SLIPPERY ROCK — Faced with the prospect of taking on one of the nation’s most productive offenses Saturday while starting a freshman quarterback himself, Clarion football coach Jay Foster is considering another option.

“I’m thinking of calling in sick that day,” Foster said.

The Golden Eagles (3-3, 1-2) travel to Slippery Rock (5-1, 2-1) for a 2 p.m. homecoming kickoff at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

SRU is 21-4 on homecoming under 26th-year head coach George Mihalik.

“We love Rock homecomings,” Mihalik said.

The Rock’s fast-paced offense loves going up against just about anybody these days.

SRU ranks second in all of NCAA Division II at 399.5 passing yards per game, third at 583.8 total yards per game and fifth at 49 points per game.

The team is coming off a 42-16 win over then unbeaten and seventh-ranked Indiana (Pa.), rolling up 676 yards of offense. No IUP team had ever allowed that much yardage.

“Phil (offensive coordinator Longo) has created a monster down there,” Foster said. “The most impressive part to me is their offensive line. Those guys keep sprinting up to the line, ready to go.

“It’s difficult preparing a defense to maintain that pace.”

After a quick 3-0 start, Clarion has fallen upon hard times of late. The Golden Eagles are coming off losses to Gannon (45-25), East Stroudsburg (48-28) and California, Pa. (35-7) in the past three weeks.

Fourth-year starting quarterback Ben Fiscus tore his ACL in Week 2’s 30-13 win over Lock Haven and is out for the season. Freshman Darelle Carson has thrown for 763 yards and three touchdowns, run for 234 yards and five TDs in his wake.

By comparison, Rock quarterback Nigel Barksdale has thrown for 2,190 yards and 20 TDs.

“Ben was a preseason All-American, a two-year captain and four-year starter for us,” Foster said. “When you lose a leader like that on offense, it takes a toll. It takes all other phases of your football team to get better to make up for it.”

Mihalik said Fiscus was primed for a strong senior year.

“He kept getting better and better,” the SRU coach said. “I know he’s hurt us. Going from experience like Fiscus had to a freshman with little to no experrience ... That’s going to make a difference.”

Winner of Saturday’s game receives the traveling milk jug. The jug is in its fourth year of existence and has been won by The Rock each time, by scores of 16-13, 27-13 and 28-20 last year.

SRU has won eight of the last nine meetings between the teams, Clarion winning a 27-10 decision at Slippery Rock in 2009.

“The milk jug is on display in our football office and this senior class doesn’t want to be the one to give it up,” Mihalik said.

The Rock coach has been lauding the play of his defensive front four — Kevin Kulka, Derek Walker, Tony Papley and Mike Peacock — of late.

“They were the key to us stopping IUP’s ground game,” Mihalik said. “They freed our linebackers up to make plays. There’s a few games left yet, but, collectively, that front four is playing as well as any we’ve had right now.”

Papley, a Slippery Rock High graduate, shares the team lead of 7.5 tackles for loss with safety and Mars graduate Austin Miele. Miele leads the team with 42 tackles.

Clarion’s defensive front is strong as well, led by defensive end Julian Howsare’s 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

“Howsare is one of the best defensive linemen in the conference and their front four as a unit is as good as we’ve faced,” Mihalik said.

Foster is counting on his defense to keep his team in the game.

“We’ve got a few things we’re gonna try to slow them down with,” Foster said. “I just don’t know if they’re going to work.

“Darelle’s done well at times, but he’s a freshman. And at times, he’s going to play like a freshman.”

Notes: Foster was defensive coordinator under Mihalik for 17 years before taking over at Clarion. He is 26-57 in eight seasons with the Golden Eagles. ... SRU owns a 49-23-3 record in the all-time series with Clarion. ... Rock receiver John Schademan shares the Division II lead with 10 touchdown receptions. ...SRU’s James McCombie continues to lead the nation with a 46.2-yard punting average. He’s had 28 punts sail 50 yards or longer. ... Mark Nicholas leads Clarion with 15 catches for 280 yards. SRU has three receivers — Schademan, Jaimire Dutrieuille and Ken Amos — with 25 or more catches for more than 400 yards.