Teams quite simular

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

September 11, 2009 Last Updated: September 11, 2009 02:41 PM College

SLIPPERY ROCK — Something's got to give when the Slippery Rock University football team heads to Kutztown for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff Saturday amid numbers that just don't mesh well together.

• Both teams are 2-0.

• Slippery Rock is 7-0 all-time against Kutztown. The Golden Bears are 13-1 in their last 14 home openers.

• SRU leads the PSAC with 31 points per game after two weeks. Kutztown is second with 9.5 points allowed per contest.

• The two teams rank 1-2 in the PSAC in rushing offense and rushing defense.

"There are a lot of intriguing matchups this week," Rock coach George Mihalik said. "We're similar in so many ways.

"Kutztown may be the surprise team in the (PSAC) East this year. We're hoping to be the surprise team in the West. Right now, we're just worried about each other."

In the four meetings between the teams since 1998, SRU is averaging 46 points per game against Kutztown.

This year's edition of the Golden Bears features 46 returning lettermen and 18 returning starters, however. And Kutztown has yet to allow a point in the second and fourth quarters.

"Defensively, we've been making plays at the right time," Kutztown coach Raymond Monica said. "We've been a little nicked up and haven't had our entire starting defense healthy and on the field at the same time yet."

The Kutztown offense is led by running back Dontay Wilson, who's compiled 264 yards and three touchdowns through two games.

"Dontay's capable of producing the big play and he's a steady back at the same time," Monica said.

Wilson hobbled off the field early in the fourth quarter of last week's 25-6 win at Clarion and didn't return. Monica said he has a couple of starters who might miss Saturday's game, but he declined to name them.

Besides Wilson, no Kutztown running back has more than seven total carries.

SRU took a hit on the injury front as well when Knoch graduate and starting defensive end Bill Elliott suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for at least a couple of games. Tight end Josh Gardner (knee) and defensive back A.J. Saunders (ankle) might return to action Saturday, however.

Quarterback Shane Martin has completed 24 of 40 passes for 275 yards and no touchdowns for Kutztown. He's thrown exactly 20 passes in each of the first two games.

Martin's career-high of 257 yards passing came against The Rock last year.

"We know they can throw the ball," Mihalik said. "We saw that first-hand. They are not a one-dimensional team."

The Golden Bears' Kendall Coleman is one of the PSAC's most productive kickoff and punt returners. Placekicker Matt Dineen is perfect on his field goal attempts this year, as is The Rock's C.J. Bahr.

Dineen drilled a 44-yard field goal last week. Bahr had a 46-yarder in SRU's season opener.

"We both have strong kicking games. That's another area where we're similar," Mihalik said.

"We're two teams who have had success running the football and defending against the run. We'll have to see how all that plays out.

"Ray has had a great career at all levels of college football and he's put together a great staff. This is a well-coached, solid fundamental team we're facing," Mihalik added.

Monica was assistant head coach for seven years at Temple and was an assistant at North Alabama for nine seasons, during which time the Lions won three NCAA Division II national championships.

"Slippery Rock matches us in personnel, especially the skilled positions, and those coaches always do a great job," Monica said.