SLIPPERY ROCK — Never mind the fact Virginia Union had not qualified for the NCAA Division II football playoffs in 24 years.

Never mind the fact the Panthers are only in this year because they rallied from a 24-7 deficit to nip Virginia State, 28-27, in their regular season finale two weeks ago.

“There’s only 28 football teams in the national playoffs and they’re one of them,” Slippery Rock University coach George Mihalik said. “We know they’re good.”

Just how good will be determined Saturday when Super Region One second-seed SRU (10-1) hosts No. 7 seed Virginia Union (8-2) at noon at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The Rock has not lost a home game since Nov. 10, 2012. It has reeled off 15 consecutive home victories and can tie Minnesota Duluth for the longest such active streak in Division II with a win Saturday.

“That has a lot to do with our fan base,” Mihalik said of the streak. “We have a great student section every game and the entire community has been supportive.”

SRU enters Saturday’s game as the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation at 48.7 points per game and the fourth best in total offense at 517.1 yards per game. The Rock leads the nation in rush defense at 62.9 yards per game and in takeaways with 35.

“Slippery Rock is one of the top Division II teams in the country, offensively and defensively,” second-year Virginia Union coach Mark James said. “We’re going to have to play a perfect game to win. They’re just strong everywhere.”

The Panthers aren’t exactly coming to town empty-handed.

Virginia Union leads the nation in total defense, allowing just 221.2 yards per game. The Panthers surrender only 73 yards rushing per contest and have 29 takeaways in their own right.

“Our secondary keys our defense,” James said. “Our safeties and corners are outstanding in how they jump up in run support and they can cover people.

“A lot of our sacks are generated by coverage down field.”

Virginia Union has 31 sacks and 16 interceptions as a team. Paulin Miano and Miles Pace have 10 sacks each and have combined for 40 tackles for loss. Pace did not play in the Panthers’ last game and is not listed on the team’s submitted depth chart.

“They create turnovers ... This will be a tremendous challenge for our offense,” Mihalik said. “Overall, this is the most athletic and biggest team we’ve faced all year.”

The Panthers’ smallest offensive lineman is center Addison Hayes at 6-foot-2, 314 pounds. The team’s three down linemen defensively are 6-6 and 265 pounds, 6-2 and 300, 6-5 and 280, respectively.

The most plays Virginia Union’s defense has been on the field for this season is 72. SRU’s offense averages more than 90 plays per game.

“They haven’t faced an up-tempo offense likes ours, so we can’t have three-and-outs. We need to get first downs and stay on the field,” Mihalik said.

Much like Slippery Rock, Virginia Union incorporates plenty of people in the passing game. No Panther receiver has more than 36 catches — Olu Izegwire leads the team with 36 receptions for 569 yards — and seven players have at least 10 catches. Quarterback Swaheem Dowdy, who stands 6-4, 218, has thrown for 2,035 yards and 19 touchdowns.

The Panthers run the option and freshman running back Hakeem Holland has 1,012 yards on the ground. Dowdy has rushed for 311 yards.

“Holland is a quick kid ... He ran a 10-something in the 100 meters in track,” James said. He’s an elusive guy, very hard to tackle.”

Holland excels in kickoff returns as well.

“We have to play disciplined defense this week, have everyone assigned to a guy,” Mihalik cautioned. “They run a lot of jet sweeps with their receivers, too.

“If we miss a tackle, those guys are gone. We have to wrap up.”

Shamar Greene needs 156 yards rushing to move into third place on The Rock’s all-time list. SRU has rushed for program single-season records of 3,118 yards and 41 touchdowns this year. Julian Durden needs 155 yards for 1,000 and two touchdowns to tie the program record of 21 rushing TDs in a season.

Dante Nania, coming off his best game as quarterback, has thrown for 2,471 yards and 24 touchdowns. Cornelius Raye and Jaimire Dutrieuille have combined for 1,069 yards and 13 touchdowns receiving.

The Rock defense has 36 sacks — Marcus Martin with 10, Cody Conway 6.5 — and 19 interceptions this season.

“In our last two games, we’ve played great team football in all three phases,” Mihalik said. “At the end of the season, you’re supposed to get a little better each week.

“I feel like we’re doing that. We need to keep it up.”