EAST STROUDSBURG — The usually high-flying Slippery Rock University offense grounded itself Saturday night.

The Rock ran the ball 78 times for a school-record 456 yards while posting a 56-24 PSAC football victory over East Stroudsburg at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

“The running game was working so well that we didn't feel a need to do much else,” SRU coach George Mihalik said.

And how.

SRU's previous record for yards rushing in a game was 451 against Clarion in 2008. The team rushed for 24 first downs, surpassing the previous Rock record of 22 against Shippensburg in 1972.

The 78 rushing attempts has been surpassed only once in Rock annals. SRU ran the ball 82 times against California (Pa.) in 1969.

Shamar Greene had 18 carries for 186 yards and a touchdown. Teddy Blakeman had 21 carries for 119 yards and three scores. SRU (2-0) had two ball carriers break the 100-yard barrier in the same game for the first time since its 2010 game against Lock Haven.

“Our line just controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” Mihalik said. “Those guys took over this game.

“(East Stroudsburg's) Matt Soltes is an outstanding quarterback. We put pressure on him the entire game. You could tell he was uncomfortable back there.”

Soltes completed just 20 of 47 passes for 297 yards and three interceptions. One of the picks — a 22-yard interception return by Derrick Fulmore — turned momentum in SRU's favor for good.

The host Warriors (1-1) pulled within 28-17 with 3:54 left in the first half when Teron Dobbs returned a blocked field goal 95 yards for a touchdown. East Stroudsburg then regained possession offensively.

Fulmore grabbed a deflected pass and returned it for a defensive touchdown with 1:05 left. SRU scored two touchdowns in the first 2:33 of the second half and the game was decided.

“(Seneca Valley graduate) Nick Dahlstrom got his hands on that pass and deflected it into the air,” Mihalik said of Fulmore's score. “Derrick raced in and grabbed it. Yeah, that play might have been the turning point for us.

“I never thought we'd come in here and win by this margin. East Stroudsburg is one of the top teams in the East. I didn't think we could win a shootout with them. I was wrong.”

The Rock sacked Soltes four times. Matt Martin had two of the sacks and Dahlstrom had one. Fulmore had two interceptions, Butler graduate Bob Vernick the other.

Isaiah Coleman led The Rock with nine tackles, seven solos. Fulmore and Mars graduate Austin Miele had eight tackles each.

Zack Newsock threw a pair of touchdown passes and attempted only 16 passes. SRU controlled the ball for 35 minutes, 32 seconds.

The Rock's offensive line features Joe LoSchiavo at center, Kirk Nypaver and Bill Whitaker at guard, Kyle Henderson and Cory Tucker at tackle. All are returning starters.

“This may have been their best performance. Those guys were outstanding,” Mihalik said.

Notes: The Rock now leads the all-time series between the teams, 12-3. ... SRU travels to Millersville for a 4 p.m. kickoff Saturday. ... SRU's special teams allowed a touchdown for the second straight game. ... Rock punter Andrew Huska buried two punts inside the 20. ... East Stroudsburg possessed the ball for only 8:34 in the second half. ... The fourth quarter was played in a dense fog, forcing SRU's offensive coaches to leave the pressbox and join the sidelines.

Slippery Rock 14 21 14 7 — 56E.Stroudsburg 7 10 0 7 — 24SR ES33 First Downs 2378-456 Rushes-Yards 31-115131 Passing Yards 2979-16-1 Comp.-Att.-Int 20-47-3587 Total Yards 4121-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-19-80 Penalty Yards 8-55First QuarterESU — Robert Healy 19 run (Matt Smith kick), 12:14SRU — Shamar Greene 17 run (Mike Wainauskis kick), 10:46SRU — Jaimire Dutrieuille 35 pass from Zacvk Newsock (Wainauskis kick), 2:236Second QuarterESU — Smith 28 field goal, 14:59SRU — Teddy Blakeman 1 run (Wainauskis kick), 12:28SRU — Blakeman 3 run (Wainauskis kick), 7:07ESU — Teron Dobbs 95 blocked field goal return (Smith kick), 3:54SRU — Derrick Fulmore 22 interception return (Wainauskis kick), 1:05Third QuarterSRU — Blakeman 30 run (Wainauskis kick), 13:46SRU — Brett Crenshaw 2 run (Wainauskis kick), 12:27Fourth QuarterSRU — Julian Durden 13 pass from Newsock (Wainauskis kick), 14:52ESU — Joe Schnaars 14 pass from Matt Soltes (Smith kick), 4:00Individual StatisticsRushing: SRU, Shamar Greene 18-186, Teddy Blakeman 21-119, Isiah Neely 14-72, Julian Durden 13-61, Brett Crenshaw 6-18, Zack Newsock 3-3, Josh Weakland 1-3, TEAM 1-(-2), Drew Scales 1-(-4). ESU, Robert Healy 15-86, Matt Soltes 8-15, Gerald Van De Cruz 6-13, Sam Benson 1-2, Derrick Dyer 1-(-1).Passing: SRU, Zack Newsock 9-16-131-1. ESU, Matt Soltes 20-47-297-1-3.Receiving: SRU, Drew Scales 3-41, Jaimire Dutrieuille 2-55, Leroy McClain 2-22, Julian Durden 1-13, Melvin German 1-0. ESU, Robert Healy 6-54, Steven Jones 4-101, Jon Schnaars 4-80, G.Wendowski 3-42, Sam Benson 2-15, Ray Dominguez 1-5.