SLIPPERY ROCK — Momentum and mathematics are on the mind of Slippery Rock University football coach George Mihalik this week.

Playoffs are on the mind of East Stroudsburg coach Denny Douds — but only slightly.

"We can get in if all the stars are aligned just right in the universe — and we still might have to find a second universe with aligned stars for it to work out," Douds said of attaining a Division II playoff berth.

The Rock (6-4) travels to East Stroudsburg (7-3) for a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Eiler-Martin Stadium. The game concludes the regular season for both teams.

East Stroudsburg enters the weekend ranked No. 6 in Super Region I. The top six teams will receive playoff berths.

"If they beat us, they're going to the playoffs," Mihalik declared.

Douds might disagree, but Mihalik doesn't care to find out who's right.

"If we go out there and close the season by beating a playoff-caliber team, it gives us momentum for next year," Mihalik said. "You always want to finish any season on a positive note.

"Besides, 7-4 looks a whole lot better than 6-5 when you look back on everything."

SRU might be playing for a playoff berth of its own this weekend if not for a pair of tight losses: 28-24 at Edinboro and 51-48 at Gannon.

East Stroudsburg edged West Chester 21-20 and beat Kutztown 27-20 in overtime to keep its postseason hopes flickering.

"This conference is deeper and more competitive than it's ever been," Douds said. "Fourteen of the 16 teams are capable of beating anybody. ... It's tough to survive week in and week out."

Douds is in his 36th season at East Stroudsburg and is the PSAC's all-time wins leader, sporting a 225-145-3 record. He is one of only 16 active college football coaches in all divisions with at least 200 career wins.

Douds and Mihalik both are SRU graduates and members of the SRU Hall of Fame. Douds graduated in 1963 and was inducted in 1990. Mihalik graduated in 1974 and was inducted in 1997.

Mihalik is 7-1 against East Stroudsburg, losing to Douds and the Warriors for the first time last year, 38-21.

"That team believes in throwing the football," Mihalik said. "Their favorite formation is five wide with an empty backfield."

Indeed, quarterback Matt Marshall enters this game needing 147 passing yards to reach 2,500 for the season. He has 20 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions.

Three East Stroudsburg receivers — Jeff Giglio, Ed Kiser and Sam Shuman — have more than 1,000 career receiving yards.

Marshall passed for 365 yards and four touchdowns against The Rock last year.

East Stroudsburg rolled up 555 yards in that game.

"They're tough to contain," Mihalik said. "We'll have six defensive backs on the field, but our options are limited with (cornerback) Robert Doiley out. Instead of three or four options in the secondary, we'll have one or two."

"We're going to throw the ball against anybody. That's how we play," Douds said. "Matt Marshall is such a class kid. He could be the poster boy for D-II football. His dad (Brian) played for us during the 1980s."

The Warriors' defense leads the PSAC with 26 takeaways and is plus-7 in turnover- takeaway margin. The team owns 25 sacks.

Linebacker Matt Freed has 101 tackles, including 11 for loss, and six sacks. He is the first East Stroudsburg player in nine years to record consecutive 100-tackle seasons. Defensive end Jeff Case has 12Z\x tackles for loss and 6Z\x sacks.

SRU's Akeem Satterfield rushed for 107 yards last week, but he suffered a leg injury and will be a game-time decision. SayQuan Scott-Mitchell, The Rock's leading rusher with 744 yards and seven TDs, is a game-time decision as well with an ankle problem.

Freshman Ryan O'Rourke will start at quarterback for SRU and Rocco Colavecchia also will get some snaps.

"By this time, I was hoping we would have a clear-cut No. 1 quarterback. It hasn't worked out that way," Mihalik admitted.

SRU vs East Stroudsburg

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Slippery Rock University leads its all-time football series with East Stroudsburg, 11-2:

Year - SRU - ESU2008 - 21 - 382007 - 31 - 241999 - 47 - 101998 - 44 - 91997 - 40 - 251996 - 24 - 101995 - 23 - 121994 - 32 - 231975 - 0 - 71974 - 47 - 201962 - 13 - 61929 - 13 - 61928 - 13 - 6