SLIPPERY ROCK — The safety net is gone.

The pride is not.

Slippery Rock University's football team knows its mission when it travels to Saxon Stadium in Erie Saturday for a noon kickoff against Mercyhurst.

“We pretty much have to win every game now,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “We got beat last week. We have to own it.

“Now we can't show any mercy. We know that.”

The Rock's 48-21 home loss to Indiana (Pa.) dropped it from No. 6 in the nation to No. 17 on the NCAA Division II poll. SRU (6-1, 3-1) was one of seven of the top 10 nationally-ranked teams to lose last weekend.

Mercyhurst (2-5, 1-3) is coming off a 27-20 overtime win over Edinboro. The Lakers have been enduring offensive woes, however, having used three quarterbacks and battling injuries at the running back position.

Mercyhurst is averaging less than two yards per carry as a result.

“We've really been banged up at running back this year,” said longtimer Lakers' coach Marty Schaetzle, who is retiring at the end of the season. “We like to play physical and we like to run the football. That just hasn't developed for us.”

Dustin Shoaf is the Lakers' leading rusher with only 134 yards on 47 carries. Joe Carter, a senior, has settled in as the starting quarterback and threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns last week. He rushed for 76 yards and a score as well.

Wide receiver Cam Barmore (21 catches-308 yards) and tight end Jason Armstrong (26-266) have been the top receivers in Mercyhurst's offense.

Laker quarterbacks have been sacked a whopping 31 times this season.

“That's something we have to take advantage of,” Lutz said of his pass rush. “That quarterback was putting the ball on the money last week.

“Mercyhurst plays a fullback, uses the tight end and likes to be physical. I an see where they'll want to play ball control and limit our possessions.”

The Lakers are averaging only 13.1 points per game. Only Seton Hill (12.1) has scored fewer points in the PSAC.

Despite its rough outing against IUP, The Rock continues to be among the conference leaders at 41.3 points per game while giving up 16.1.

Mercyhurst's leading tackler is Seneca Valley graduate Jacob Holl. He has 58 stops and a forced fumble this year.

“Jacob's been around football a lot,” Schaetzle said. “His dad coached, his older brother played ... a lot of times, that sort of stuff doesn't translate on down. In his case, it does.”

Lutz said junior tackle Ayron Thompson and senior inside linebacker Thomas Zacharyasz “are their best athletes on defense.”

SRU's defense will be minus nose guard Jeff Marx for the remainder of the season. He is facing surgery on his foot.

“That's a significant loss for us,” Lutz said. “Jeff clogs up the middle. He's definitely one of our best players. It's always next man up, but we're gonna miss him.”

Running back Evyn Holtz — SRU's projected starter coming out of camp — will return to a regular role in the backfield with Tim Smith this week.

Quarterback Andrew Koester remains among the national leaders with 2,091 yards and 22 touchdowns passing. Henry Litwin (35-633) needs 27 catches and 400 yards receiving to snap Greg Hopkins' career Rock records in both of those categories.

“It's time to move Henry around a little bit and that's what we're gonna do,” Lutz said. “Leaving him on the outside, it's been too easy for teams to double him.

“We need to find ways to free him up, get him more involved in the offense again.”

Schaetzle said his team will have to “play physical and play fast” to stay in the game Saturday. SRU has an 8-4 record against Mercyhurst in the all-time series, including three straight wins at Saxon Stadium.

“Slippery Rock has more talent than we do, they are one of the most talented teams in the league,” Schaetzle said. “Their offense is explosive. Sometimes they score in just two or three plays.

“Shortening the game, using the clock would definitely be to our advantage.”

The Rock has been losing the time-of-possession battle in games this season, especually the past two weeks. IUP and Edinboro combined fior 71 minutes of possession time, compared to The Rock's 48 minutes.

SRU has won nine straight road games and is 19-4 in its last 23 road contests, dating back to the start of the 2017 season.