SLIPPERY ROCK — One word can be associated with Slippery Rock University football.

Winning.

The Rock is on a streak of 11 consecutive winning seasons.

The Rock has won 16 consecutive PSAC West games, dating back to October of 2017.

The Rock has won six of the past nine PSAC West Division championships.

The Rock reached the NCAA Division II quarterfinals in 2018 and 2019 and hosted a national semifinal game the latter year.

And this year, SRU is picked to win the PSAC West crown in the preseason coaches poll. Preseason rankings have listed SRU as high as third in the nation.

“Those predictions are based on what the 2019 team did,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “While we have lofty goals for this year, this team hasn't accomplished anything yet.”

While The Rock has 17 players who would have wrapped up their collegiate football careers in 2020 (had there been a season), there are still plenty of newcomers. Only 34 lettermen are back from the 2019 team overall.

Record-setting quarterback Roland Rivers III is gone. So are the running backs from that season. Productive linebacker Brad Zaffram (19.5 tackles for loss) and All-American tackle Chris Larsen are gone as well.

But plenty of talent is back.

“We want to see this thing through,” senior center Austin Wayt said. “A few of our guys who already graduated turned down potential job opportunities to play their final season.

“We all know what we're capable of doing.”

SRU's 13-1 season of 2019 ended with a 58-15 loss to Minnesota State in the national semifinals. The team has had to wait two years to get back on the field again.

“It's been very tough on our guys because this is such a driven group,” Lutz said. “They are so unselfish and function so well as a team.

“Just the time we've had in meetings together has been rewarding.”

SRU has eight starters returning on both sides of the ball. The quarterback position is a three-way battle between senior Andrew Koester, North Dakota transfer Noah Grover and redshirt freshman Brayden Long.

“We have faith in all three of those guys,” senior receiver Henry Litwin said. “We feel like we have three starting quarterbacks and that's a nice thing to have.”

Litwin is a returning All-American, tallying a school-record 103 catches for 1,509 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. He already owns SRU's career touchdown-catch record of 29.

Jermaine Wynn Jr. (1,339 yards) also returns at receiver and is an All-American candidate. Add in Cinque Sweeting and Qaadir Dixon and The Rock's top four receivers combined for 285 catches, 4,108 yards and 48 touchdowns. All four are back.

“I'd put our receiving corps up against anybody's,” Lutz said.

Portland State transfer Evyn Holtz figures to be the starting running back. Fairmont State transfer Tim Smith will see appreciable time as well. Tight ends are John Eakin, known for his blocking, and 6-foot-4 Max Maciejewski.

“Max is healthy this year and will be a weapon in the passing game,” Lutz said. “He should present a real matchup problem for opposing defenses.”

Wayt, right tackle Jake Tecak and right guard Matt Carr are returning starters up front. Butler graduate Nick Stazer may snare the starting left tackle spot.

“We've got leadership up front and throughout this team,” Wayt said.

The Rock has three starters back on the defensive line: All-American Chad Kuhn at end, Jeff Marx at tackle and Garrett de Bien at end. Butler graduate and senior captain Tim Vernick returns at middle linebacker.

Trysten McDonald, injured for most of 2019, comes back to man an outside linebacker spot. Isaiah Manning will compete with redshirt freshman Devyn Clair for the other tackle spot.

Cornerback Khadir Roberts and safety Dalton Holt anchor the secondary. De'Vijan Franklin will man the other corner with Selvin Haynes at safety.

“We've got a bunch of three and four-year starters on defense,” defensive coordinator Dom Razzano said. “We took our lumps when these guys started as freshmen. Now they're mature starters.

“We're still going to apply aggressive man coverage, but we also want to create a few more takeaways, too. We'll mix things up more this year, give offenses more to think about.”

Kyle Butts, a transfer from Monmouth, will likely handle all of SRU's kicking and punting duties.

“I like where we're at,” Lutz said. “We have depth and that may be necessary if COVID contact tracing kicks in again this fall.

“Our focus is not on the playoffs, winning the West, anything like that. We're focused on Wayne State. Just go game-by-game.”

SRU opens the season Sept. 2 at Wayne State (Mich.).

SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

2021 Schedule

Sept. 2-at Wayne State (Mich.), 6 p.m.; Sept. 11-EAST STROUDSBURG, 6 p.m.; Sept. 18-LOCK HAVEN, 6 p.m.; Sept. 25-at Seton Hill, 6 p.m.

Oct. 2-CLARION, 6 p.m.; Oct. 9-at Edinboro, 2 p.m.; Oct. 16-INDIANA (Pa.), 1 p.m.; Oct. 23-at Mercyhurst, noon; Oct. 30-at Gannon, TBA

Nov. 6-CALIFORNIA (Pa.), 1 p.m.; Nov. 13-at Shepherd, noon

2019 results (13-1)

Wayne State (Mich.) 62-37, Shippensburg 54-19, Millersville 49-0, Seton Hill 55-14, Mercyhurst 45-14, Indiana (Pa.) 45-42, Edinboro 41-30, Clarion 41-6, California (Pa.) 31-28, Gannon 56-7, Kutztown 37-35

Div. II playoffs

Shepherd 51-30, Notre Dame (Ohio) 65-59, Minnesota State 15-58

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