SLIPPERY ROCK — Both football teams are 5-4 overall, 2-4 in the PSAC West.

But Seton Hill and Slippery Rock University are coming from different worlds when they meet for a 3 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The Rock has dropped four of its last five games — three in a row — and is trying to extend its streak of consecutive winning seasons to eight.

“We're disappointed in the sense we had a chance to put away opponents the past two weeks and didn't do it,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “We allowed late game-winning drives the past two games.

“We outgained Edinboro and Clarion. We feel like we should have won both games. When you play football, your (won-loss) record is something you're a part of. I don't want to be part of a losing season. Neither do the other coaches, the seniors, this team. That's our motivation right now.”

The Griffins have had just one winning season in their history (2008). They host Shippensburg next week in their regular season finale.

“Our guys are hungry for this, so is our overall program,” Seton Hill coach Isaac Collins said. “We want to win these last two, recruit well and keep moving forward.”

Seton Hill has the second most productive passing game in the country at 384 yards per game. The Griffins' overall offense ranks seventh best in Division II at 524 yards per game.

Seton Hill is averaging 35 points per contest, but is giving up 37.

“We're doing a little better job stopping the run, but we've had issues with a young secondary,” Collins said.

SRU will be starting a young quarterback in true freshman Augustus Necastro, who has completed 31 of 47 passes for 396 yards and five touchdowns in approximately six quarters of action.

Senior starter Don King III remains sidelined with a concussion.

“He's done fine,” Lutz said of Necastro. “He's a smart kid who's still learning. He never expected to play this year.

“Augustus is still developing physically. We can't really go fast tempo right now because it's more important we get the right play call.”

The Rock will also be without center Joe LoSchiavo, running back Shamar Greene — who has opted for season-ending shoulder surgery — and safety Kevin Green Saturday.

At some point, SRU has lost 10 different starters to injury this season. Lutz refuses to use that as an alibi.

“I called out our football team, including myself, after the Clarion game (27-23 loss),” he said. “Is this how we want to go down? Everyone needs to look at himself in the mirror.

“We need to get a win, get that feeling back again.”

The Rock has had some positives in recent weeks. Isiah Neely is coming off consecutive 100-yard rushing efforts, Marcus Johnson has eight touchdown catches and Kyle Hall had three interceptions against Edinboro while filling in for Green.

“This is a week to week league now and they're still Slippery Rock,” Collins said. “I don't care what they've done the past few weeks. That talent is still there. We still haven't faced a pass rush like theirs.”

Christian Strong has thrown for 3,299 yards and 23 touchdowns for Seton Hill. Ardell Brown has 60 catches for 931 yards and six TDs, Norman Darden — a transfer from Texas Tech — 41 catches for 562 yards and eight scores.

Fullback Khalil Howard has rushed for 802 yards and 11 scores.

“Brown is better than (California's) Garry Brown,” Lutz said. “He's faster and he's quicker. “We're working on schematic adjustments to try to contain that passing game.”

Seton Hill has accomplished what it has this season without top receiver Jarvis McClam, who went down for the season with a knee injury in Week 3.

“He was our best player,” Collins said. “I'm pleased with the way other guys have picked up the slack.”

SRU is 5-2 all-time against Seton Hill, but dropped a 41-38 decision there last year for its only regular season loss.