ERIE — Quarterback Brendan Boylan is out of the lineup. Mercyhurst is out of the PSAC West race.

Now the Lakers are out to become spoilers.

Mercyhurst (3-3, 0-3) will look to snap a three-game losing streak when it hosts Slippery Rock (5-1, 2-1) in a noon kickoff Saturday at Tullio Field.

“Nothing has changed for us. We have no room for error. In terms of the conference, we're in a position where we control our own fate,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “But we can't look at that 3-3 record.

“They are much better than that. And they play very well at home.”

The Rock knows that first-hand. SRU has never won at Tullio Field — droping decisions of 34-10 in 2008, 21-13 in 2010 and 38-23 in 2012 — and took a 45-23 loss at the hands of the Lakers last year at the University of Michigan.

“They embarrassed us on a national stage,” Mihalik said.

Boylan threw for 385 yards and five touchdowns in that game. He will not play Saturday after being injured in last week's 16-13 loss to Gannon. Junior Zach Emerick, Mercyhurst's starter at the beginning of last season, returns behind center. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 142 yards against Gannon.

“We just didn't finish drives last week,” Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle said. “We've got the personnel to score points. We're just not getting it done.

“Now we're facing a Slippery Rock team with an outstanding defensive line. Those guys are hard to move ... Their Jimmies and Joes are better than our Jennys and Joannes.”

Brandon Brown-Dukes is Mercyhurst's all-time rushing leader and has 440 yards on the ground this season. F.J. Williams, a transfer from Seton Hill, is second in the PSAC with 603 receiving yards.

Defensively, Mihalik is impressed by linebacker Joe Dever (46 tackles) and cornerback Tevin Stewart (five interceptions). Linebacker Tarique Ellis leads Mercyhurst with 58 tackles, including 44 solo stops.

The Lakers have only three quarterback sacks to their credit, but have recvered 12 fumbles.

“We've been able to pressure the quarterback. We just haven't been able to get him on the ground,” Schaetzle said.

Rock quarterback Dante Nania accounted for five touchdowns — three passing, two rushing — in last week's 56-21 win over California. Slot receiver Jaimire Dutrieuille is sixth on SRU's career receiving yards list with 1,837, third on the receptions list with 143.

“The other receivers he's up there with were 'the man' when they played,” Mihalik said. “Jaimire has been a consistent performer, a senior who shows up and does his job every day.”

Speaking of doing the job, SRU running back Julian Durden — No. 2 on the depth chart behind Shamar Greene — leads the team in rushing with 510 yards and 10 touchdowns. Greene has 438 yards and is averaging 109 yards per game, having missed time with an ankle injury.

“Julian Durden would be the starting running back on most teams. He has a lot of talent and gives the same effort in practice he gives in the games,” Mihalik said.

Strong safety Derek Morgan remains out with a concussion for The Rock. Johnny Davis, a backup linebacker who starts on every SRU special teams unit, returns to the lineup from injury.

Place-kicker Mike Wainauskis suffered an ankle injury early in the California game. Punter Andrew Huska came on to convert seven consecutive PATs and will kick from placement again Saturday.

“Slippery Rock can score points in a hurry and they have great balance offensively,” Schaetzle said. “We need to prohibit them from getting that fast score because that's what they're going to want to do.”