Win or lose Saturday, Slippery Rock University will not make the Division II playoffs.

Win or lose, it won't win the PSAC West title.

Even so, The Rock's final football game of the season at Clarion still holds significance.

"You always want to win your last game," SRU coach George Mihalik said. "This is about not having a losing season. You want to end the year with a good taste in your mouth because it'll be a long time before we play again."

Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Clarion's Memorial Stadium. The Rock (4-5, 3-2) would finish tied for third in the PSAC West with a win and would avoid its first winless season on the road since 1981.

The Golden Eagles (3-6, 1-4) have scored only 26 total points in their last five games and were shut out in three of them. Clarion has suffered 14 season-ending injuries, including eight starters.

"I've never gone through a season like this one," Clarion coach Malen Luke said.

Clarion became so thin at receiver that quarterback Brandon Dando was moved to that position recently. Dando has eight catches for 83 yards.

Sophomore Erik Yonish is the new quarterback and has completed 60 of 129 passes for 590 yards and a touchdown.

"Those are our two best athletes offensively and this puts them both on the field," Luke said.

"Yonish gives them a threat running the option, too," Mihalik said.

Among Clarion's injured are tight end Dan Tucker, all-conference guard candidate Eric Deliere, top running back Marcus Lowe, top receiver Joe Farkas and free safety Bo Busch.

Busch was a third-team Division II All-American last season who led the PSAC with 119 tackles.

Clarion is a minus 14 in turnover-takeaway margin this year. Kicker Kyle Snoke has converted only one of 11 field goal attempts on the campaign.

"He's been in a funk," Luke said. "Our snaps and holds have been fine — he's barely missing them, literally by inches. His parents even took him to a sports psychologist.

"It's just been that kind of year for us."

Clarion ranks only 12th in the PSAC in total offense (242.2 yards per game) and total defense (398.9).

Still, the Golden Eagles are 3-1 at home, having defeated Kutztown 29-23 in a PSAC record four overtimes, Mansfield 15-12 and Lock Haven 16-0 at Memorial Stadium.

"Our kids have been playing as hard as they can. There just isn't enough lead in their pencils," Luke said.

Linebacker Matt Morris leads the Eagles with 91 tackles and 17 tackles for loss. Senior inside linebacker Zach Gourley has 70 tackles.

"Coach Luke's son (Brock) is another strong linebacker for them," Mihalik said. "Their linebacking corps is the strength of their team."

SRU senior running back Josh Kniess enters this game needing just three yards rushing to record his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. He needs 117 all-purpose yards to reach 5,000 for his career.

Sophomore running back Corey Manfull sustained a serious concussion last week against Shippensburg and won't play in the season finale. He is expected to return next season.

Quarterback Nate Crookshank has thrown for 1,424 yards and seven TDs, but has 12 interceptions. He has rushed for 290 yards and two scores. Colin Golden has 41 catches for 453 yards from his H-back position.

"That's the position in our offense that catches the most passes," Mihalik said. "It usually takes a year for a player to grow into that spot and Colin's been very productive there."

SRU's defense is ranked fifth in the PSAC at 320.2 yards allowed per game. It's allowing just 129.7 passing yards per game, ranking first in the league with that statistic.

End Cory Lacek has 17 tackles for loss and nine quarterback sacks while tackle Clinton Forsha has 12 tackles for loss.

"One thing that's constant about Slippery Rock: You better come with your chinstrap buckled, ready to play, or you're going to get your head knocked off," Luke said.

SRU holds a 37-23-3 edge in the all-time series between the teams, which dates back to 1928.