SLIPPERY ROCK — Forget about the 1-7.

Slippery Rock University football coach George Mihalik is imploring his team to do just that when SRU (6-2, 5-2) hosts 1-7 Edinboro at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

“People will look at that 1-7 and figure this is an easy game,” Mihalik said. “No way. Edinboro has played a killer schedule.

“That record is very misleading.”

Besides playing two of the stronger teams from the PSAC East — Shippensburg and East Stroudsburg — the Fighting Scots have faced perennial Division II power Carson-Newman (Tenn.) University and PSAC West contenders California, Indiana and Gannon already this season.

Their lone win is a 56-28 triumph over Clarion.

“That’s the only complete game we’ve put together,” Edinboro coach Scott Browning said. “We’ve played well in spurts.

“I’m not used to being in this position. But despite the record, I like our football team. Everyone’s still growing and working together. There’s been no finger-pointing. The focus is still there in practice. That’s all a coach can ask for.”

Edinboro starts four sophomores and three freshmen on offense, two freshmen and four sophomores defensively.

But the Scots’ quarterback is fourth-year starter Cody Harris, who has completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 1,813 yards, 15 touchdowns and only three interceptions despite being sacked 40 times.

“Cody Harris can extend a play and is more elusive that way than any quarterback in the conference,” Mihalik said.

“He’s a great football player, very heady, and he’s had a good year,” Browning said. “But he’s only one player. This is a team game.

“We’ve had trouble protecting the quarterback and generating a running game. We are somewhat young up front.”

The Scots do not start a senior on the offensive line. Their guards are sophomores, the right tackle a freshman. Tight end Nick Helmick is a sophomore.

Their tailback, Anfreenee Williams, who leads the team with 534 yards rushing, is a freshman.

“He’s one of those backs who can break loose and out-run you to the end zone at any time,” Mihalik said. “You hold your breath when he touches the ball.”

Darren Massey is Edinboro’s leading receiver with 62 catches for 610 yards.

Defensively, the Scots are led by junior defensive end Domenic Principale, who has seven quarterback sacks.

Rock guard Kirk Nypaver remains sidelined with an injury and left guard Bill Whitaker is questionable this week.

“If Whitaker can’t go, Principale could become a real problem for us,” Mihalik said.

Jared Buck will make his third consecutive start at quarterback for The Rock. He threw only 14 passes in last week’s 31-21 win at Indiana. Shamar Greene, with 1,071 yards and a 7.1 yard per carry average, continues to anchor SRU’s ground game.

Edinboro has been out-rushed 1,439 to 586 this season.

“Slippery Rock has been well-coached for years and they’ll be juiced up for us,” Browning said. “They still have a lot at stake.

“They have a lot of good players. We have good players, too, but they’re young, improving players.”

The Rock can still win the West Division with wins Saturday and at Clarion next week, coupled with California losses to Gannon and Mercyhurst.

California is forfeiting its game with Gannon this weekend after five players were involved in a fight.

. SRU is ninth in the Super Region One rankings and needs to finish in the top six to reach the Division II playoffs.

“We have no margin for error,” Mihalik said.

Marcus Martin leads the PSAC with 9.5 sacks and defensive tackle Joe Phillips earned PSAC Player of the Week honors for his efforts at IUP — five solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.

“That’s the Joe Phillips we’ve been waiting for,” Mihalik said. “That’s the player we expect to have every week.”

SRU leads the series between the teams 54-25-6 and has won the last four meetings, including 44-20 last year at Sox Harrison Stadium.