SLIPPERY ROCK — The milk jug has become third-fiddle.

Saturday's 1 p.m. football game between Clarion (7-2, 4-2) and Slippery Rock University (8-1, 5-1) at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium is about so much more.

“It's a three-pronged goal,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “Number one, you want to win the PSAC West. No. 2 is the national playoff implications. Then you have the milk jug.”

Since the milk jug was introduced in 2010 as a traveling award to the winner of the Slippery Rock-Clarion game, The Rock has never lost it. SRU defeated Clarion 45-8 last season and owns five straight wins over the Golden Eagles.

Saturday will be Senior Day at The Rock and SRU's 19 seniors “don't want to be the ones to lose the milk jug,” Mihalik insisted.

A Rock win would hand the program its third successive PSAC West title. Clarion will win the West if it wins and Gannon defeats Indiana.

East Brady graduate and first-year Clarion head coach Chris Weibel knows his team can't afford a third straight loss Saturday. The Golden Eagles began this season 7-0 — their first 7-0 mark since 1983 — before dropping 42-28 and 28-14 decisions the past two weeks to California and Indiana, respectively.

Conversely, SRU has won five straight since opening PSAC West play with a 41-38 loss at Seton Hill.

“This game is everything to us,” Weibel admitted. “We've still got a shot at the playoffs and the West title if we win.

“I know we're bringing a lot of people down and Slippery Rock always draws well. The atmosphere should be exciting ... possibly overwhelming.”

Both coaches have experienced success at their respective schools as quarterbacks. Mihalik was behind center when SRU won three straight PSAC West crowns from 1972-74.

He was also head coach when the team reeled off West titles from 1997-1999.

“I told the players I'm being selfish. I'd like to be a part of that feat here for a third time,” Mihalik said.

Weibel was Clarion's quarterback in 1996, when the Golden Eagles reached the Division II semifinals. Clarion has not been back to the national playoffs since.

“One of the reasons you coach is to give your players a positive experience, some good memories and we've done that this year,” Weibel said.

“You don't want guys to say years later that “I played for Clarion and we weren't any good.' This year has been a prideful experience for our players and I'm happy for all of them.”

Junior quarterback Connor Simmons has broken Weibel's single-season passing yardage record at Clarion this year. He's thrown for 3,044 yards and 30 touchdowns. Simmons needs just three TD passes to snap Weibel's single-season mark of 32.

Receiver Matt Lehman (55 catches, 835 yards, 13 TDs) missed the IUP game with a concussion, but is expected to play Saturday. Kevin Genevo has 32 catches for 652 yards and eight TDs.

Running back Delrece Williams has 900 yards rushing, 32 catches for 463 yards in the passing game. He's scored 10 touchdowns.

“Simmons is at the top of the heap among quarterbacks in this conference,” Mihalik said. “He gets rid of the ball quickly and reads defenses very well.”

While Clarion is averaging 469 yards and 37.3 points per game, SRU is averaging 516 yards and 45.6 points per contest. The Rock figures rank fourth and second nationally.

Defensively, SRU is third in the nation in run defense at 68.4 yards per game and third with 29 takeaways.

Shamar Greene needs 98 rushing yards for 1,000 and The Rock ground game averages 283.7 yards per game. SRU needs two rushing touchdowns to break the program record of 36 in a season.

“They're a fantastic program ... strong everywhere,” Weibel said.

Defensive end Cody Conway and receiver Taishan Tucker are expected to return from injuries for SRU Saturday. While Butler graduate Bob Vernick leads The Rock with 67 tackles, Clarion has numerous Butler County players on its roster.

Mars graduates and seniors Cameron (center) and Shane Cress (left guard) anchor the Golden Eagles' offensive line. Seneca Valley grad Matt Koerper starts at defensive tackle with Mars grad Jake Tumminello seeing time on the defensive line.

“They lead the conference in quarterback sacks,” Mihalik said. “I remember how intense this rivalry was when I played.

“It's good to see it return to that level this year with so much on the line Saturday.”