Slippery Rock University’s football team has clearly put together a successful season.

SRU, after all, won the PSAC Western Division championship by sweeping the division for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The Rock also won a Division II road game for the first time in program history by defeating previously unbeaten LIU Post in New York. It followed that up by scoring touchdowns on its first seven possessions in dismantling New Haven, 59-20, on the road last week.

This weekend at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, SRU will try to win three playoff games in one year for the first time ever. If that happens, The Rock will play in the Division II semifinals for only the second time in its history.

A history-making season, indeed.

One that may have arrived one year early.

SRU has no senior starters on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, there are only two — right tackle and Seneca Valley graduate Steve Gaviglia and running back Wes Hills.

Slippery Rock High grad Colten Raabe is a junior starter at right guard and has a year of eligibility remaining, but may graduate before then.

Besides that, every starter will be back next season.

Gaviglia and Hills will be big losses, of course. The former is the leader of the offensive line and the latter entered this weekend’s game at Notre Dame College needing just 42 yards to break The Rock’s all-time single-season rushing record.

The biggest transformation in Rock football this season — and what will likely be the squad’s biggest strength next season — is the defense.

This unit was torched by opposing running games in 2017, statistically ranking among the worst rush defenses in the entire country. Every starting linebacker was a freshman.

This year, that same defensive unit is allowing less than 100 yards per game on the ground. Nose guard Jeff Marx made all-conference as a freshman. Butler graduate Tim Vernick, only a sophomore in terms of eligibility, is one of the smallest middle linebackers in the country, yet ranks second on the team in tackles, one behind fellow linebacker Brad Zaffram.

Eric Glover-Williams, a cornerback, started the season on offense. After a few games, he was switched to defense, made all-conference and became one of the most effective corners in the PSAC.

Add to all of this the return of starting quarterback Roland Rivers III, his entire receiving corps and starting tight end.

Place-kicker Jake Chapla, who already owns every Rock kicking record imaginable, is also back next season. He doubles as one of the nation’s most effective punters.

As bright as this year has been, wait until next year.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle