SLIPPERY ROCK — Get ready for some “bully ball.”

That’s the brand of football Slippery Rock University coach Shawn Lutz expects Wayne State (Mich.) to bring during their mutual season opener at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

“They are going to play bully ball, jam the ball down our throats and see if we can handle it,” the sixth-year Rock coach said. “We can’t let grind it out, move the chains, run all over us.

“If we don’t jump out right away, get a lead, it’s going to be a four-quarter game with them in control.”

Paul Winters, in his 18th season at Wayne State and sporting a 93-96 career record, has a fully-funded program with the maximum 36 scholarships and does not dispute the way he wants his team to play football.

“We do want to run the ball. That’s the way we like to play,” Winters said.

SRU is coming off a 9-3 season that included a third consecutive PSAC West championship. Wayne State was 2-9 last season, including a 24-21 loss to The Rock in the campaign’s opener.

SRU has won 13 consecutive home openers, 12 straight season openers overall. But this year may be more of a challenge.

The Rock graduated 16 seniors, comprising a class that won 41 games over the previous four years. Eight transfers will be in the starting lineup Saturday night, including six on defense.

Wayne State returns only nine total starters in its own right. Of the 118 players on the Warriors’ summer roster, only 36 lettered last year and 56 of those 118 are freshmen or red-shirt freshmen.

“No one knows what anybody has right now,” Lutz said. “We have no idea who our go-to guy is at this point. Maybe that will develop as we play some games or maybe we won’t have that type of player. We’ll find out.”

The Warriors have a go-to player in sophomore running back Myren Harris, who rushed for 1,028 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He was an All-GLIAC selection. Kendall Williams, a second-team All-GLIAC choice, caught 33 passes for 280 yards coming out of the backfield in 2021.

Sophomore quarterback Josh Kulka was injured after playing only a couple of games last year. He returns as the starter behind center for Wayne State.

“Harris is the real deal. He’s a quality runner,” Lutz said. “That quarterback is mobile and can throw on the run. Harris and their middle linebacker (senior Julius Wilkerson) are their two best players.

“We have to be prepared to play physical football. Our defense definitely has to match their physicality.”

Winters described Harris as “strong, quick and with good vision. We hjave three returning offebnsibve linemen who played last year and the eight defebnsive li emen we rotated in last year are back.

“We need to be strong up front.”

Eight of SRU’s nine All-PSAC players from last year have graduated. The lone returnee is second-team all-conference running back Tim Smith. Sophomore Chris D’Or is expected to start at running back, however.

“Pound for pound, Chris is probably the toughest guy on this team,” Lutz said. “He’s a thereat to take it all the way every time he gets the ball.”

Noah Grover returns as The Rock’s starting quarterback, though back-up Brayden Long may see action as well. Cohen Russell, who originally came to SRU, transferred to Lackawanna and returned, will start in the slot and be the team’s No. 1 kick and punt returner.

Butler graduate Nick Stazer will start at right guard for The Rock while Karns City graduate Nathan Waltman is No. 2 on the depth chaert behind Max Maxciejewski at tight end.

Defensively, transfers Jacob Willams at corner and Kevin Hyde at safety “are lock-down type guys” in the secondary, Lutz said. SRU will play a 4-2-5 formation on defense this year.

“This camp was challenging because we have so many new guys in the lineup and building team chemistry is so important,” Lutz said. “I know we have a talented football team, but successful teams buy in and develop that bond.

“I believe we have that. We did a lot of team bonding stuff in the preseason so these guys could get to know each other.”

Winters admits he’s not sure what to expect from The Rock come Satuirdfay night.

“They’ve got a ,lot of new players and we’re unsure what their identity is gonna be,” he said. “But this is their home opener. We know they’ll be ready to play.”

SRU leads the series between the teams, 3-2, including season-opening wins in Detroit the past two years.