SLIPPERY ROCK— Facing big-play offenses is nothing new for Slippery Rock this season.

For the fourth time in as many games, The Rock (3-0) will confront an offense designed to score with big plays when Kutztown (2-1) invades N. Kerr Thompson Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff Saturday.

"We haven't faced an opponent that can pass the ball like Kutztown can,"SRU coach George Mihalik said. "Our pass defense will be put to the test."

Kutztown quarterback Kyle Spotts ranks second in the PSAC with 773 passing yards and eight touchdowns. Wide receiver Efren Quiles (22 catches for 423 yards) ranks first in the conference with 7.3 receptions per game.

Ty Dennis ranks first in the league with 207 all-purpose yards per game. Punter Ryan Nye tops the circuit with a 44.8-yard average per punt.

"They rely on the pass to set up the run,"Mihalik said. "This is a dangerous opponent, certainly the best team we'll have faced so far in 2007."

Since dropping their opener to Southern Connecticut State by a 52-30 count, the Golden Bears have defeated Clarion 35-13 and Shippensburg 28-16.

Kutztown's running game is without Maurice Adams, its top returning ball carrier, who is lost for the season with an ankle injury.

"We miss his athletic ability because he could do a lot with the football,"Kutztown coach Raymond Monica said. "But we have other running backs who can do good things.

"Our goal is to have a balanced attack. We haven't quite gotten there yet."

Dontay Wilson is Kutztown's leading rusher with 114 yards on 31 carries. SRU's Corey Manfull has rushed for more than that in each of The Rock's first three games.

Manfull has 71 carries for 454 yards and five touchdowns. Damarcus Cleckley has contributed 28 carries for 177 yards.

The Rock averages a conference-best 463.3 yards per game in total offense. The running game has produced 735 yards and an average of 5.2 yards per carry.

"That is a very good team," Monica said of The Rock. "It's a playoff-type team. They've got size, speed; they can control the football or throw it."

SRUquarterback Nate Crookshank ranks seventh in Division IIin pass efficiency, completing 41 of 65 passes for nine touchdowns.

"If a team crowds the line of scrimmage to stop our running game, we're very comfortable putting the game in Nate's hands,"Mihalik said.

"A fourth-year starter?"Monica moaned. "I thought (Crookshank) was in his third year. Anyway, the experience shows."

Crookshank has numerous targets to go to, including Paul Favers and Terry Grossetti, who average 24.3 and 17.1 yards per catch, respectively.

Both teams have impact players on defense.

Kutztown safety Brian Bingnear has 27 tackles and two interceptions, linebacker Tom Cressman has 34 tackles and defensive lineman Leroy Azubike recorded three of the Golden Bears' nine sacks.

SRUlineman Clint Forsha has 22 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. End Cory Lacek has four sacks and linebacker Jake Barzen has 22 tackles and three sacks.

The Rock has 26 tackles for loss and has permitted only 12. The Rock defense has 11 sacks, its opponents only four.

Even with rival Indiana (Pa.) University coming to town next week and the fact Kutztown has never defeated Slippery Rock in five tries, Mihalik isn't worried about his team overlooking the Golden Bears.

"No way," he said. "They beat Shippensburg and our kids believe Shippensburg has a good football team. That's all they need to know."