SLIPPERY ROCK — History means nothing to Slippery Rock University football coach Shawn Lutz this week.

He's dealing in the present.

“We're facing one of the top-ranked passing offenses in Division II this week,” Lutz said. “That's what the numbers say. That's what we're focusing on.”

No. 11 SRU (2-0) travels to Lock Haven (0-2) for a noon kickoff at Hubert Jack Stadium. The Rock owns a whopping 44-12-1 edge in the series. The teams met annually from 1962 through 2012 before Lock Haven moved into the PSAC East.

SRU is 31-0-1 in the last 32 meetings, a 21-21 tie in 1988 interrupting that win streak.

Lutz doesn't care.

“All I have to do with our team is mention Seton Hill (41-38 upset loss) from last year,” he said. “You have to be ready for every team you play.”

Second-year Lock Haven coach Dave Taynor isn't concerned with the past, either.

“This is their team this year playing our team this year,” Taynor said. “The 11th-ranked team in the nation is coming to our place. We're just trying to get better each game, each week.”

The Rock pass defense needs to be particularly ready. Bald Eagles quarterback Caleb Walton has thrown for 815 yards, five touchdowns and only interception through two games. Wide receiver Shawn Seif has 367 receiving yards already and tight end Del'Vaughn Dennis, at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, is a returning All-PSAC player.

Walton threw for 392 yards in a season-opening 41-24 loss to Clarion and 423 yards in a 44-38 loss to Edinboro last week. The Bald Eagles lead the nation in passing yardage after two weeks.

Walton has thrown 52 TD passes in his career at Lock Haven, eight shy of the school record.

“I was hired late in the off-season and Caleb only had 18 days to work with the new system we put in last year,” Taynor said. “That was impressive enough. Now he really feels comfortable with what we're doing.”

The Bald Eagles' defense, however, ranks 165th overall and 168th in passing defense out of 172 Division II programs nationwide.

“We're in a building process,” Taynor acknowledged. “We've got some good players on defense who are capable of making plays. It hasn't come together yet on that side of the ball.”

SRU quarterback Don King III has completed just 44 percent of his passes — 29 of 65 — through two games, though he has four TD passes. His backup Saturday will be true freshman Nathaniel Musselman as senior Zach Newsock left the program this week.

Darren Massey, a transfer from Edinboro and the Fighting Scots' all-time leading receiver, has left the program as well.

“Darren has been unable to get over tendinitis in a knee and decided to give it up,” Lutz said. “Zach wasn't happy with his role on the team. We couldn't give him what he wanted.

“We talked to Nathaniel about giving up his redshirt year and he said he'd do whatever the team needed. We'll prepare him to play. If something happens to Don, Nathaniel is our quarterback and he has to be ready.”

Newsock has been the holder on kicks from placement for The Rock. Pine-Richland graduate Mike Merhaut won out in auditions to assume those duties.

SRU is getting defensive tackle Joe Phillips back this week. An injury kept him out of last week's 36-28 win at West Chester.

“Our defensive line will be a key Saturday and it will be great having Joe back in there,” Lutz said. “That quarterback can go 60 yards on a quarterback draw in an empty set. He's elusive and we have to make him feel uncomfortable back there.”

While The Rock offense has been productive — scoring 67 points in two games — it has been scoring on big plays.

“We haven't had many nine or 10-play drives where we can tire a defense and make our tempo work for us,” Lutz admitted. “Our defense has been the one getting tired.

“We're happy with the points, obviously, but we have to do better on third down. We should be over 5-0 percent (conversion) in that category. Don and our receivers just aren't on the same page quite yet. We need to work on that.”

SRU is a paltry 5 for 28 on third down so far this season.

Linebackers Anthony Zappone and (Butler graduate) Bob Vernick lead SRU with 23 and 20 tackkles, respectively. Defensive end Marcus Martin has seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

The Rock opens PSAC West play next Saturday, hosting Gannon at 6 p.m.