ERIE — Erie has been an eerie place.

Slippery Rock University’s football team has dropped its last five games there — three at Mercyhurst, two at Gannon — since those teams joined the PSAC West in 2008.

SRU (2-0) visits Gannon (1-1) for a mutual PSAC West opener at noon Saturday. The last time The Rock was there, an early 17-0 lead ended in a 33-27 loss in 2011 that ultimately cost the team a playoff spot.

“I won’t even let our guys talk about those games,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “That’s in the past. They’re history.

“And maybe this year’s team will change history.”

If so, The Rock will have to find a way to contain a Gannon offense that’s been every bit as potent as its own.

SRU quarterback Nogel Barksdale has thrown for 769 yards and 10 touchdowns through two games. Gannon quarterback Liam Nadler has thrown for 769 yards and seven TDs.

“We know how productive Nigel has been — and Nadler is right there with him,” Mihalik said.

Barksdale is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior. Nadler is a 6-7, 240-pound sophomore.

“Our offenses are very similar in what we try to do,” Gannon coach Brad Rzyczycki said. “But the guys at the controls are radically different.”

Barksdale and Nadler are both among the top 10 in all of NCAA Division II in total offense.

The Golden Knights are coming off a 56-41 loss to West Chester. They opened the year by edging Lake Erie, 36-33. The Rock owns wins of 51-36 over Northwood (Mich.) and 58-38 over Shippensburg.

SRU ranks third in the nation with 594 yards of offense per game and will face a Gannon defense that starts as many as seven freshmen.

“We’re trying to gradually build a program here and our offense is ahead of our defense right now,” Rzyczycki said. “But our young kids have talent. They’re just learning at this point.

“I believe in those guys. In many cases, those freshmen beat out upperclassmen for their positions in preseason camp. It’s gonna come.”

Jansen Jones leads the Gannon rushing attack with 309 yards. The Golden Knights have four quality receivers in Quad Law (16 catches-233 yards), Abraham Ocasio (12-205), Justin Caliste (13-143) and Jesstin Hamm (9-106).

“Their receivers are athletic and have speed,” Mihalik said.”You just hold your breath when they get the ball in their hands.

“Gannon is good. Their skilled people are as strong as anybody in the conference. They are contenders, so this is a big game right off the bat. Nobody wants to be 0-1 and at the bottom of the standings come Monday.”

SRU has already had 11 different players catch passes, including 10 last week. John Schademan has 11 receptions for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Punter James McCombie leads the nation with a 48.8-yard average.

“He hit a lot of line drives last week and the return man had room,” Mihalik said. “James needs to get height on his kicks. If he hits the line drives this week, we’re in trouble.”

Rzyczycki described his players as “resilient” and likes how they are progressing.

“A win Saturday would do wonders for our program,” he admitted. “But Slippery Rock is a very sound team offensively and defensively. We feel like we’re ready to take a step and we’ll see if we can make it happen.”

Seneca Valley graduate Will Hugo is a backup senior placekicker for the Golden Knights while Butler graduate and wide receiver Jake Olenick is being redshirted his freshman year.

Gannon leads the series between the teams, 5-3. SRU’s 38-18 win last year snapped a three-game losing streak against the Golden Knights.