who you are. If you're not going hard on every single play, you're not going to be on the field for us.”

Millersville coach J.C. Morgan replaced Pergine with fellow freshman Miles Miller in the second quarter. SRU had a 35-0 lead before the Marauders recorded a first down.

“Both guys were gonna play anyway,” Morgan said. “We were just looking to get something going. Slippery Rock has it going on right now. They're an excellent football team.”

The Rock passing game has had it going on for a while now.

Roland Rivers III played less than three quarters, but completed 21 of 26 passes for 339 yards and six touchdowns. He has thrown for 1,114 yards and 16 touchdowns with no interceptions in the first three games this year.

SRU's offense has yet to commit a turnover.

“I'm most proud of the no turnovers,” Rivers said. “We're protecting the football and not getting ourselves in trouble.

“I don't know if I'd call us a big-play offense. We go one play at a time and take what's there.”

Cinque Sweeting — a transfer from Seton Hill — had six catches for 185 yards Saturday, hauling in touchdown passes of 55, 29 and 87 yards.

“I love this offense,” Sweeting said. “We have the best quarterback in the league and we can make dynamic plays. I dropped a touchdown pass last week and I don't like to let my teammates down.

“It felt good being able to contribute like this today. But my teammates have a lot to do with all that. We've got the best receiving trio (Sweeting, Henry Litwin and Jermaine Wynn) in the country.”

Lutz wasn't ready to disagree.

“Pick your poison with those guys,” he said.

SRU rushed for 116 yards, averaging only 3.2 yards per carry. Fochtman led the ground game with only 31 yards.

“I'm concerned about rain, cold weather ... We have to be able to run the football. We have to get better there,” Lutz admitted.

Notes: The victory was No. 600 for The Rock football program ... SRU has outscored Millersville 227-27 in their last four meetings. The Rock's last shutout was 75-0 over the Marauders in 2015. ... Rivers has thrown 44 career touchdown passes — third on SRU's all-time list — in just 15 games. ... SRU is 24-1 in home night games since 2010, 35-9 under the lights at home overall. ... The Rock opens PSAC West play at 2 p.m. Saturday at Seton Hill.

Millersville 0 0 0 0 — 0

Slippery Rock 28 14 7 0 — 49

First Quarter

SRU — Henry Litwin 2 pass from Ropland Rivers III (Jake Chapla kick), 12:31

SRU — Cinque Sweeting 55 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 10:31

SRU — Sweeting 29 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 2:30

SRU — Jermaine Wynn Jr. 10 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 1:21

Second Quarter

SRU — Litwin 22 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 11:34

SRU — Nassir Weaver 8 run (Chapla kick), 1:20

Third Quarter

SRU — Sweeting 87 pass from Rivers III (Chapla kick), 9:05

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Millersville, Christian Smith 5-17, Tyler Bishop 2-12, Bryan Malone 3-12, T.J. Pergine 2-(-2). SRU, Roland Rivers III 6-37, Braden Fochtman 8-31, DeSean Dinkins 4-15, Charles Snorweah 6-14.

Passing: Millersville, Miles Miller 17-31-140-0, T.J. Pergine 4-10-14-1. SRU, Roland Rivers III 21-26-339-0, Andrew Koester 4-8-36-0.

Receiving: Millersville, Evan Morrill 6-81, Chris Dolan 6-41, Christian Smith 4-9, Bryan Malone 3-11. SRU, Henry Litwin 7-73, Cinque Sweeting 6-185, Jermaine Wynn Jr. 3-40, Charles Snorweah 2-25.