SLIPPERY ROCK — When it comes to meeting in the NCAA Division II football quarterfinals, these two teams have been there, done that.

Slippery Rock just hopes to do it a little differently this time.

The Rock (12-0) hosts Notre Dame, Ohio (12-1) in a rematch for the Super Region One championship at noon Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. SRU dropped a 21-17 decision at Notre Dame last year.

“This is a classic rematch,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “We're both pretty much the same teams (in terms of personnel) we were last year. This should be two good teams battling it out.

“No extra motivation is needed. This is a chance to be one of the last four Division II teams still playing. That's motivation enough.”

SRU does not have running back Wes Hills, who rushed for 154 yards in last year's quarterfinal. It does have Charles Snorweah, a running back coming off his best game of the season — a 163-yard, three-touchdown effort in last week's 51-30 playoff win over Shepherd.

Besides Hills, all of the prime players are back for this rematch.

The game will also feature two of the eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the nation's top Div. II player. Rock quarterbvack Roland Rivers III and Falcons running back Jaleel McLaughlin are those finalists.

“That's reason alone to check out this game,” Lutz said. “You don't see two Harlon Hill finalists on the same field together very often.”

Rivers III has thrown for 3,825 yards, 44 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He's rushed for 624 yards and seven scores.

“He was good last year and he's better this year,” Notre Dame coach Mike Jacobs said of Rivers III. “He is a dynamic playmaker.”

McLaughlin isn't so bad himself. Only a sophomore, he's rushed for 2,190 yards and 28 touchdowns. He ran for more than 2,400 yards last year.

A durable back, McLaughlin averages 25 carries per game. He is the seventh running back in Div. II history to record consecutive 2,000-yard seasons and the first to do so his freshman and sophomore years.

“Jaleel can hit full speed right away. He has incredible acceleration,” Jacobs said. “He's not all we have, though. DJ Greene (senior) has 3,000 yards rushing in his career and our passing game has been consistent.

“We haven't been scoring as much as earlier in the year, but at this time of the season, defense seems to take over.”

McLaughlin and leading receiver Marvelle Ross (57 catches, 890 yards) are explosive return men on the Falcons' special team units. Ross averages 28 yards on kickoff returns and has brought two back for touchdowns.

“They've blocked four or five punts, too,” Lutz said. “We're holding nothing back this week. Our best players will be on special teams. We're putting our best players on the field against that unit because they are so dangerous.”

Notre Dame quarterback Chris Brimm has thrown for 2,154 yards and 18 scores, but the Falcons have run the ball 252 more times than they've thrown it this year.

Notre Dame has 39 quarterback sacks and five players with at least 11.5 tackles for loss. Sha'haun Williams and Derrick Brumfield, at tackle and end, respectively, have 9.5 sacks each.

SRU has started the same five offensive linemen all 12 games in 2019: left tackle Chris Larsen, left guard Ryan Podgorski, right tackle Jack Tecak, center Austin Wayt and right guard Matt Carr.

“Those guys have been challenged before and they'll be challenged again this week,” Lutz said.

“We have an aggressive defense,” Jacobs said. “Williams is definitely the leader of that group.”

The Rock receivers continue to put up impressive numbers. Jermaine Wynn Jr. has 83 catches for 1,233 yards and 13 TDs, Henry Litwin 80 catches for 1,157 and 16 scores. Cinque Sweeting has 48 catches for 707 yards and nine TDs, Qaadir Dixon 30 catches for 394 yards and three scores.

Linebacker Brad Zaffram leads The Rock with 82 tackles, 18 for loss. Defensive end Chad Kuhn has 11.5 sacks and 15.5 TFL's.

“Their offense is so good, people forget about how good that defense is,” Jacobs said of SRU.

The Rock had allowed a 100-yard rusher in each of its last four games, however.

“Roland can use checkdowns to Snorweah or Wynn when defenses bring the heavy rush,” Lutz said. “He's been making good decisions that way.”

Both teams have solid place-kickers. Jake Chapla has booted 11 field goals for SRU while Tanner Harding has hit 16 for Notre Dame.

Both teams forced five turnovers in last week's playoff wins.

“Whichever team holds on to the ball will probably be the team that wins this game,” Lutz said.

SRU has advanced to the national semifinals only once, losing to Carson-Newman in 1998. Notre Dame lost to Valdosta State in last year's semifinal round.