Something is missing from this weekend's local sports scene that should be here.

ASlippery Rock University football playoff game.

Despite a 9-2 record and scoring 59 points at Edinboro last weekend, SRUwas left on the outside looking in by the time the NCAADivision IIplayoff committee finished selecting its six representatives from the Northeast Region.

Does The Rock have a right to feel robbed?

Maybe.

SRUdid finish with a better record than Southern Connecticut State, which entered the playoffs at 8-3, and Indiana (Pa.), which finished 8-2 and held on to the sixth and final playoff position despite losing its regular season finale at Bloomsburg.

Seems funny that SRUlost its regular season finale to Bloomsburg in 2000 and dropped from first to fifth and out of the playoffs.

But before the SRUfootball program protests too much, truth be known, it had golden opportunities to take care of its own business this year, and it didn't.

The Rock had its chief competition for the PSACWest title this year — IUPand California (Pa.) — at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium. In both cases, it fell behind by two touchdowns early.

IUPhad a 21-7 lead and California had a 12-0 lead on The Rock at the end of the first quarter of those games.

From that point on, SRUhad the better of the play against both teams. But spotting an early deficit to top-level opponents is difficult to overcome.

In both games, SRUhad chances to make plays late that could have secured victory.

With the IUPgame tied at 31, The Rock faced a fourth-and-1 just across midfield with 4:27 remaining. A first down would have enabled SRUto control the clock and the ball so it could move in for a game-winning field goal.

The blocking sealed off the outside, but running back Damarcus Cleckley and quarterback Nate Crookshank bumped into each other during the handoff and Cleckley was dropped for a loss.

IUPdrove 46 yards in 10 plays for the winning field goal.

Opportunity lost.

SRUtrailed California 15-13 and was looking for a game-tying two-point conversion. Tight end Frank Cremonese was open in the end zone as planned, but Crookshank was pressured and had to throw the ball too early.

California then converted a third-and-2 into a game-clinching 39-yard touchdown pass as a Rock defender missed a tackle.

Opportunity lost again.

Neither IUPnor California allowed much yardage on the ground all season — except to Slippery Rock.

Averaging 51 rushing yards allowed at the time, IUPgave up 202 yards to The Rock. California led the nation by allowing 33 rushing yards per game and gave up 209 to SRU.

When it comes to the playoffs, Slippery Rock showed that it belonged there.

But, ultimately, failure to convert on a couple of season-altering plays kept The Rock from getting there.