SLIPPERY ROCK — Gone are the days.

For 13 consecutive years, Slippery Rock University beat California (Pa.) in college football. You could set your calendar by it.

That all changed in 2003, when The Rock suffered a 22-19 overtime loss to the Vulcans. Now California has won four of the last five meetings between the teams and is ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division IIentering Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Adamson Stadium.

The game will be televised live on FSN.

"They are leading the league in scoring and their skilled people are simply outstanding," SRUcoach George Mihalik said.

The Rock (4-4, 2-3) is trying to put together a winning season. The Vulcans (7-1, 5-0) are trying to repeat as PSACWest champions and return to the Division IIplayoffs. They enter Saturday's game ranked No. 2 in the region.

"This is not going to be an easy game,"California coach John Luckhardt cautioned. "This is my seventh year coaching against Slippery Rock. The first year, they blew our drawers off. Every game since has come down to the fourth quarter."

The Rock has been dealing with injuries all season and this week is no exception. Right tackle Kyle Bond (ankle) and running back Damarcus Cleckley (ankle) both are doubtful for Saturday's game.

Mike Tomaino will move from right guard to right tackle. Brian Henion, recently coming off an injury himself, steps in at right guard.

While California leads the PSACwith 40.1 points and 460 yards of total offense per game, the Vulcans have proven susceptible to the run. They allow 133.5 yards on the ground per game.

"Maybe that's an area we can attack them,"Mihalik said. "But our running game has been inconsistent this year itself."

Ryan Lehmeier leads The Rock with 611 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Lehmeier, Cleckley and Corey Manfull all have missed time this year because of injuries.

"You don't lose a back like Manfull and not feel the effects,"Luckhardt said. "Slippery Rock has a new offensive line and they've been getting better, but injuries have cost them.

"I'm sure they're not having the kind of season they anticipated. Expectations are high in that program, and they should be."

The Rock passing game has struggled all year. Quarterback Brandon Frohnapple has completed only 89 of 189 passes and has been pulled at times because of ineffectiveness.

"It's not always the numbers."Mihalik said. "At times there's been potential plays on the field that aren't being made. Brandon has confidence in himself. He prepares well and works hard. He's still our starter.

"It hasn't always been the quarterback, either. We've had problems in pass protection and with running the ball. But we have struggled at the quarterback position. There's no denying that."

California has shined at the quarterback position. Pine-Richland product Kevin McCabe, a transfer from the University of Virginia, has completed 142 of 213 passes for 1,844 yards, 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

Marcel Pestano, a transfer from Pitt, is his leading receiver with 43 catches for 658 yards and nine TDs.

Former Notre Dame quarterback Paul Failla, who finished his career at Indiana (Pa.), was instrumental in McCabe landing with the Vulcans.

"Paul is a personal friend and he knows the McCabe family,"Luckhardt said. "When it was Kevin's turn to start at Virginia, the team was young and (coach)Al Groh decided to start a freshman when Kevin was a junior.

"After that season, Kevin was looking to start somewhere for a year. Paul Failla asked me if I'd be interested in him and it's worked out for all parties concerned."

The Vulcans use four running backs and have rushed for 22 touchdowns. Daine Williams leads the team with 679 yards while Brandon Lombardy has 418.

"We're deeper in the skilled positions than we've been in the past,"Luckhardt said.

Mihalik is hopeful the SRUteam that pushed IUPto overtime three weeks ago shows up on Saturday.

"We've been up and down and that comes with having a young team,"he said. "But we've played eight games now. Youth is no longer an excuse."

THE ROCK VS. CAL

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Slippery Rock University is 42-28-3 all-time vs. California (Pa.), 15-5 under coach George Mihalik, whose results against the Vulcans follow:

Year-SRU-Cal1988-21-201989-13-201990-35-311991-20-31992-23-151993-40-301994-37-331995-42-141996-42-141997-27-61998-24-31999-31-212000-38-202001-37-272002-41-162003-19-222004-31-342005-28-212006-14-242007-13-22