SLIPPERY ROCK — Familiar foes, familiar stakes — and expected excitement.

For the fourth time since 2011, Slippery Rock University (10-0) will face Kutztown (8-2) in the PSAC football championship game. Kickoff is at noon Saturday in Andre Reed Stadium.

“They are the mirror image of us in many ways,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “Kutztown is a prideful program. They play hard, fight to the whistle for four quarters. Both teams want this game badly.

“It should be a classic.”

All three of the previous PSAC title games between the teams were played at Kutztown. The Golden Bears defeated The Rock in 2011 and 2021. SRU won the state crown there in 2019.

Each of the last four games between the teams has been decided by eight points or fewer. Seven of their last nine meetings have been decided that way, including all three of the previous title matchups. SRU leads the all-time series, 11-5, with all five Kutztown wins decided by a single score.

“This is what championship football is about,” Golden Bears coach Jim Clements said. “Just play hard for four quarters and hopefully we’ll have a chance to win it late. Obviously, this is a huge game

“We’ve been in that stress box before,” Clements said of having to pull wins out late in games.

SRU needs a win Saturday to clinch the No. 1 ranking in Super Region One and a first-round bye in the Division II playoffs. Kutztown needs a win to secure a Division II playoff berth.

Neither coach is thinking about postseason play.

“I want us to get that trophy, have our team’s picture taken with it after the game ... I want that moment,” Lutz said. “This is a huge deal. Honestly, I’ll be devastated if we lose.”

“We’re not even thinking about the playoffs,” Clements said. “Winning the conference championship is everything right now.”

The teams have gotten to this point in different ways. SRU has scored at least 42 points in each of its last six games and has won every game this season by double-digit margins. The Rock has won each of its last nine games by a minimal three-touchdown margin.

Kutztown is on an eight-game winning streak since beginning the season with 31-20 losses to Assumption and California (Pa.). The Golden Bears have not allowed more than 17 points to any opponent during their winning streak and have allowed a total of 41 points in their last five games.

“We’ve lost two starting tackles for the season to torn ACLs,” Clements said. “We lost our starting nose guard to a torn ACL. We’ve got a young offensive line and we probably use 22 players on defense each game. We’re always fresh on that side of the ball.

“Slippery Rock’s quarterback (Brayden Long) has numbers that are through the roof. We have to find a way to limit his production.”

The Golden Bears have 30 quarterback sacks on the season. Defensive end Nigel Wilson and defensive tackle Brayden Pohlman have five each while leading tackler Tyler Whary has 4.5 sacks from his linebacker position.

Lutz pointed out that Kutztown returns no starters on its offensive line and “maybe we can take advantage of that.”

The Rock offense averages a league-leading 46 points per game. Kutztown’s defense allows a league-low 14.7 points per game in PSAC play.

“Our defense needs to come up with a strong performance,” Lutz said. “We need to stop their run. They’ve got a couple of good backs and their quarterback can run as well. We’ve faced a lot of mobile quarterbacks this year.”

Red-shirt freshman Judd Novak has thrown for 1,584 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Golden Bears. He’s run for 319 yards. Darryl Davis-McNeil has rushed for 522 yards, Jordan Davis for 319. Kurtis Ravenal is Kutztown’s go-top receiver with 39 catches for 626 yards.

By comparison, Long has thrown for 2,879 yards, 32 touchdowns and only two interceptions for The Rock. Khalid Dorsey, Chris D’Or and Isaiah Edwards have combined to rush for 1,672 yards and 25 touchdowns. Kyle Sheets has 60 catches for 997 yards and 14 touchdowns, Cohen Russell 52 catches for 873 yards and five TDs.

“Sure, that’s a marquee matchup,” Clements said of his defense facing SRU’s offense. “But they have to stop us, too. I’m really wary of Slippery Rock’s special teams. They’ve been very good in that area.”

Selvin Haynes leads a balanced Rock defense with 63 tackles. Kyle Kudla has 62. SRU has intercepted 17 passes and recovered eight fumbles, doubling Kutztown in the takeaway department. Josh Stokes has five interceptions, Eddie Faulkner IV four.

“We want to jump in front of them early if we can,” Lutz said. “I don’t think Kutztown’s offense is designed to come from too far behind. Both teams deserve to be here. We’ll see how it goes.”