SLIPPERY ROCK — It doesn't have to be 75-0. It does have to be a clean game.

“That's what we need,” Slippery Rock University coach Shawn Lutz said of his football team's game Saturday at Millersville. “We respect all of our opponents, but right now, I'm more concerned with how we play.”

Millersville (0-2) has not had a winning season since 2000 and has lost its last seven meetings with SRU, including a 75-0 blistering at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium in 2015. The teams haven't met since.

The Rock leads the series between the teams 17-4-1 and has an 8-2 record at Biemesderfer Stadium, site of Saturday's 4 p.m. kickoff.

But SRU (1-1) has plenty of reasons for concern. The Rock has turned the ball over eight times in two games and averages 111 yards in penalties per game, worst in the PSAC.

“Take care of the ball and play with more discipline,” Lutz said. “That's what it comes down to.”

The Rock also lost five starters to injury in last weekend's 25-21 loss at Shippensburg, including three captains. Quarterback Andrew Koester has a knee injury that will sideline him at least a couple of weeks. A shoulder sprain will keep running back Wes Hills out at least a couple of weeks as well.

Starting guard Colten Raabe, a Slippery Rock High graduate, suffered a fractured foot and is out indefinitely. Safety Tavarus Sample, who had been playing with a broken finger, broke the top of his hand and will miss some time.

Starting defensive tackle Wilford Clark fractured his fibula. He requires surgery that will sideline him the rest of the season.

“Will's injury is really a shame because he was playing great football for us,” Lutz said. “Yeah, we're banged up, but we will never use injuries as an excuse.

“We can still put plenty of good football players on the field.”

One of those is 6-foot-4 quarterback Taylor King, who threw for 335 yards in the second half at Shippensburg last week. Running back Chacar Berry had a combined 107 yards rushing and receiving after replacing Hills.

“We have to be able to run the ball,” Lutz said. “We can't become a team that throws the ball on every down. That's not going to work.”

Millersville has scored only 17 points in its first two games under first-year coach J.C. Morgan, who took over the Marauders after 13 years as an assistant at Shippensburg.

The Marauders are averaging a PSAC-worst 302 yards of offense per game. Sophomore quarterback Collin Shank has thrown for 581 yards thus far, including 331 in one game.

“He's a third-year sophomore who suffered a season-ending injury in Week Three vs. California last year,” Morgan said. “Collin's had very few starts and he's learning on the fly.

“He's had to pick up a new system like the rest of this offense.”

Millersville is running a spread attack this season. While receivers Chris Dolan and Xavier Jenkins have double-digit catches, Kobe Miranda is the team's leading rusher with just 84 yards on 31 carries.

“Shank is the guy who makes them go,” Lutz said. “We've struggled to get pressure on the quarterback. We need to improve in that area.”

SRU receivers Carnel Harley and Henry Litwin had 137 and 133 receiving yards, respectively, last week.

“Slippery Rock is athletic and very talented,” Morgan said. “I expect them to be in the mix in the West this year.

“As far as we're concerned, we line up to win. There's no satisfaction in keeping a game close. It's all about wins and losses. Our job is to compete and win ballgames.”

Lutz said his job right now is to not allow last week's tough loss to linger.

“I admit, it took me a while to get over that one,” he said. “But I've been telling our guys, we can't allow ourselves to lose to Shipp twice.

“We can't let last week affect this week. We need to go out to Millersville and put together four complete quarters.”