Slippery Rock has potent offense

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- All season long, Winston-Salem State’s top-ranked defense has been tested. Come Saturday against Slippery Rock at Bowman Gray Stadium it will face its biggest test.

Slippery Rock is one of the highest scoring teams in the country, averaging 45.5 points a game. George Mihalik, The Rock’s veteran coach, said his offense changed from a traditional set to a more open spread attack two seasons ago.

"I think it’s basically worked a lot better because we are in our second year in the system and everybody kind of knows what their role is,” said Mihalik, whose team is fifth in Division II in scoring.

The attack is led by quarterback Nigel Barksdale, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference offensive player of the year. Barksdale (5-10, 170 pounds) is in his second season with the Rock. He’s fourth in Division II in total yards with 4,096 (3,669 yards passing and 427 rushing); he’s thrown for 30 touchdowns and rushed for four more.

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