There is something eerie about Erie — at least where Slippery Rock University football is concerned.

The Rock (2-1, 1-0) is 0-4 in Erie since Mercyhurst and Gannon joined the PSAC West in 2008. Included in that stretch are losses off 34-10 and 21-13 to the Lakers at Tullio Field.

SRU ventures back to that facility for a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday against Mercyhurst (2-1, 1-0) as both teams will battle to remain unbeaten in PSAC West play.

‘This might be our most physical game of the season,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “Our training room will be busy on Sunday.”

Mercyhurst is averaging 245 yards rushing per game in the early season while SRU is allowing only 88 yards per game on the ground. Redshirt freshman Brandon Brown-Dukes has 409 yards and four touchdowns on the ground on just 49 carries. Allen Jones II has 39 carries for 256 yards and a touchdown.

“Those two guys have been splitting time and both are doing good things,” Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle said. “Jones is more experienced. Our ground game has looked good the past couple of weeks.”

Lakers quarterback Anthony Vendemia has completed 29 of 61 passes for 490 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Gannon threw more passes against The Rock last week — 63 — more than Mercyhurst has thrown through three games.

“There’s no secret they want to run the football, but Vendemia threw for over 200 yards against us last year, so we know he can throw it,” Mihalik said. “Brown-Dukes averages 8.3 yards per carry and Jones is at 6.6 ... That’s not too shabby.

“Vendemia is the type of quarterback you have to contain in the pocket. If you let him get out on the edges, that’s when he gets dangerous.”

The Lakers’ kick return game is led by Paris Bruner, who leads the nation in kickoff return average at 52.5 and has an 86-yard touchdown on a return this year.

“He’s a breakaway threat who can make special plays with his feet,” Schaetzle allowed.

Mihalik said wind conditiions at Tullio Field will help dictate how his kicking unit will defend against Bruner.

“It’s always windy there. We’ll see how it goes. If the wind is at our back, we may just try to kick it into the end zone,” Mihalik said.

Rock quarterback Jared Buck has completed 38 of 57 passes for 439 yards and six TDs. He has hooked up with 12 different receivers already, led by John Schademan’s 10 catches for 171 yards and three scores.

Akeem Satterfield has rushed for 271 yards, but only 21 yards on 10 carries last week.

“We have to get our running game going to take some of the pressure off Jared,” Mihalik said. “Mercyhurst will come at us with all kinds of blitzes and stunts.

“They are a physical, athletic, disciplined football team and that defense will hit you.”

The Laker defense has only three takeaways this far in 2012. SRU is tied for the national lead with eight interceptions. Anthony Saunders has returned two for touchdowns this year and Isaiah Coleman had two picks last week in being named PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week.

“We’ve had opportunities defensively, but we’ve dropped several interceptions,” Schaetzle said. “If we hold on to half of them, we probably have four more picks.

“Slippery Rock has good balance offensively and defensively, they’re always tough and physical. We know this is going to be a physical football game.”

One thing The Rock doesn’t want to do is fall behind by a couple of scores.

“No. 1, they can use the clock with their power running game in that situation,” Mihalik said. “No. 2, their defense can be more aggressive in getting after our quarterback.

“Our offense needs to come out of the gate and start strong. That’s been a problem and we can’t put a finger on why. But we can’t afford a slow start this week.”