SLIPPERY ROCK— No Slippery Rock University-Indiana (Pa.) football game requires additional hype.

This one has it anyway.

When The Rockhosts the rival Crimson Hawks for a 6 p.m. kickoff Saturday at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium, the teams will clash as unbeatens who have been playing dominating football.

The Crimson Hawks (3-0) have defeated Cheyney (80-14), East Stroudsburg (38-23) and Millersville (45-0) — winning by an average margin of 54-12.

The Rock (4-0) has defeated Seton Hill (51-24), Millersville (21-5), Bowie State (35-7) and Kutztown (45-9) — winning by an average margin of 38-11.

"It's our PSACWest opener, it's against our rival, both teams are undefeated — the atmosphere should be incredible,"SRUcoach George Mihalik said. "This is the first time since I've been coaching that we've met as unbeatens."

Mihalik is in his 20th year as SRUhead coach. IUPis ranked No. 21 in the nation by the American Football Coaches Association and 22nd by D2Football.com. The Rock is unranked.

Both teams rank among the PSAC's top three in scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense and total defense.

"We're all excited about this game,"IUPcoach Lou Tepper said. "They present a real dilemma because they run the football so well, yet they're such a veteran group.

"This is the best offensive line we'll face this year, and when you have a four-year starter at quarterback, you don't make many mistakes."

The Crimson Hawks have thrived on opponents' mistakes, producing 31 tackles for loss, nine sacks and eight takeaways through three games.

IUPhas scored four defensive and two special teams touchdowns this year.

"Their linebackers are very aggressive and physical — and they have a lot of them,"Mihalik said. "And Rob Plowman at defensive end ... you have to know where he is all the time."

One key matchup is SRUrunning back Corey Manfull, who brings a string of four successive 140-yard-plus rushing efforts into the contest, against IUP's defense. Manfull's 156-yard per game average ranks seventh in NCAADivision II while the Crimson Hawks allow 51 yards rushing per game, which also is seventh in Division II.

IUPquarterback Andrew Krewatch has thrown for 748 yards and six touchdowns — the TDstrikes going to four different receivers — while the running backs are Poohbear McNeal, who has 247 yards and three touchdowns, and Kareem Dutrieuille, who has 167 yards and 5 TDs.

"Indiana usually has one standout running back, now they have two,"Mihalik said. "They usually have one great receiver, now they have three or four."

SRUquarterback Nate Crookshank ranks fourth in Division IIwith a passing efficiency rating of 184.4.

"Slippery Rock's wide receivers are a lot like ours,"Tepper said. "They know the system and they know what they're doing in their routes. Both of these teams have plenty of standouts all over the field."

IUPhas a standout in the return game as well. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah averages 42.8 yards per kickoff return and 14.8 yards per punt return.

He has returned one of each for a touchdown this season.

"He's 6-foot-2, 205, and he's a strong kid who breaks tackles,"Tepper said. "He's developed his speed to the point that he can run away from people.

"His parents are of Nigerian descent. His father played for Ohio State."

Owusu-Ansah's name means "Sunday," the day of the week he was born.

Mihalik hopes he doesn't have a big Saturday.

"Ideally, he doesn't touch the ball, but that's hard to do," SRU's coach said. "He's going to get the ball on special teams and we have to contain him."

Rock defensive end Corey Lacek returned to practice this week and is expected to play Saturday. Linebacker Jared Palmer underwent surgery Tuesday for a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula and is out for the season.

Dom Razzano replaces Palmer on SRU's defense. Richie Barnes moves from outside linebacker to middle linebacker and Tyler Henderson, previously a strong safety in The Rock's dime package, moves to outside linebacker.

"We have a few guys learning new positions in a hurry,"Mihalik said. "But they'll be ready."

SRU-IUP RESULTS

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Slippery Rock University trails its all-time series with Indiana (Pa.) 45-34-2. IUP has won 22 of the 28 meetings since 1980:

Yea r- IUP - SRU1980 - 23 - 221981 - 10 - 31982 - 13 - 141983 - 14 - 151984 - 35 - 141985 - 37 - 201986 - 14 - 91987 - 21 - 61988 - 38 - 01989 - 52 - 71990 - 62 - 131991 - 38 - 01992 - 34 - 171993 - 45 - 241994 - 62 - 141995 - 41 - 71996 - 32 - 311997 - 9 - 161998 - 21 - 271999 - 14 - 52*1999 - 27 - 202000 - 24 - 202001 - 23 - 7#2002 - 34 - 282003 - 27 - 142004 - 34 - 132005 - 38 - 172006 - 17 - 21

* — Division IIplayoffs# — overtime