SLIPPERY ROCK — East Stroudsburg looks to keep bouncing forward.

Slippery Rock hopes to bounce back.

The Rock (10-1) — coming off a 31-7 PSAC Championship Game loss at Kutztown — returns home to host East Stroudsburg (9-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday in an NCAA Division II playoff game at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The state title loss dropped SRU from No. 4 in the national rankings to No. 15. It also denied the team the No. 1 ranking in Super Region One and the first-round playoff bye that comes with it.

“If we’re feeling sorry for ourselves come Saturday, we’re going home,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “This team (East Stroudsburg) isn’t satisfied just making the playoffs. Not at all. This is their year and they’re coming here to win.”

The Warriors’ only two losses are decisions of 34-27 to Kutztown and 43-17 to Shepherd. Both of those teams are also in the Division II playoffs.

Jimmy Terwilliger, a former Harlon Hill Trophy winner and record-setting quarterback at East Stroudsburg, is in his fourth season as head coach of the Warriors. East Stroudsburg finished 4-7 last year and 5-6 in 2021.

“When I first took this job, I didn’t bring in any transfers,” Terwilliger said. “I wanted to recruit local kids, build this thing from the ground up. These guys started as freshmen and sophomores and we took our lumps.

“Now we’re a seasoned, experienced football team that knows the system. These guys are used to playing together.”

East Stroudsburg defeated California (Pa.), 37-30, last week to earn a playoff spot.

“The playoffs began for us last week,” Terwilliger said. “We openly talked about that. If we didn’t win, we were done. Everybody knew that.”

The Warriors have used three quarterbacks — Sean McTaggart, Charlie McKee and Mark Tobias — and may use all three at some point on Saturday. Five receivers have between 11 and 30 receptions for between 221 and 442 yards.

“We use thiose guys like relief pitchers in baseball,” Terwilliger said. “We ride the hot hand.”

Running backs Tyrig Lewis and Tahir Mills have combined for 1,207 yards and 13 touchdowns this year.

“We’re not a team of stars,” Terwilliger said. “We mix things up, use a lot of people and take what the defense gives us.”

Kutztown rushed for 275 yards against The Rock last week. Lutz anticipates East Stroudsburg — with a sizable offensive line — may try to do the same thing.

“Keep our offense off the field and control the ball,” Lutz said. “That worked against us in that game and East Stroudsburg has that same type of offense that can challenge us.”

East Stroudsburg’s starting offensive line weights 280, 290, 290, 345 and 410 pounds. Right tackle Guy Gilyard is 6-foot-8, 410 pounds.

“Play good defense, control the ball ... That’s what got us here,” Terwilliger said.

Despite last week’s struggles, The Rock is averaging 42.5 points per game. SRU is averaging 173.1 yards in the ground, East Stroudsburg 172.3.

The Warriors lead the nation with 19 interceptions and have 30 quarterback sacks.

“They give up 2.7 yards per carry,” Lutz said. “We have to be able to run the ball on them to set up the pass. We need to keep them from getting after our quarterback.”

Brayden Long threw three interceptions last week after being picked off only twice in the his first 10 games.

Terwilliger isn’t anticipating a similar performance from The Rock this weekend.

“Every team has a down game at some point,” he said. “They happened to have theirs last week. Their overall body of work is impressive. They’ve been dominant.

“That’s the team we expect to see on Saturday.”

SRU leads the series between the teams, 15-3, and has won the last four meetings. East Stroudsburg hasn’t defeated the Rock since a 54-28 decision at ESU in 2009.