SRU looks to play spoiler at California

By John Enrietto Eagle Sports Editor

October 26, 2012 Last Updated: October 26, 2012 01:07 PM College

SLIPPERY ROCK — To play or not to play, that is the question.

California (Pa.) will reveal the answer — Saturday.

The Vulcans (7-1, 5-0) hope to move another step closer to the PSAC West championship when they host Slippery Rock (4-4, 3-2) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Adamson Stadium.

California quarterback Peter Lalich has thrown for 2,143 yards and 17 touchdowns this year, but did not play in his team’s shutouts of Gannon and Lock Haven the past two weeks.

“He has a leg problem and right now, he’s listed as day to day,” Vulcans coach Mike Kellar said.

If Lalich doesn’t play, red-shirt freshman Cody Schroeder will. He’s completed 35 of 63 passes for 371 yards the past two games, but only 15 of 34 for 119 and a pair of interceptions against Gannon last week.

“If Lalich plays, they’ll be 65 percent pass, 35 percent run. If Schroeder plays, they’re 65 percent run and 35 percent pass,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “I’m sure they’ll approach things differently.”

Either way, California will be ready. It was The Rock’s 17-3 win over Cal last season that cost the Vulcans a trip to the PSAC Championship Game.

That win also snapped a five-game losing streak SRU had against the Vulcans.

“I’m sure they remember last year,” Mihalik said. “We’re playing the No. 1 team in our conference, a nationally-ranked opponent (No. 14) on the road in a game no one thinks we can win.

“You can’t ask for a better challenge than that.”

Rushing the quarterback will be a key to both teams. SRU sacked Edinboro signal-caller Cody Harris nine times last week — one shy of the Rock record — and defensive end Jeff Thompson had four of them, earning him PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Slippery Rock High grad Tony Papley has four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss on the season.

“Papley and Thompson have been coming on the past couple of games,” Mihalik said. “We need more of that from them. We have to get some pressure on their quarterback, no matter who it is.”

California defensive ends B.J. Stevens (14.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks) and Darnell Harding (4.5 sacks) key a pass rush that has produced 23 sacks on the year. The Vulcans have 52 tackles for loss as well.

Freshman left tackle Joe LoSchiavo will have the responsibility of blocking Stevens, though Mihalik said “we’ll get him some help over there when we can.”

“Much of what we do defensively is predicated on our playmakers rushing the quarterback,” Kellar said. “But their quarterback (Nigel Barksdale) is an excellent trigger guy who can pull it down and run down field, too.”

Barksdale has thrown for 757 yards and eight TDs, rushed for 275 and four touchdowns in his three collegiate starts for The Rock.

“It was just time for Nigel,” Mihalik said. “Once he started getting the reps in practice, settling in with the offense ... We knew he was capable of this.”

Rock tailback Akeem Satterfield is doubtful Saturday with a hip injury. Jimmy Zubik, Jaimire Dutrieuille and Brett Crenshaw will replace him in the backfield.

California’s offense features deep threat Mike Williams (53 catches-762 yards) and Trey Johnson (39-522) at receiver, Blake Williamson (28-269) at tight end, Lamont Smith (638 yards, 4 TDs) at running back and a veteran offensive line, anchored by NFL prospect Eric Kush (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) at center.

California averages 451.9 yards per game and has outscored the opposition 160-82 in the first half this season.

Another NFL prospect is senior safety Rontez Miles, who has 60 tackles and four interceptions on the year. Miles was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year last season.

“Rontez is so fast and is a physical player back there,” Kellar said. “He enables us to do a lot of things.”

Mihalik said his team will have to play a perfect game to win.

“They have solid athletes all over the field,” he said of the Vulcans. “But we have our confidence back. We believe we can go down there and get it done.”

SRU vs California

Here are the final scores of George Mihalik-coached Slippery Rock University football games vs. California (Pa.). Mihalik is 16-8 against the Vulcans and The Rock leads the all-time series 43-31-3.

Year SRU Cal

2011 17 3

2010 3 28

2009 7 44

2008 10 31

2007 13 22

2006 14 24

2005 28 21

2004 31 34

2003 19 22

2002 41 16

2001 37 27