SLIPPERY ROCK — The PSAC West title remains in sight for the Slippery Rock University football team.

So does another tight tussle with Edinboro.

The Rock (6-1, 3-1) — tied with Gannon and California (Pa.) for first place in the West Division — travels to Sox Harrison Stadium for a noon Saturday kickoff against the Fighting Scots (4-3, 2-2). Edinboro is coming off a 36-30 upset win at Indiana (Pa.).

Three of the last four games between SRU and Edinboro have come down to the final seconds. The Rock won a 38-31 decision in overtime at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium last year.

SRU edged the Scots, 24-23, on the road in 2011. The Rock ventured to Edinboro in 2009 and dropped a 28-24 verdict.

“This is going to be a good football game,” Rock coach George Mihalik said. “Edinboro has a lot of confidence and momentum right now and they have the best secondary we’ve seen this year.”

One of the Scots’ cornerbacks, Devin Ghafoor, earned PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors for blocking a punt, intercepting two passes and recording five tackles against IUP.

Overall, the Scots have 16 quarterback sacks and 16 takeaways through seven games.

“They’ve always had an aggressive, physical defense,” Mihalik said. “And they love to throw the ball down the field.”

Edinboro remains aggressive with its passing game despite the loss of senior quarterback and fourth-year starter Cody Harris to a season-ending knee injury. Harris had completed 61 of 79 passes for 666 yards and eight touchdowns in the Scots’ first two games this year before getting hurt.

Red-shirt freshman Jon Girvin, 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, has completed 64 of 141 passes for 816 yards and five touchdowns while replacing Harris.

“Once Cody went down, it was like we were starting over,” Edinboro coach Scott Browning said. “That’s how much he’s meant to our offense.

“Jon has been able to settle in a little bit. He had a good game at Indiana and everybody is growing more comfortable with him.”

Mihalik said Girvin is not as mobile as Harris, “but he has a strong arm and can throw the football.”

Marcis Johnson and Ben Eisel have 30 receptions each for Edinboro. Johnson is also averaging 40.9 yards on eight kickoff returns.

“Teams haven’t been kicking to him lately,” Browning said.

Jeremy Donaldson leads the Scots’ ground game with 511 yards and five touchdowns.

“They are not a one-dimensional team at all,” Mihalik said. “And they always excel at special teams. They’ve got two blocked punts for touchdowns this year, they’ll fake punts and fake field goal attempts.

“Special teams will play a big part in this game.”

Rock quarterback Nigel Barksdale needs two touchdown passes to break Nate Crookshank’s single-season school record of 23. He needs 104 passing yards to break Cody Endres’ sigle-season school mark of 2,551 in that department.

John Schademan needs one receiving touchdown to tie Greg Hopkins’ school mark of 12, set in 1994.

“I’ve watched plenty of film on Slippery Rock and I don’t see a weakness anywhere,” Browning said. “That is a very good football team.”

Notes: SRU leads the all-time series, 51-26-7. ... Browning’s next win will tie Bill McDonald for second on Edinboro’s all-time football coaching wins list. Browning is 53-32 in eight years with the Scots. Tom Hollman holds the wins record with 78. ... Shamar Greene leads SRU’s ground attack with 568 yards. Teddy Blakeman has 262 yards and nine TDs rushing. ... Rock punter James McCombie ranks third in NCAA Division II with a 45.5-yard average. ... Mars graduate Austin Miele continues to lead The Rock with 51 tackles, including 7.5 for loss.