Marcus Johnson (9) takes to the air as Slippery Rock took on West Chester.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Just another game...or is it?

The answer is in how one looks at Saturday's 6 p.m. PSAC West football game pitting No. 5 California (Pa.) against No. 18 Slippery Rock in a battle of unbeatens at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

“Honestly, we don't look at this as a must win or being critical to winning the division,” Vulcans coach Gary Dunn said. “It's the next game on our schedule."

But it is a rivalry — something Dunn and SRU coach Shawn Lutz appreciate.

California hammered SRU 52-26 last season and has not lost a regular-season game in two years.

SRU is getting a couple of injured linebackers back Saturday, as Butler graduate Tim Vernick will start at middle linebacker and fellow freshman Jaccari Cleckley adds depth at outside linebacker.

The Vulcans are at 100 percent scoring efficiency in the red zone.

SRU leads the all-time series 46-33-5. The teams have been playing each other since 1905.

A full report will appear in the Butler Eagle.