SLIPPERY ROCK — Seven is considered a lucky number.

Slippery Rock University's football team needs it to be Saturday when The Rock (7-1, 4-1) travels to Gannon for a noon kickoff.

SRU has defeated the Golden Knights in their last six meetings, including a 56-7 pasting two years ago at McConnell Family Stadium in Erie.

A win Saturday, coupled with a California (Pa.) win over Seton Hill, will put The Rock and California in a PSAC West championship showdown Nov. 6.

“We have no margin for error,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said.

They will likely have a new starting quarterback.

Noah Grover, a junior and transfer from North Dakota, figures to get the call Saturday after replacing Andrew Koester behind center late in last week's 20-17 win at Mercyhurst. Grover directed the game-winning field goal drive.

“Noah is a smart player and makes good decisions. He's a leader,” Lutz said. “He doesn't have the arm strength Andrew has, but I like his intangibles.”

Gannon (4-4, 3-2) has a two-game winning streak and is riding momentum into this game under first-year head coach Eric Raeburn.

The Golden Knights are led offensively by junior running back Melvin Banks, the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week from last week. He rushed for 239 yards in a 21-18 win over Edinboro after rushing for 200 in a win over Seton Hill the week before.

Blanks has run for 945 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

“He runs straight ahead and can break tackles,” Raeburn said. “A lot of what we do depends on Melvin's production. Defenses have to bring linebackers and safeties in tight to contain him and we get receivers open off play-action.”

Gannon quarterback Kory Curtis originally signed with Ohio State, then transferred to Bryant, where he threw for 1,700 yards in 2019. He has 16 touchdown passes and only four interceptions this year.

But he's completing only 50 percent of his passes.

“We'd like that percentage to be a little higher, above 60, maybe,” Raeburn admitted. “Kory takes care of the ball, though.

“At times, he locks in on one guy and doesn't go through his progressions as well as we would like.”

Raeburn said his offensive line is “better at run blocking than pass blocking right now.”

Lutz said Gannon “will be a good test for us. We still feel like we have something to prove.

“Blanks will be a challenge for our run defense. We've been good against the run (128.9 yards per game), but we haven't faced a back like this one.”

SRU is healthy for this game. Running back Evyn Holtz, who rushed for 73 yards last week, will likely make his first start of the season.

Defensively, Gannon expects to put pressure on the quarterback to control, The Rock's vaunted passing attack.

“It's no secret our secondary has been shaky this year,” Raeburn said. “Slippery Rock has three of the best receivers in our league (Henry Litwin, Jermaine Wynn, Jr. and Cinque Sweeting) and we're not going to be able to stay with those guys.

“We need to get to the quarterback and make him throw the ball quickly.”

SRU has been held to season-low point totals of 21 and 20 the past two games, averaging more than 100 yards fewer than their season average of 457 yards per game. Eight turnovers the past two games have been a major culprit that way.

“We have to stop turning the ball over. That's a prime focus this week,” Lutz said. “Four turnovers in each of the last two games ... You just can't win that way.”

The Rock leads the all-time series with Gannon 9-6. The Golden Knights' last win over SRU was a 38-27 decision in 2013.