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.

“In this conference, you have to be ready for all of them.”

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

“That's the greatest thing about this league,” Dunn said. “It's filled with local rivalries, schools playing each other as virtual neighbors. You still have that in Division II. With all of the league realignments, that's kind of lost in Division I.”

Lutz agreed.

“When I played at West Virginia, we played Pitt, Virginia Tech, even Penn State ... geographical rivals,” Lutz said. “You don't see much of that anymore.

“Our conference (all within Pennsylvania) is unique in that regard.”

California hammered SRU 52-26 last season and has not lost a regular season game in two years. The Vulcans (4-0) have survived a couple of tight ones this year, 36-34 in their opener against Ohio Dominican and 44-41 last week over Seton Hill.

The Rock (4-0) has had a pair of nail-biters itself, edging West Chester 49-42 and slipping past Gannon, 49-45, last week.

“We're not very good on defense right now,” Lutz said. “We've been very good on offense, good on special teams, but not on defense.

“I'm not going to hide from that or sugar-coat it. That's where we're at right now.”

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 Rock gave up 399 yards rushing last week, including a PSAC record 354 to Gannon's Marcus Jones.

“We counted 38 to 40 missed tackles in that game,” Lutz said. “If someone beats us because they have better athletes, so be it. But when someone imposes their will on you and just runs the football on you all day ... I can't accept that.”

California can run the football with Nick Grissom (296 yards, 5 TDs), but the Vulcans can throw it better with senior Mike Keir at quarterback. Kier has thrown for 1,056 yards and eight TDs.

“It seems like this is his 30th year,” Lutz said. “That kid is very, very good. But their offensive line is inexperienced and our defensive line needs to have a big day against that line and pressure the quarterback.”

California starts two sophomores and a freshman up front, including Seneca Valley graduate Eric Hudanick at left tackle. Hudanick is a true freshman.

“He's been doing a fantastic job for us,” Dunn said. “He's the only true freshman starting for us on either side of the ball.”

Dunn added that Kier “is the team leader and is someone who is always going to make plays.”

The Rock doesn't have a bad quarterback in its own right. Tanner Garry has thrown for 1,425 yards — third in all of Division II — through four games and his 16 touchdown passes are second in the nation.

SRU also leads the nation in third down conversions, making good on 60.7 percent (34 of 56). Last year, The Rock ranked 127th in the nation in third down conversions.

“Marcus Johnson and Milly Raye,” Lutz said. “That's the reason for our third down conversions. We've been getting into third-and 4, third-and-6, defenders play off them and we get first downs.”

Johnson leads Division II with 11 touchdowns and 66 points and 252.8 all-purpose yards per game. Raye has caught a pass in 31 straight games and has scored in every Rock game this season.