SLIPPERY ROCK— Somebody's landmark football season will be rudely interrupted Saturday at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

Slippery Rock University (7-1, 2-1) hosts California (Pa.) (8-0, 4-0) for a 1 p.m. kickoff in a battle of nationally ranked teams enjoying their best seasons in years.

The visiting Vulcans have not been 8-0 since 1946 and will tie their school record for wins in a campaign if they are victorious Saturday. California is ranked No. 6 and No. 8 in two each of the four Division IIpolls.

SRU is 7-1 for the first time since 1999 and has scored 293 points, well ahead of the pace set by the 1998 squad that scored a school-record 431 points in 14 games. The Rock is ranked 15th by the Football Gazette, 20th by CollegeSportsReport.com and 24th by the American Football Coaches Association.

"We're excited about this challenge,"SRU coach George Mihalik said. "California is ranked No. 1 in the region. A win over them would be instant credibility for us."

While the Vulcans lead the Division IINortheast Regional poll, The Rock is ranked seventh, dropping two spots despite last week's 38-34 victory at Shippensburg.

The top six ranked teams in the region at the end of the regular season advance to the Division IIplayoffs. SRUhasn't been to the playoffs since 1999. California has never been there.

"I think both teams should go no matter who wins this game, if neither loses again," California coach John Luckhardt said. "The (PSAC) West Division is as strong as it gets.

"Take one team from the south (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), one from the north (Northeast 10), West Chester, (Indiana [Pa.]), Slippery Rock and us. That's how I see it."

Glenville State is second to Shepherd in the WVIAC and California owns a 34-13 victory over Glenville.

No opponent has come closer than 18 points against the Vulcans all year. California defeated Bloomsburg 31-13 in Week 3 and Edinboro 26-8 last week. It has outscored the competition 295-52, winning games by an average margin of 37-6.5.

"Do they have any weaknesses?None whatsoever,"Mihalik said. "They lead the country in scoring defense and least yards allowed rushing. They run and throw well. Their kicking game is outstanding.

"We have to play a complete game, start to finish, in all three phases of the game to win. I'm still waiting for us to put together a game like that. Hopefully, this will be the week."

California has allowed a microscopic 33 yards rushing per game this season. The Vulcans also lead the PSAC with 132.9 yards passing allowed.

"We haven't faced a running game like theirs,"Luckhardt said. "Slippery Rock has three quality backs and a great line."

"Nobody's run on them, but we have to try it before we admit we can't,"Mihalik said. "When you become one-dimensional against that defense, that's when you're in trouble."

California leads the PSACwith 36 sacks and 70 tackles for loss. Darren Burns and Gary Butler top the conference with seven sacks each.

"They're not a big blitzing team — they don't have to be,"Mihalik said. "They have athletic linebackers and their secondary reacts quickly to what's happening. It's impressive how fast they get to the football."

The Vulcans also lead the PSACwith a plus 12 in turnover-takeaway margin.

"They don't hurt themselves,"Mihalik said. "Field position will be the key to this game. If you have to drive a long field, your chances of scoring won't be good on Saturday."

SRU's Corey Manfull and Cal's Brandon Lombardy rank No. 2 and 3 in the league in rushing. Lombardy has 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. Manfull returned to the SRUlineup last week and rushed for 80 yards after missing two games with a shoulder injury.

Joe Ruggiero is a veteran quarterback who has thrown for 1,187 yards and 13 touchdowns for California. Nate Forse has 34 catches for 462 yards and seven TDs.

SRU expects to get all-conference defensive end Cory Lacek, absent the past few weeks with a nagging groin injury, back this week.

"This should be a fantastic atmosphere,"Luckhardt said. "It's like playing a playoff game in the middle of the season."