SLIPPERY ROCK — Ten and counting.

That is where Slippery Rock University's football winning streak stands against PSAC West opponents, dating back to 2017.

No. 11 may not come easily.

The Rock (4-0, 1-0) travels to Mercyhurst (2-2, 0-1) for a noon kickoff Saturday at Tullio Field in Erie. SRU has won its first four games by an average margin of 37.5 points per game, but the combined records of those foes is 4-11.

“This will be a four-quarter game,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said of Mercyhurst. “We are going to be tested.”

Veteran Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle, in his 18th year, hopes that's the case.

The Lakers are coming off a 56-24 home loss to Indiana (Pa.) Saturday, a game in which they led, 24-21, late in the first half.

“We just wore down, basically,” Schaetzle said. “We don't have a whole lot of depth. IUP and Slippery Rock, they're building national championship contending teams and get a lot of Division I transfers.

“We're not at that point. We have to possess the football and keep Slippery Rock 's offense on the sidelines, limiting possessions. We tried to do that last week and now we have to try it again.”

The Lakers have a four-year starting quarterback in Doug Altavilla and a versatile running back in Garrett Owens. Altavilla has thrown for 734 yards and six touchdowns. Owens has 282 yards and five touchdowns rushing, 11 catches for 151 yards and a score in the passing game.

“Owens is the guy they want to get the ball to,” Lutz said. “They line him up all over the place and do a lot of different things with him.

“They try to confuse the defense. We will have to be on our toes. Traditionally, Mercyhurst is a running team, but they've been throwing more than running so far this year.”

The Lakers play a 34 defense, including Seneca Valley graduate Corbin Kessler at outside linebacker. Kessler is third on the team with 23 tackles.

“Corbin is a smart player who gives us a consistent game each week,” Schaetzle said. “He's an even better teammate.

“He brings it hard every day. I wish I had another 50 guys just like him.”

Rock quarterback Roland Rivers III became the first SRU player to rush for 100 yards in a game last week, tallying 122 at Seton Hill. He leads all of Division II with 19 touchdown passes, has yet to throw an interception and ranks second in the nation with 1,414 passing yards.

Wide receiver Henry Litwin has seven touchdown catches while fellow receiver Jermaine Wynn Jr. and Cinque Sweeting have six each.

“Roland did a good job last week of taking what the defense gave him,” Lutz said. “He doesn't have to throw the ball deep every play. He made good decisions.

“Our running game isn't going to be great this year. We have walk-ons on the offensive line and we're better at pass-blocking. We just have to be able to run the football.”

Defensively, The Rock has 17 quarterback sacks, led by end Chad Kuhn's 5.5. The Rock defense is averaging two takeaways per game and has limited its last three opponents to an average of 34.7 rushing yards per game.

Dalton Holt leads the team with 23 tackles from his strong safety position. Butler graduate and middle linebacker Tim Vernick has 21 stops.

“Our offense has been scoring so fast (20 TD drives in five plays or less) that our defense is spending a lot of time on the field,” Lutz said. “Those guys have improved every game.”

Schaetzle said: “Much of this game will be on our offensive line. We need run the ball effectively.”

SRU kicker Jake Chapla needs four points Saturday to break running back Stan Kennedy's all-time Rock record of 318 career points.

“I hope we're presenting him a game ball after this game,” Lutz said.

SRU owns a 7-4 lead in the all-time series and has won the last four meetings between the teams. Mercyhurst's lone win over SRU in the last six years came at Michigan Stadium in 2014.