Mihalik

SLIPPERY ROCK — Like an old-style western, the showdown is at high noon.

Slippery Rock University takes on Mercyhurst at that time on Saturday at Tullio Field in Erie in a football game critical to the NCAA playoff hopes of both teams.

Both teams are 6-2 overall, with the host Lakers controlling their own destiny in the PSAC West title race with a 4-1 mark. SRU is 3-2 in league play.

"Our program's never been in position to talk about the playoffs before and we're not thinking about them now," Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle said. "This is one of the 11 games we're guaranteed to play, and that's how we're looking at it."

But it's a big one.

"It won't be impossible for the losing team to make the playoffs, but it's shaping up like that team will be on the outside looking in," SRU coach George Mihalik said.

The teams have met only twice before. Mercyhurst hung a 34-10 loss on The Rock two years ago at Tullio Field. SRU nipped the Lakers, 17-16, in The Rock's homecoming game in 2009.

Before upsetting third-ranked California (Pa.) 31-21 last week, the Lakers survived a pair of one-point decisions: 22-21 over Edinboro in overtime and 28-27 over Indiana (Pa.).

Since Travis Rearick replaced the injured Garrett Kensy at quarterback three weeks ago, Mercyhurst hasn't lost.

Rearick has thrown for 787 yards and nine touchdowns in those games, including a 299-yard, four-TD performance against California that netted him PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week honors.

It also netted Mercyhurst a No. 24 ranking in NCAA Division II, the first national ranking in the program's 30-year history.

"Since Rearick's been in there, they've been throwing the ball a lot more," Mihalik noted. "And they've got two great receivers."

Trevor Kennedy has 41 catches for 537 yards and seven TDs, and Terrance Coon has 30 catches for 362 yards and three scores. Kennedy also leads the PSAC in punt return average at 20.4 yards per return. SRU's Robert Doiley is second at 15.6.

Both have returned punts of more than 70 yards for touchdowns.

Both teams have running backs looking to reach the 1,000-yard mark. SRU's Akeem Satterfield has 901 yards while Mercyhurst's Gerald Anderson has 866.

Mercyhurst has an impact defense that leads the PSAC with 17 interceptions and 25 sacks. SRU quarterbacks have been sacked only nine times.

"One of our bigger strengths is takeaways," Schaetzle said. "Stops are stops. Forcing a punt is a stop, but takeaways add field position."

The Rock is dealing with a few injuries this week that have left it thin at linebacker and in the secondary. The injuries will affect special teams as well.

"If we plug in new guys on special teams, there's inexperience. If we use veteran guys, there's the fatigue factor," Mihalik said. "That's a tough situation against the best return man in the league, but that's where it's at."

SRU receivers Devin Goda (leg) and Geron James (hamstring) are expected to return this week from injuries. Neither played against Lock Haven last week.

Goda leads SRU with 46 catches for 519 yards.