SLIPPERY ROCK — Coming off a 59-0 football loss at California (Pa.) and heading to Slippery Rock for a third consecutive road game to start the season, Lock Haven is in need of a break.

The Rock doesn't plan on providing one.

SRU (2-0) hosts the Bald Eagles (1-1) for a 6 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. While unbeaten and ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II, Rock coach Shawn Lutz is far from satisfied.

“We have a lot of work to do, particularly offensively,” Lutz said. “We need to get going.

“We have to start faster. If we do, we're not calling the dogs off. We need to put something together here.”

The Rock has scored six total touchdowns in two games and only 19 points in the first half of those contests.

Last season, SRU averaged more than 46 points per game. It's averaging 23 through the two games this year.

“Our defense has been outstanding. Maybe that's the way it's going to be this year,” Lutz allowed. “But I know our offense is capable of a whole lot more.”

What kind of resistance Lock Haven can give The Rock is a question as well. The Bald Eagles have only two senior starters, start four sophomores on offense and six freshmen on defense.

First-year Lock Haven head coach John Kelling has 30 years of experience as a collegiate assistant coach. He's coached at Frostburg State, North Dakota and Augustana.

Lock Haven is his first head coaching job.

“This is my next challenge,” Kelling said. “I want to influence young men, build character and the best way to do that is as a head coach.

“But we're a young team. Two-thirds of our travel team is freshmen. We're going to have to add more to this roster and build as we go. And we have to develop what we have to be more competitive.”

The Bald Eagles shut out Lincoln 20-0 in their opener before taking the lopsided loss at California.

“We're not on the same page as a unit on the field right now,” Kelling said. “There's 11 guys out there and eight run the play call. That doesn't work.”

Ethan Persa, the team's 6-foot-4 quarterback, has thrown for 179 yards and a touchdown. Dante Graham leads the ground attack with only 65 yards. Tight end Chris Hicks leads the team with five receptions.

“They've got some size up front and their left guard (6-5, 295-pound senior Anthony Barber) could start for us,” Lutz said. “We don't take any opponent lightly.

“Our guys love to play football too much. We'll be ready to go.”

The Rock gets slot receiver Jermaine Wynn Jr. and right tackle Jake Texcak back this week. Both sat out last week's 22-7 win over East Stroudsburg for violation of team rules.

Tim Smith ran for 122 yards last week and will be backed up by Evyn Holtz, who figures to see his first action of the year, coming off an injury. Quarterback Andrew Koester has thrown for 591 yards and three touchdowns, but has also thrown three interceptions.

Defensively, free safety Dalton Holt leads SRU with 22 tackles and 15 solo stops.

“He's been lights out. Dalton Holt has been the best player on our team so far,” Lutz said. “He's been everywhere on the field.

“We have a bunch of guys in our lineup who are playing their first football in quite a while. They're going to get better and I'm hoping to see that progress this week.”

SRU owns a 46-12-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Rock is 33-0-1 in the last 34 games against Lock Haven, last losing to the Bald Eagles in 1980.

The Rock has won its last 17 home night games and 22 consecutive night games overall, dating back to 2012. SRU is also 15-1 against PSAC East foes over the last seven years.

Kelling is concerned with none of that.

“Our focus is on ourselves, what we're doing and how we're playing,” Kelling said. “We could be playing the New England Patriots, Slippery Rock, Central Mountain High School ... it doesn't matter.

“I'm worried about what caliber of football we're playing. That's it.”