SLIPPERY ROCK — A defending conference champion, sporting eight returning all-league players and perhaps the best quarterback in Division II, with a chip on its shoulder.

That's a fair description of Merrimack (Mass.) College — the opponent Slippery Rock University hosts at 7 p.m. Thursday to open the 2010 football season.

"This is a supreme test for us right away," SRU coach George Mihalik said.

Merrimack was co-champion of the Northeast-10 Conference in 2009. The Warriors sported the fourth most prolific offense in Division II, establishing school records of 349 points, 2,516 rushing yards, 4,826 total yards and 226 first downs.

That's an average of 482 yards and 22 first downs a game.

SRU will be the first PSAC team Merrimack has played since 2000.

"Both of our conferences are in the Northeast Region and the PSAC has been getting three playoff berths on a regular basis," Mihalik said. "I know that doesn't sit well with the NE-10 and Merrimack's coming in here looking to make a statement."

This is a one-year contract between The Rock and Merrimack, which is located in North Andover, Mass.

"We were looking for a game and saw they had an opening," third-year Warriors coach John Perry said. "We're excited about coming down there. Slippery Rock has a lot of tradition and a lot of good players."

The Rock returns 15 starters from a 6-5 team that lost four of its last five games. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Sabo will make his first start Thursday after missing last season due to various injuries.

Sabo underwent hand and knee operations in the past year, the latter surgery taking place in January.

"Ryan missed all of last fall and spring. He was on the outside looking in when we started summer camp," Mihalik said. "He had an outstanding camp and has developed a great rapport with our receivers."

Merrimack quarterback James Suozzo was NE-10 MVP last season as a sophomore. He threw for 2,297 yards and 23 touchdowns, and rushed for 954 yards and 15 TDs.

"That's 38 touchdowns he accounted for himself," Mihalik said. "He's simply an outstanding player. Some are touting him as the best player in Division II this year."

While Merrimack also returns 1,161-yard rusher Anthony Smalls, record-setting receivers Jeremiah Watts and Chris Laham have graduated.

Sophomore Akeem Satterfield, a power back with some speed, is SRU's starting running back. He saw limited time last year, rushing for 107 yards against Lock Haven late in the season.

True freshman LaQuinn Stephens-Howling, younger brother of Pitt graduate and Arizona Cardinals running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, is The Rock's No. 2 tailback.

Devin Goda, Kevin Sanders, John Schademan and Geron James are SRU's top receivers. Schademan and James are transfers from Colgate and North Carolina State, respectively.

Seneca Valley graduate and center Brandon Fusco anchors a veteran offensive line.

"Brandon's been attracting a lot of (NFL) interest. Scouts have been rolling in here," Mihalik said.

Merrimack offensive lineman David Bellmont joins Fusco as a preseason All-American. Junior linebackers Tony Johnson and Shawn Loiseau also are preseason All-Americans for the Warriors.

Loiseau had a school-record 123 tackles last year and Johnson has a school career-record 20.5 quarterback sacks for Merrimack.

The Rock's veteran secondary of cornerbacks Robert Doiley and Andre Freeman, and safeties Jayson Nickson and Brandon Watters, will be tested Thursday. Jermale Cromerdie, who caught 25 passes last year, has been moved to safety this season.

"We'll learn a lot about ourselves Thursday," Mihalik said.