It almost seems like poetic justice.

Slippery Rock University’s football team defeated Bloomsburg, 28-26, two weeks ago in an unlikely rematch for the PSAC championship.

SRU represented the West Division and was able to host this year’s title game because California (Pa.) lost its last two league games — once by a forfeit — and Mercyhurst lost to two PSAC East powers.

This championship is well-deserved regardless. SRU had to post impressive road wins at East Stroudsburg and Indiana — two traditional powers — and win a then-showdown of unbeatens with Gannon to put itself in position to claim the gold.

Last year, The Rock led the Huskies for nearly the entire game before suffering a last-minute 42-38 loss in the title game at Bloomsburg.

Three years ago, SRU traveled to Kutztown for the league championship game and took a 20-13 defeat.

That’s three Western Division championships in four years and the first time since 1974 that The Rock won the state title game.

That’s a pretty good run.

But now comes the question. Is The Rock’s football success on borrowed time?

When Gannon, Mercyhurst and Seton Hill joined the PSAC West — adding three fully-funded Division II football programs to the league — whispers began immediately that the scholarship differential may eventually catch up to established member schools. That time may be now.

The three aforementioned football programs have the equivalent of 36 full scholarships. SRU has 19.

Gannon put together a 9-2 record this year and would have been PSAC West champion had it defeated The Rock. The Golden Knights came to Mihalik-Thompson Stadium and lost a heartbreaking 31-28 decision in a game they easily could have won.

Mercyhurst won its final seven games after an 0-4 start — including a 45-23 triumph over The Rock at The Big House in Michigan — and would have been PSAC West champion had the conference not decided to count cross-division games in the division standings.

The Lakers had to play the top two teams in the East — Bloomsburg and West Chester, both still alive in the Division II national playoffs — and lost to them both.

Seton Hill’s program has yet to arrive in terms of wins and losses, but the Griffins have already put together a high-powered offense and the defense probably isn’t far behind. Seton Hill had players from 17 states and Canada on its roster this year.

Gannon had players from 12 states and Canada on its roster. It brings back virtually its entire team next year.

All but nine of SRU’s players were from western Pennsylvania or eastern Ohio in 2014.

The writing seems to be on the wall here. Scholarship power eventually takes over.

George Mihalik has endured only five losing seasons in his 27 years as Rock football coach. The last six campaigns have been winning ones.

How long it can remain a viable title contender remains to be seen.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.