SLIPPERY ROCK — The throne is being threatened.

Defending PSAC West champion Slippery Rock (4-0, 3-0) hosts Gannon (4-0, 3-0) in a battle of football unbeatens Saturday night that will determine sole possession of first place in the division.

Both teams have excelled at running the football and stopping the run so far this season.

“Besides playing Kutztown, neither of our lines has been really tested yet by an outstanding opposing running game,” Gannon third-year coach Brad Rzyczycki said. “We’re both going to find out where we stand on Saturday.”

Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

Gannon averages 232.5 yards per game on the ground and allows only 58.2, fifth stingiest in all of NCAA Division II. The Rock is averaging 318.8 yards per gamne on the ground — most in Division II — and is allowing 57, fourth stingiest in the nation.

“This will be the best team we’ve played so far,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “They’re very big and very physical.

“We’re quick and fast on defense, they’re huge. Their size and strength concerns me. Will we be able to stand up with them for 60 minutes?”

Gannon comes into this game seeking respect. While SRU is ranked 14th on the D2CFootball.com poll and 20th on the AFCA poll, the Golden Knights remain unranked.

Gannon was picked to finish fifth in the PSAC West preseason coaches poll. Rzyczycki was only 9-13 in his first two years at Gannon before getting off to the quick start this season.

“When I was hired for this job, this is the year I circled on the calendar,” Rzyczycki said. “This was the season I figured we’d be ready to make a move in the conference.

“We needed time to get our linemen in the weight room and build them up. We didn’t have any young defensive linemen when I first took over. We weren’t strong enough to compete along the line of scrimmage.

“We got pushed around a lot last year. Now that’s not happening and it’s making a big difference,” he added.

Mihalik said that “they’ve been grooming this team for the past couple of years. Two years ago, they had a freshman quarterback. Now he’s a junior and he’s grown and matured. Other starters have grown and matured around him.”

Liam Nadler threw for 2,859 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. The 6-foot-7, 235-pound junior has tossed for 817 yards and seven TDs so far this season.

Running back Brock Jones has rushed for 651 yards and six scores. The Golden Knights have game-breaking receivers in Justin Caliste and Jesstin Hamm. Caliste is a third team preseason All-American as a return specialist and broke Gannon’s single-season record with 596 kick return yards last year.

“They have guys who can turn a big play into six points, just like that,” Mihalik said.

But the Golden Knights must find a way to slow a Rock offense that’s averaging 50.5 points per game, tops in the PSAC and fifth in the nation.

“They operate so quickly and we have to be able to slow them down to get the defensive personnel we want on the field,” Rzyczycki said. “The key there is winning first down.

“If we can force them into second and seven or longer, they’ll have to think about their next play rather than just hurry to the line and snap the ball. Getting three-and-outs will be critical for us, too.”

SRU’s Shamar Greene continues to lead Division II with 747 yards rushing. He is on pace for a 2,000-yard rushing season. The Rock single-season record is 1,601 yards, set by LaMonte Coleman in 1994.

Zack Newsock has thrown for 974 yards and nine scores, including career-highs of 299 yards and 4 TDs last week against Seton Hill.

“Zack has gotten better each week and our passing game has developed to the point that it can see us through a game if our run game gets shut down,” Mihalik said.

“But any team will have a hard time winning if a defense knows you’re throwing the ball on every down.”

Gannon leads the series between the teams, 6-3. The Golden Knights have won four of the past five meetings, including last year’s 38-27 upset win in Erie that ultimately cost SRU a home playoff game.

“I won’t have to bring that up to our guys,” Mihalik said. “They have long memories. They know what that game cost us last year.”

Notes: Gannon has four defenders with 23 or more tackles, led by defensive back Mike Zanders with 28. ... The Rock is 20-4 at home since 2010, has owned the best home attendance of all PSAC schools over the past five years and eighth-best attendance in all of Division II. ... Linebakers Austin Miele (Mars) and Bob Vernick (Butler) lead SRU with 33 and 32 tackles, respectively. ... Fans are encouraged to wear camouflage to the game in support of our veterans and active duty military.