SLIPPERY ROCK — Repeat the past? George Mihalik would love it.

The Slippery Rock University football coach leads The Rock (4-3, 2-2) against Edinboro (6-1, 3-1) in the former's 2 p.m. homecoming game Saturday at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

Consider the following:

• SRUhas won 17 of 20 homecoming games under Mihalik.

• The Rock racked up 499 yards of total offense and 59 points in last year's win at Edinboro.

• SRUhad three running backs gain more than 100 yards rushing — Sayquan Scott-Mitchell with 179, Corey Manfull and Ryan Lehmeier 129 each — for the first time in school history in last week's 49-14 win at Clarion.

"To expect us to do that again isn't too likely,"Mihalik admitted. "But we have to be able to run the football Saturday. Our passing game isn't at the point where it's going to carry us through a football game."

The Fighting Scots are allowing only 11.2 points and 103.9 yards rushing per game, ranking second in the PSACin both categories.

Their lone loss is a 35-31 decision to unbeaten California (Pa.). No other team has scored more than 17 points against Edinboro this season.

"We haven't given up the big play, we've done a better job of stopping the run and we've come up with some turnovers,"said third-year Edinboro coach Scott Browning. "When your defense is doing those three things, you're going to win football games."

The Scots also are the last team to spoil a Rock homecoming, hanging a 38-26 loss on SRUin the 2004 game.

Slippery Rock's injured players are healing this week, however, as cornerback-return man Anthony Walls and running back Damarcus Cleckley are expected to return, while tackle Brian Henion figures to see more playing time.

"At this point, we're a dangerous football team,"Mihalik said. "We've played much better the last two weeks than we did in the previous four.

"We're playing the 15th-ranked team in the country and our guys can't wait for this game. We're anxious to prove we can compete favorably with a nationally ranked team."

To compete with Edinboro, SRUmust find a way to contain junior quarterback Trevor Harris, who already owns the Scots' career records in passing yardage, touchdown passes and total offense.

Harris has completed 130 of 198 passes for 1,725 yards, 15 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He has been sacked only eight times.

Seven Edinboro players have caught 10 or more passes. Six of them have caught touchdown passes.

"Trevor's been doing a great job, but he's had plenty of help,"Browning said. "The receivers are catching the ball, he's being protected and we've got an effective running game now."

Houston Brown has rushed for 446 yards, and Ulysee Davis has 348.

Knoch graduate Josh Bzorek (6-feet-4, 305 pounds), a fourth-year starter, is playing right guard this season for the Scots after making 29 of his first 30 collegiate starts at left tackle.

"He's been a great player and he's healthy this year,"Browning said. "He had a lot of nagging injuries last year."

Mihalik said the pressure will be on his defense to limit Edinboro's offensive production. Harris threw for 375 yards against The Rock last year, but was intercepted four times.

"You can't stop an offense like that, but we have to contain it to some degree,"Mihalik said. "We have to give ourselves a chance.

"I love Rock homecomings. Maybe they're a little more special to me since I'm an alum, but we always seem to play well on this day."