SLIPPERY ROCK — The Clarion University homecoming game might serve as a coming-out party for the Golden Eagles.

Winless in four games, Clarion hosts Slippery Rock University (3-1, 0-1) in a critical PSAC West football game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

"I'm sure they're looking at us as an opponent they can handle," SRU coach George Mihalik said. "Coaches say this all the time, but I have to say it — Clarion is the best 0-4 team anywhere around.

"All we have to do is look at last year's game. Our guys will be focused for this one," he added.

Clarion brought a 2-3 record to The Rock in 2009 and came away with a 27-10 triumph on a Thursday night. Eventual PSAC West Player of the Year Alfonso Hoggard rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Hoggard has only 259 yards and one TD rushing so far this year, but has eight catches for 80 yards and remains a threat on kickoff and punt returns.

"We have to know where he's at on every play out there," Mihalik said. "He's the type of player who can score anytime he touches the ball."

While The Rock is coming off a disappointing 17-0 loss at Indiana (Pa.), where it amassed 143 yards total offense, the Golden Eagles have dropped decisions of 27-16 to Fairmont State (W.Va.), 41-13 to Bloomsburg, 28-24 to Shippensburg and 24-9 to fourth-ranked California (Pa.).

Clarion returns 19 starters from a team that finished 8-3 last year, narrowly missing the Division II playoffs.

"We didn't begin this season ready to defend our success," Clarion coach Jay Foster said. "We had not been in that position before.

"We've played much better the past two weeks. I'm not pleased with the results, but I'm pleased with the performance," he added.

The Golden Eagles trailed California 17-9 with five minutes remaining when Hoggard returned a free kick to Cal's 17-yard line. A holding penalty negated the return, however, and the Vulcans tacked on a late touchdown.

This game features two different types of backs in the 5-foot-2, 150-pound Hoggard and The Rock's 6-1, 215-pound Akeem Satterfield. The latter has rushed for 488 yards, second in the PSAC despite missing a game with an ankle injury.

Foster compared Hoggard and Satterfield to a couple of animals.

"One's like trying to chase a rabbit, the other's like trying to tackle a rhino. Neither task is very much fun," Foster said.

Clarion's rush defense is allowing 230.8 yards per game, last in the PSAC.

The Golden Eagles have other weapons in sophomore quarterback Eric Coxon and receivers Jacques Robinson, Matt Ward and Craig Bunney. Coxon has thrown for 876 yards while Robinson has 25 catches for 315 yards.

Robinson has 188 receptions in his Clarion career and needs seven more to tie former All-American Alvin Slaughter's school record.

Defensively, safety Nate Sipes leads Clarion and the PSAC with 46 tackles. He had 17 stops against California.

SRU hasn't passed for more than 141 yards in a game yet. Twenty-four of Ryan Sabo's 40 completions have gone to Devin Goda, as have three of his four TD passes.

"Ryan started looking for other receivers at IUP," Mihalik said. "I thought that might become a problem until I noticed that."

Zach Sheridan paces The Rock defense with 37 overall tackles. He led the team with nine at IUP.

Notes: SRU K C.J. Bahr has a sore thigh and might be limited in his kicking duties Saturday. He did not kick off at IUP. ... Clarion is minus-8 in turnover-takeaway margin, last in the PSAC. SRU is even in that category. ... Foster is in his fifth year at Clarion and is 12-35 overall. He was SRU's defensive coordinator for 17 seasons.