Sports Editor John Enrietto takes a look into the dismissal of a Butler girls basketball coach.

When Slippery Rock University’s football team travels to California (Pa.) Saturday, it faces a big game in terms of the NCAA Division II playoff picture.

Of course, this game could mean just as much for the Vulcans in terms of the playoffs. They are not too far from being undefeated right now despite being saddled with a 4-3 record.

The three teams to defeat the Vulcans have a combined 13-2 record. Kutztown handed the team a 24-19 loss in the second week of the season. Shepherd and Indiana (Pa.) are both unbeaten and likely headed to their respective division titles in the PSAC East and West.

Shepherd hosted the Vulcans and needed overtime to come away with a 26-23 verdict. Indiana came away with a bizarre win on the road at Adamson Stadium two weeks ago. The Crimson Hawks defeated California, 22-21, as the Vulcans were denied a potential game-winning field goal attempt when they were flagged for being in the neutral zone in the closing seconds.

The penalty resulted in a 10-second run-off, taking the rest of the time off the clock and virtually ending the Vulcans’ playoff hopes.

California has a definite Butler County flavor to its roster. Seneca Valley graduates Gabe and Josh Miller are a brother act starting at linebacker for the team. Both are among the team’s tackle leaders and combined for a blocked punt and subsequent return for a touchdown on the same play in a win over Clarion earlier this season.

Freeport graduate Matt Charlton starts at right guard as a junior. He transferred from Clarion University. Butler graduate Zack Slomers is a red-shirt freshman receiver on the roster. Seneca Valley graduate Nolan Dworek is a freshman running back.

Some of those guys were on the roster last season when California took its only loss of that campaign — a 38-26 decusion at Slippery Rock — that knocked the Vulcans out of a potential playoff berth. Many will argue the team should have gotten in anyway.

Now this California team is in position to return the favor — and provide some positivity to an otherwise frustrating season. One thing is in California’s favor. Saturday marks its homecoming game and the team has won on homecoming 15 times in the past 16 years.

SRU knows it’s in for a tussle. California knows it’s better than a 4-3 team.

One has a postseason to shoot for. The other has something to prove.

Interesting match-up, indeed.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle