SLIPPERY ROCK — Playing Mercyhurst? Step into the time machine and travel back a few years.

“They play old-school power football,” Slippery Rock University coach Shawn Lutz said. “They narrow the field and come right at you,

“This team will test our manhood. We'll find out if we're a good physical football team.”

The Rock (3-1, 1-0) hosts Mercyhurst (1-3, 0-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. SRU has won all four of its previous home games against the Lakers.

“But they've been close,” Lutz cautioned. “We can never seem to shake this team. The key is to get up on them and prevent them from doing what they do — run the ball, have long possessions and shorten the game.”

Marty Schaetzle is in his 17th year with the Lakers and runs a pro-style offense featuring a 235-pound fullback, along with a 6-foot-3, 215-pound running back in freshman Garrett Owens.

Owens has rushed for 344 yards and a touchdown, but Mercyhurst has struggled to score points. The Lakers are averaging only 12.5 points and 281 yards per game.

“We're just not putting the ball in the end zone once we get down there,” Schaetzle said. “Whether we run it in, throw it in or trick it in, we have to find a way.

“We've had penalties, missed assignments, a number of things go wrong in the red zone.”

SRU has had plenty go right in that area themselves, especially under quarterback Roland Rivers. A preseason third-string signal-caller who was named PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Week last week, Rivers has guided The Rock to 106 points in his first two starts and has yet to be sacked in two games.

“He's turned into quite a story,” Lutz said. “Roland felt a lot more comfortable with the offense last week than he did in his first game.

“But this will be the best defense we've faced so far this year. Mercyhurst is very good defensively.”

Free safety Jake Tarasovitch leads the Lakers with 35 tackles. Junior inside linebacker Corbin Kessler, a Seneca Valley graduate, has 29 tackles.

Kessler also has 2.5 tackkles for losas and 2.5 pass break-ups.

“Corbin is a great competitor,” Schaetzle said. “He's a good learner who plays hard. He's made big plays for us in every game this season.”

Another Seneca Valley graduate, offensive lineman Andrew Davies, is also on the Mercyhurst roster. He is being red-shirted this season.

Slippery Rock High graduate Colten Raabe, a starting offensive lineman for SRU, is expected to return this week from a foot injury.

“We're starting to get some guys back,” Lutz said. “(Quarterback) Taylor King has been cleared to resume activities, but it will be a game-day decision as to whether we suit him up.”

The Rock did lose cornerback K.D. Roberts to a dislocated shoulder last week. He will miss four to six weeks.

“That will hurt a little bit because he's our best cover corner,” Lutz admitted. “And Austin Hence is a 6-5 receiver for them who creates a match-up problem.”

Hence has 18 catches for 261 yards and two TDs for the Lakers, including seven catches for 120 yards in last week's 34-7 loss to Indiana (Pa.). Doug Altavilla, a returning starter at quarterback, has thrown for 665 yards and three scores.

“Doug has been playing well and he's showing some toughness,” Schaetzle said. “We need him to continue to improve and take the next step in making us a more productive offense.”

SRU's defense is ranked eighth in the nation in tackles for loss (10 per game) and seventh with 12 turnovers gained. Sophomore linebacker Trysten McDonald has a lot to do with that, accumulating three fumble recoveries, 20 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception thus far.

Middle linebacker Tim Vernick, a Butler graduate, is fourth on the team with 20 tackles, including three for loss. Defensive end Trey Blandford has nine tackles for loss.

“Slippery Rock is good, as usual,” Schaetzle said. “They are much more experienced on defense and it's showing.”

SRU has won 14 consecutive home night games and 28 of 30 home games since the start of the 2013 season.