Good news: Slippery Rock University is opening its football season at home for the first time since 1992.

Bad news: The opponent is Bloomsburg.

The Huskies have defeated The Rock in their last six meetings, including each of the past four years. Four of those six wins have been by a margin of seven points or less.

"We have to find a way to beat these guys," SRU coach George Mihalik said.

That might be easier said than done. Bloomsburg, which invades N. Kerr Thompson Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, is favored to win the PSAC East for a fifth consecutive year.

"It's nice to see," Bloomsburg coach Danny Hale said of the PSAC preseason coaches poll. "But those predictions are based on recent history. Nobody ever hands you anything."

For the first time in five years, Hale has his starting quarterback for a second straight season, however. Jack Lydic threw for 1,821 yards and 22 touchdowns a year ago.

One of Lydic's favorite receivers, Steve Burke, returns as well. He had 23 catches for 415 yards and 11 TDs last year.

Add in running back Mike Ceroli, who rushed for 1,034 yards and 11 TDs, and the Huskies appear to be balanced on offense.

"We grew as an offense as the season went along last year," Hale said. "Hopefully, we'll get started a little earlier this season."

By comparison, The Rock returns starting tailback Josh Kniess, but SRU has a new quarterback in redshirt freshman and Georgia Southern transfer Nate Crookshank. Butler graduate Matt Tack returns at receiver and will be joined by Luke Wetzel and Lamar Jackson.

Brandon Richardson has shifted from tight end to H-Back, with Seneca Valley graduate Steve Fullerton inheriting the vacated tight end spot.

"They have the edge on us experience-wise at the skilled positions," Mihalik said. "But we have some guys who can make plays and they'll have to make plays."

Freshman Corey Manfull has shifted from receiver to running back and will see time behind Kniess.

SRU will have a young secondary with freshman James Rockymore joining sophomore Aaron Berarducci at corner. Willie Murel, another freshman, will see action as well.

Bloomsburg did graduate its top two tacklers at inside linebacker last year, but the Huskies return seven starters defensively to go with nine returnees offensively.

Three of the Huskies' top four returning tacklers - Joe Scritchfield, Jason Sheldon and Chris Kelly - start in the secondary.

"Our secondary is solid, but you don't want your leading tacklers to be back there," Hale said. "This year's defense has no individual stars, but should be a very solid unit."

The Rock might have an edge in the kicking game. Bloomsburg returns senior kicker Tim Oliver and junior Garrett Bloom, but both struggled last year.

Ray Rotell returns as SRU's punter and Ryan Daniel takes over the placekicking duties.

"Both have very strong legs and are capable of big things," Mihalik said.

Kniess will return punts for The Rock while young speedsters Paul Favers, Rockymore and Murel will return kickoffs.

"Slippery Rock will be loaded for bear," Hale said. "It's always a physical game when you play them. They have a lot of new faces and we have no game films to go on.

"Game-day adjustments are always critical in opening games. They will be especially critical in this game."

Mihalik agreed.

"You have all spring and summer to put your package in," he said. "Come game time, you have to adjust to your opponent.

"We have a good idea of what Coach Hale and Bloomsburg like to do, but things can always change."

Notes:

Mihalik is 4-0 in season openers at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium. In The Rock's last season opener at home, it defeated West Virginia Wesleyan 45-7 in 1992. … Hale ranks 11th among active Division II coaches with 128 wins. Mihalik ranks 16th with 111. … Bloomsburg returns 16 starters and 55 lettermen while SRU returns 15 starters and 28 lettermen.