SLIPPERY ROCK — Much has changed sinced the last time Slippery Rock University and Seton Hill met in a football game.

The Griffins scored a 27-20 victory over The Rock in their mutual 2008 season opener at Offutt Field. That loss was only SRU's fourth in 26 games under coach George Mihalik against WVIAC opponents.

Seton Hill went on to a 10-3 season that landed it in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Since then? Disaster.

The Griffins are 3-19 in their past two seasons — 2-9 last year — as they prepare to host The Rock at 3 p.m. Saturday at Offutt Field.

“We know the areas we've struggled in and we've tried to address those areas,” fourth-year Seton Hill coach Joel Dolinsky said.

One such area is defense. The Griffins allowed 37.4 points per game last year, including 82 to West Liberty in their final contest. Eight starters return from that defensive unit.

They are being coached by a new defensive coordinator, Pat Stewart, former head coach at Western State College in Colorado.

“That means any film we have on them from last year is no good,” Mihalik said. “We have no idea what kind of formations they're going to throw at us and that makes me nervous.

“My biggest concern going into this opener is how our offensive line will perform and how our offense in general adjusts to whatever they (Griffins) do defensively.”

Two potential starters in an already retooled Rock offensive line — Jesse Klesser (back) and Sean Kincaid (knee) — are out of action for the first few games.

SRU will begin Saturday's game with Austin Fedell shifted to center, A.J. Hopp and Dan Perz at tackle, redshirt freshman Kirk Nypaver and redshirt sophomore Mitchell Kudlawiec at guard.

Cody Endres, a transfer from the University of Connecticut, will make his debut at quarterback for The Rock.

“He's got the strongest arm of any quarterback we've ever had here,” Mihalik said. “Defenses will have to honor our passing attack this year.

“If a team stacks the line and dares us to throw the ball, we're gonna take them up on it.”

Akeem Satterfield and his 1,352 yards rushing return for The Rock, but SRU will also use up to seven different wide receivers Saturday: Devin Goda, John Schademan, Ken Amos, Geron James, Kevin Sanders, Mike Bongivengo and Demetrius Young.

Seton Hill does have one standout defensively in senior linebacker Nick McGahagan, who had 97 tackles and ranked third in all of Division II with 27 tackles for loss in 2010.

“Nick is the most relentless defender I've ever been around,” Dolinsky said. “He plays with great passion and is definitely a disruptive player for the other team.”

So, too, is third-year starting quarterback D.J. Lenehan, a transfer from Toledo who threw for 2,216 yards and 16 TDs last year. He was intercepted 18 times, however.

“Sometimes, D.J.'s competitive juices get the best of him and he tries to do too much,” Dolinsky said. “But he's got plenty of targets to deliver the ball to.”

Among them are receivers Jeorge Valdovinos (45 catches-535 yards last year) and Tyler McIntosh (33-369), along with all-conference tight end Zach Delo (27-311).

Lenehan threw for 304 yards against national semifinalist Shepherd last year. Running back R.J. Butler, who ran for 813 yards and 11 TDs, also returns for the Griffins.

“I'm looking forward to the matchup between our experienced secondary and their passing game,” Mihalik said. “Their guys can definitely light it up, but Andre Freeman may be the best cornerback in our conference.”

Defensive lineman Ahman Milot has been dismissed from The Rock football squad for violation of team rules. That forced a reshuffling of defensive linemen that will likely give Slippery Rock High graduate Tony Papley more playing time.

“Tony can play inside or outside. He gives us versatility that way,” Mihalik said.

Slippery Rock Universityfootball coach George Mihalikis 22-4 in his career againstWVIAC-member opponents:Year Opp. Score1990 Fairmont St. 12-231991 Fairmont St. 32-71992 W.CVa. Wesleyan 45-71992 Fairmont St. 24-01993 W.Va. Wesleyan 10-61993 Fairmont St. 42-61994 W.Va. Wesleyan 27-191995 W.Va. Wesleyan 16-201996 W.Va. Wesleyan 26-241996 Fairmont St. 34-211997 W.Va. Wesleyan 41-311997 Fairmont St. 42-141998 W.Va. Wesleyan 28-141998 Fairmont St. 52-71998 Shepherd 31-201999 W.Va. Wesleyan 38-32000 W.Va. Wesleyan 61-212000 Fairmont St. 40-32002 Fairmont St. 45-02003 Fairmont St. 35-142004 Shepherd 30-272004 Fairmont St. 49-142005 Shepherd 7-242007 Seton Hill 51-242008 Seton Hill 20-27