SLIPPERY ROCK — After five years, Slippery Rock University and Shippensburg are getting together on the football field.

If the series history holds true, it will be worth the wait.

“We've had some crazy games with each other,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “I can't explain why. That's just the way it's been.”

The Rock hits the road Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Seth Grove Stadium. The last time these teams met, SRU scored a 58-38 win at Slippery Rock in 2013. The year before that, Shipp scored a 55-35 win at Shippensburg.

The three previous meetings resulted in scores of 38-34. 28-21 and 58-28.

“I'm anticipating another high-scoring game. That wouldn't surprise me at all,” Lutz said. “It's been pretty wild.”

Both teams are coming off wild wins in their respective season openers last week. The Red Raiders trailed Clarion 10-7 at halftime before dominating the second half for a 35-13 victory.

SRU trailed Kentucky State 28-14 at the half before controlling play in the second half for a 38-31 triumph. The Rock defense had 17 tackles for loss in that contest, but allowed four long rushing plays.

“That's four plays we have to eliminate this week,” Lutz said. “If we fall behind by a bunch to this team, there will be no coming back.”

The Rock defense will receive a boost as linebacker Brad Zaffram returns from a one-game suspension and will start on the outside. Butler graduate Tim Vernick will shift to middle linebacker.

“He (Zaffram) is probably our best player on defense,” Lutz said.

Offensively, Wes Hills rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown in his Rock debut last week. He could have had another TD, but officials ruled he fumbled before going into the end zone and the ball was returned 80 yards by a Kentucky State player.

“A.J. Alexander, Jermaine Wynn Jr, and Zach Cirillo ran that kid down and they wound up missing a field goal,” Lutz said of the third-quarter play. If they score there, the game's probably over.

“You never quit on a play. Those guys proved it right there.”

Rock quarterback Andrew Koester scored on an 80-yard run moments later. He also threw for three TDs in his first collegiate start.

Shippensburg red-shirt freshman quarterback Brycen Mussina — son of longtime major league pitcher Mike Mussina — trumped that by throwing for 348 yards and four TDs against Clarion. Sophomore receiver Winston Eubanks caught four passes for 161 yards and a touchdown.

“That Eubanks is the real deal,” Lutz said. “They throw the ball up and he goes and gets it. We will need to pay close attention to him.”

The Red Raiders rotate running backs and their skilled people offensively are primarily freshmen and sophomores. They have a senior-dominated defense.

Two Butler County products — red-shirt freshmen Isaiah Johnson (Mars) and Chandler Turner (Karns City) — are on the Shippensburg roster, but did not play last week. Johnson is a running back, Turner a linebacker.

Shippensburg coach Mark Maciejewski, 57-34 at Shipp in his eighth year, could not be reached for comment.

SRU holds a 40-21-2 advantage in the all-time series.

“The atmosphere out there is tremendous and that's a tough place to go in and get a win,” Lutz said. “But this is one of those games we will look back at as a key one at the end of the season.

“Shippensburg was 10-1 and a playoff team last year. We have national playoff aspirations and so do they, which makes this a critical game to win.”