SLIPPERY ROCK — Mercyhurst is growing up. Slippery Rock is beaten up.

The two teams will clash at 6 p.m. Saturday in a pivotal PSAC West football game at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

SRU (4-1, 1-1) is licking its wounds — figuratively and literally — from last week’s 52-26 loss at California. The defeat snapped The Rock’s 11-game regular season winning streak.

No. 19 SRU will try to extend its 19-game home winning streak Saturday. It is the longest active run of home success in all of NCAA Division II.

“We got our butts kicked last week and this team isn’t used to that,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how we respond.”

The question is who will be on the field to respond.

Running back Shamar Greene has an MRI scheduled today on his dislocated shoulder and is sidelined for at least two weeks. Linebackers John Conglose (concussion) and Cody Allen (shoulder) are out for Saturday as well.

Linebackers Bob Verniock and Anthony Zappone, cornerback Titus Howard and defensive end Cody Conway will be game-time decisions with assorted injuries. Defensive end Marcus Martin — one tackle for loss shy of the SRU career record — has strep throat, but is expected to play.

“Our depth will be tested Saturday,” Lutz said. “Unfortunately, when you’re not a fully funded program, there’s usually a drop-off after your starters. We’re gonna need some younger guys to come through.”

Mercyhurst (2-3, 1-1) has the youngest team in the PSAC West this season. The Lakers are sporting six starters on offense and five on defense who are either freshmen or sophomores.

Mercyhurst’s last four games have each been decided by four points or fewer, including last week’s 38-35 overtime win over Gannon.

“You tend to grow up fast when you play in closer games and our kids have done that,” Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle said. “We’ve gotten back to the physical style of football I like our guys to play, too.”

The Rock and Mercyhurst have split their eight games with each other since the Lakers joined the PSAC in 2008. Neither team has ever won two straight games in the series and Mercyhurst has won on all of the even years.

“We’re hoping that trend continues,” Schaetzle said.

Turnovers and takeaways have not been a factor for the Lakers this year. Mercyhurst has generated only three takeaways in five games and has turned it over only four times. The Lakers are one of only five teams nationwide yet to fumble this season.

Red-shirt freshman quarterback Doug Altavilla has thrown for 1,013 yards and six touchdowns. Richie Sanders, Drew Robinson and E’Andre Smith share the load in the backfield.

“We use all three of them. If one has the hot hand, we go with it,” Schaetzle said.

Lutz is hoping for something similar in The Rock backfield Saturday with Isiah Neely, Dontez Rash and Dominic Dingle. Neely is returning from an injury.

Mercyhurst is last in the PSAC in rushing defense, allowing 239 yards on the ground per game.

“We have to be able to run the football,” Lutz said. “All three of those guys will get opportunities Saturday and if one of them is particularly effective, we’ll use him more.”

Freshman Patrick Minnenok will start at a linebacker spot for SRU. If Conway can’t play, tackle Joe Phillips will move to an end position and Tony Twillie will join Mike Kope at tackle on defense.

Mercyhurst has a number of Butler County players on its roster. Seneca Valley graduate Corbin Kessler, a freshman, is starting at safety. Mars graduate Alex Smith, a junior, is No. 2 on the depth chart at the other safety spot.

Smith’s twin brother, Chris, also sees action for the Lakers. Butler graduate Jeremy Hanford is a redshirt freshman at linebacker. Karns City graduate Ben Ealy is red-shirting as a defensive lineman this year and Freeport graduate Matt Swartz is a backup place-kicker.

“Hanford is one of our 4.0 pre-med students,” Schaetzle said. “Our quarterback, Altavilla, is one of those guys. too. Other players are smart to hang around those guys.”

SRU has been inconsistent in its kicking game this year with freshmen punter Josiah Davis and kicker Jake Chapla.

“They played high school ball last year. There will be ups and downs and we just have to stick with it,” Lutz said. ‘But football is about field position. We have to do a better job in that area this week.”