SLIPPERY ROCK — When it comes to winning the PSACWest football championship, California (Pa.) University coach John Luckhardt says you can't have a hiccup.

Slippery Rock University is trying to prove him wrong.

The Rock (4-2, 1-1) hiccuped last week, suffering five turnovers in a 28-21 home loss to Shippensburg. Now SRUis headed to Cal's Adamson Stadium for a 3 p.m. kickoff Saturday against the Vulcans (4-2, 2-0).

"There's no rest for the weary in this league,"Luckhardt said. "You can't have a hiccup. You have to come ready to play each week.

"There are five teams on the western side that could win this thing."

California and Slippery Rock are certainly two of them. Both teams have put together versatile passing attacks to go with solid running games.

The Vulcans return 10 starters on both sides of the ball from the 2005 team that won the program's first PSACWest title in 21 years and led the nation in takeaway-turnover margin.

The lone offensive starter California lost from last season is 1,588-yard rusher Antoine Bagwell, who went on to a free agent tryout with the St. Louis Rams and is preparing to play in the NFLEurope league.

Bagwell has been replaced by Brandon Lombardy, who has rushed for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns.

"Brandon's got good speed, he just doesn't have the acceleration Antoine has,"Luckhardt said. "But he ran for a 95-yard touchdown against East Stroudsburg that was called back and scored on an 80-yard run against Lock Haven."

SRUcoach George Mihalik described Lombardy as a "strong, physical runner."

And he described California as a strong team from top to bottom.

"They rank among the top two in the conference in numerous categories,"Mihalik said.

The Vulcans lead the PSACin rushing defense, allowing but 63.7 yards per game on the ground. They are second in the league in points allowed at 14.8 per game.

California allowed Edinboro only 37 yards rushing in shutting out the Fighting Scots, 10-0, last week, handing Edinboro its first shutout loss in six years.

Both teams appear to have a distinct edge in one category entering this game. The Rock is next to last in the PSACin turnover-takeaway margin at minus 8. California is a plus-four in that category and has not allowed quarterback Joe Ruggiero to be sacked all season.

"We've been giving the ball away far too much," Mihalik said. "You can't win close football games doing that, and we anticipate this being a close football game."

The Rock has suffered 19 turnovers compared to California's nine.

SRUdefensive end Cory Lacek leads the PSACwith 18 tackles for loss and 6Z\x sacks.

"Applying pressure is the strength of their defense,"Luckhardt said. "We need to keep them off-balance to counter that. Our offense has been balanced all year, and that's kept defenses from just teeing off on our quarterback."

While Lombardy ranks second in the conference in rushing, Ruggiero has completed 95 of 139 passes for 996 yards, eight touchdowns and only three interceptions. Marc Huddleston has 32 catches for 320 yards, Nate Forse has 27 for 370 and Brandon Jackson has 17 for 237.

Similarly, SRUquarterback Nate Crookshank has thrown for 1,251 yards and 12 TDs with Colin Golden having 32 catches for 283 yards, Luke Wetzel 24 for 468 and Paul Favers 16 for 287.

The difference is in the pass defense. SRUranks first in the league at 135.7 yards passing allowed per game, California 13th at 229.3.

Saturday's game is homecoming for the Vulcans, who have won six consecutive PSACWest games and eight straight games at Adamson Stadium. Their last PSACWest loss was 28-21 at SRUlast season.

"We enjoy playing on homecomings, whether it's ours or someone else's,"Mihalik said. "We have a good record on those days."

California won eight games last year for the first time since 1984. The Vulcans entered this season raked No. 24 in NCAADivision II, the first preseason Top 25 ranking in the program's history.

"Our expectations are a lot higher this year,"Luckhardt said. "We snuck up on some people last year. We won't be sneaking up on anybody this year, including Slippery Rock."

Slippery Rock University leads its all-time series with California (Pa.), 42-26-3, dating back to 1905. The Rock is 15-3 vs. the Vulcans under coach George Mihalik:<b>Year......SRU......Cal</b>2005......28......212004......31......342003......19......222002......41......162001......37......272000......38......201999......31......211998......24......31997......27......61996......55......281995......42......141994......37......331993......40......301992......23......151991......20......31990......35......311989......13......201988......21......20