Slippery Rock football takes on Minnesota Duluth in season opener. Here’s 3 things to know about the matchup
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Talk about your similarities.
Slippery Rock University enters its 2026 season opener at 6 p.m. Thursday, hosting Minnesota Duluth at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. SRU’s Shawn Lutz is beginning his 10th season as head coach, sporting an 88-25 career record with nine straight winning seasons and six trips to the Division II playoffs.
Minnesota Duluth’s Curt Wiese is starting his 13th season as head coach, sporting a 114-29 record with 12 straight winning seasons and six trips to the Division II playoffs.
While The Rock has won 16 straight season openers, the Bulldogs have won seven in a row.
“We’re mirror images of each other,” Lutz said.
Minnesota Duluth has not played a PSAC team since defeating California (Pa.) in the 2008 national semifinals. SRU has only faced one other Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team before - a 58-15 national semifinal loss to Minnesota State in the 2019 national semifinals.
The Bulldogs were 10-2 last season, losing to Ashland (Ohio) in the first round of the playoffs. SRU finished 6-4 in 2025.
Bulldogs replacing key offensive pieces: Minnesota Duluth must find the offensive production left behind by quarterback Kyle Walljasper and tight end Luke Dehnicke. Walljasper graduated after throwing for 2,378 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushing for 876 yards and 17 scores last year.
Dehnicke caught 61 passes for 1,119 yards and 14 TDs as a freshman last year. He has transferred to Northwestern and figures to start for the Wildcats.
“Our skilled positions will be by committee this year,” Wiese said. “We feel like we have talent there, we just have to sort things out. I like our quarterback. It’s his time and he’s ready go step in.
“He’s more of a passer, but he can run with the ball, too.”
Jacob Eggert is a fifth-year player who completed 18 of 29 passes for 207 yards in limited action last year.
The Bulldogs return six starters on offense, including lineman Carter Geerts (6-foot-3, 290) who is considered one of the best in the country as a sophomore.
“I can see them trying to run and pound at us, set up the play-action for their quarterback,” Lutz said.
Defense, defense: Minnesota Duluth brings back nine starters on defense, including three all-conference defensive backs. Cornerback Preston McQueen, standing 6-3, is listed among the top 100 players in Division II.
The Rock returns eight defensive starters in its own right, including linemen Nick Frisco, Trever Valenti, Brett Kwoka and Brian Young Jr. Daniel Toosen, a starter in 2023, returns after missing two years with injury.
Teddy Gregory and Jacob Snow, battling injuries last year, are healthy and are potential all-conference players.
“We run a 4-2-5 and I love our front six,” Lutz said. “(Freeport graduate) Benny Lane is back to anchor our secondary. I like how we’re stacking up there.”
“We have a lot back on defense and that unit was one of the best in our league last year,” Wiese said. “We’re relying heavily on that group.”
Offensive weapons: While returnee DaOne Owens and Brad Hoffman will be a “game-day decision” as to who starts at quarterback for SRU, plenty of talent will surround the signal-caller.
Returning 1,300-yard rusher JayJay Jordan will also be used to return punts and kickoffs. Reggie Fleurima Jabril Carter, Telly Palmer and JuJu Johnson provide plenty of speed at receiver and (Slippery Rock grad) John Sabo is a returning starter.
“We’ve been spoiled here in the past with fast, game-breaking receivers. We didn’t really have that last year,” Lutz said. “This year, I feel like we do. Our offense could be explosive Jabril Carter is the fastest player on our team. He can flat-out fly.”
Drew Henson is a returning all-confernce kicker for Minnesota Duluth. He booted a 52-yard field last year. SRU kicker Connor Macek, a transfer from Wittenberg, kicked a 48-yard field goal last year.
