SLIPPERY ROCK — Familiarity breeds contempt?

It has in terms of the annual Slippery Rock University-Gannon football match-up.

“After IUP, they may be our biggest rival right now,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “That's been a pretty tough series for us.

“Once you get into (PSAC West) division play, opponents are more familiar with each other. You run up against players who you recruited, the stakes are higher. The intensity level definitely goes up.”

The Rock (3-0) travels to McConnell Family Stadium in Erie for a noon kickoff with Gannon (1-2) Saturday in a mutual PSAC West opener. The teams have split their 12 previous meetings, though The Rock owns wins of 41-14 and 34-13 in the past two years.

The Golden Knights have endured 11 turnovers — five interceptions and six lost fumbles — in their first three games.

“Those turnovers have definitely cost us games,” Gannon coach Brad Rzyczycki said. “We've thrown a pick-six, had a fumble returned for a touchdown, that's handing the other team points.

“If there's a big hit on a guy and the ball is jarred loose, you can live with that. But, overall, we have got to take better care of the football and we have to force more turnovers.”

Since opening the season with a 55-22 win over Southern Connecticut State, Gannon has dropped decisions of 41-33 to Shippensburg and 27-10 to Bloomsburg.

The Golden Knights have the PSAC's top rusher in Marc Jones (524 yards, 6 TDs) and two solid receivers in Tyler Palka (21 catches-229 yards) and Dontae Owens (13-127).

“That 1-2 record is not who they are,” Lutz cautioned.

“Jones is 5-foot-10, 225 pounds. He's a bowling ball,” Rzyczycki said. “He's tough to tackle. He's been a constant for us.”

What hasn't been constant is Gannon's lineup. Like Slippery Rock — which has already lost six linebackers to injury this year — the Golden Knights are dealing with injuries defensively.

Offensively, Rzyczycki is uncertain whether junior quarterback Zach Phillips will be ready come Saturday. Phillips was injured last week and replaced by freshman Jimmy Keefe.

“We have to see how things go in practice,” Rzyczycki said. “We'll decide (Saturday) whether to dress him for action or not. Zach needs his legs to be effective. We have to make sure he's good there.

“I am fully confident we can win this football game with Jimmy at quarterback. He threw for a lot of yards and touchdowns at (Cleveland) St. Edward's High School and he's a smart kid.”

Former Gannon QB Tyler Palka — who completed two of 18 passes vs. SRU last year — has been moved to the slot and leads the Knights with 21 catches for 229 yards.

“He's not listed on our two-deep because we line him up all over the place,” Rzyczycki said. “Tyler is too talented to not be on the field somewhere for us.”

Third-down performance may decide the issue Saturday. The Rock leads all of Division II with a 61 percent (25 of 41) conversion rate on third down, but is giving up close to 50 percent.

SRU opponents are averaging 77 plays per game and more than 36 minutes of possession time.

“We have to get off the field on third down,” Lutz said. “We've been allowing first downs on third-and 14 or 15 and that's demoralizing to a defense.”

SRU's explosive receiving duo of Marcus Johnson and Milly Rate were somewhat contained last week, though Johnson broke off two long punt returns and Raye caught a touchdown pass. Rate has caught a pass in a PSAC-leading 30 consecutive games and Johnson had scored at least one touchdown in eight straight games before being shut out last week.

“Those two guys do create a problem,” Rzyczycki admitted. “You have to find a way to contain them.”

“We do have other weapons and other guys came up big last week,” Lutz said. “Isiah Neely had 100 yards rushing, Carnel Harley and Andrew Bridgeforth had big catches.”

Among the Rock innuries at linebacker are Butler graduate Tim Vernick (ankle) and Seneca Valley grad Mason DeHart (shoulder). Both are out of action this week.

SRU is giving up an average of 166 yards per game on the ground, ranking only 105th in that category nationally.

“We won't sell out in stopping the run, but we're going to have to crowd the box this week, that's for sure,” Lutz said.