SLIPPERY ROCK — The last two PSAC championships games pitted Slippery Rock against Kutztown. Now the two teams are meeting to close the regular season again.

And this game may have more at stake.

The Rock (9-1) hosts the Golden Bears (7-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. While Indiana (Pa.) and Shepherd are clashing for the conference championship, SRU and Kutztown are jockeying for postseason positioning.

SRU, ranked No. 9 in the country, enters the game ranked fifth in Super Region One. The top seven teams qualify for the Division II playoffs. That playoff field will be announced Sunday night.

“Honestly, I believe we’re in no matter what, but you never want to leave it in the committee’s hands,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “If we win, we an secure a home game and that’s important to our program.”

A victory Saturday could move SRU up to as high as No. 2 in the region, which could give it two home playoff games.

While The Rock owns an 11-4 lead on Kutztown in the all-time series between the teams, the Golden Bears have won four of the past seven meetings. Five of those games — including the last three — have been decided by a single score.

“We’ve had some crazy, crazy games with Slippery Rock,” eighth-year Kutztown coach Jim Clements said. “I respect Shawn Lutz and their program so much. We’ve had some real shootouts.”

The Golden Bears defeated The Rock 38-32 in last year’s PSAC title game. SRU won the 2019 contest — also for the league crown — by a 37-35 count. Kutztown defeated SRU 42-34 in 2017.

“Throw out the records when these two teams get together,” Lutz said. “You never know how it’s gonna go.”

Saturday will mark Kutztown’s first visit to Slippery Rock since Sept. 6 of 2014, when SRU claimed a 37-26 triumph. That was Clement’s first game as Kutztown head coach.

This week’s game marks one of his most important ones.

“We know this is a major challenge,” Clements said. “I believe Slippery Rock is the best team in the region. A win over them would be huge for us ... It could get us into the playoffs.

“That win would carry a lot of weight for us. We need Concord to lose, Shippensburg to beat Gannon, but those things could happen. It may be a long-shot, but I don’t think we’re out of it.”

Both teams may be missing key weapons Saturday. SRU receiver Kyle Sheets — who has emerged as the team’s go-to pass-catcher with 51 receptions for 825 yards— has a shoulder strain and will be a game-time decision.

Kutztown running back Darryl Davis-McNeil — who has 968 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing this season — did not play in last week’s 28-9 loss to West Chester. He is listed as doubtful for Saturday.

“He has one of those nagging-type injuries for a running back,” Clements said. “It’d be nice if he can come out and give us something, but I’m not expecting that to happen.”

Lutz said freshman Connor Chrisman will see action at receiver if Sheets can’t go. Jawon Hall and Bryce Profitt would be the main targets for quarterback Noah Grover, however.

“What I’d like to see us do in the passing game is throw to Max (tight end Maciejewski) more and get the ball to Cohen Russell in space to take advantage of his athleticism,” Lutz said.

The Slippery Rock coach referred to Kutztown’s defensive front seven as “the best we’ve seen all season, a very active group. Overall, their defense us one of the best in the region.”

Kutztrown averages 170 yards per game running the ball and has a standout receiver in 6-foot-3 Jerome Kapp, who has 39 catches for 761 yards and eight touchdowns on the year.

Clements referred to Kapp as “our best offensive player, definitely.”

Lutz won’t disagree.

“He killed us in the championship game when he took a screen pass to the house,” Lutz said of Kapp. “He’s a tough guy to bring down.”

SRU’s defense is allowing only 72.6 rushing yards per game and an average of 2.3 yards per carry. No individual has rushed for 100 yards against The Rock this season.

“Hopefully, we can end that streak,” Clements said. “You have to be able to play good defense and run the ball, especially in November, if you expect to win. Slippery Rock will be the best defense we’ve faced. Their defensive line and linebackers are outstanding.

“Our run against their run defense? Definitely the key to this game.”

Kutztown is 47-3 under Clements in games in which the opposition scores fewer than 24 points.