Rockets welcome Hornets to new digs
SLIPPERY ROCK — New digs and a new archrival.
That's what the Slippery Rock High football team has to look forward to Friday night when Hickory comes to their renovated home for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The stadium project is nearly complete with new bleachers, a new press box and a new turf field.
The Rockets were able to practice on the new playing surface Monday afternoon.
“It's a great thing for all the sports and physical education classes at the school,” said Slippery Rock coach Brendan Hathaway. “It's great for the community.”
Slippery Rock will christen the stadium against the three-time defending District 10 Class AA Hornets.
Hickory (4-0, 3-0) is off to another stellar start this season and has out-scored its opponents 151-7.
Warren scored the only points the Hornets have given up last week.
Hickory rolled, 50-7.
“I don't see any weaknesses,” Hathaway said. “Usually, you try to find something you think you can exploit, but they have nothing. They're disciplined, big and fast. They are just a great high school football team.”
Slippery Rock (4-0, 3-0) also comes in on the heels of a dominating, lopsided victory, a 48-6 triumph at Titusville.
Hathaway, though, isn't satisfied.
“With the offense we run, you're always looking to improve,” Hathaway said. “You're always looking for better ball-handling, better execution.”
Hickory will trot out three different players at quarterback.
Nick Cannone has thrown for 208 yards and three touchdowns and Malik Spicer has 191 yards passing and three TDs for the Hornets.
Andrew Pryts, who leads the team in rushing with 352 yards and receiving with 172 yards on 18 receptions, may also line up in the wildcat formation.
Pryts has two rushing touchdowns and four receiving scores.
“They have a stable of athletes,” Hathaway said. “They are going to test us in all facets and we better be ready.”
<b>Union (2-2, 2-0) at Redbank Valley (4-0, 2-0) 7 p.m., Thursday</b>Last Week: Redbank Valley beat Brookville 35-7; Union lost to Punxsutawney 53-36.Numbers: The Bulldogs are led by explosive senior QB Jake Dougherty, who has passed for 888 yards and 13 touchdowns. Junior WR Wyatt Hetrick is Dougherty's top target. He has 314 yards receiving on 18 catches. ... Union allowed a season-high 36 points in a shootout with Punxsutawney last week. ... Dugan Gallagher leads the Golden Knights with 425 yards rushing, which is a career high and more than anyone on Union ran for last season.Notes: Redbank Valley leads the all-time series 36-19-1.<b>Freeport (3-1, 3-1) at Kittanning (2-2, 2-2)</b>7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Freeport beat West Shamokin 28-26; Kittanning lost to Highlands 28-13.Numbers: The Wildcats, losers of two straight, are led by dual-threat QB Braydon Toy. He's passed for 374 yards and leads the team with 255 rushing yards. ... Wildcats tight end Nick Bowers, a University of Pittsburgh recruit, leads the Wildcats with 185 yards receiving. ... Freeport WR Dylan Hochbein has caught 20 passes for 282 yards. ... The Yellowjackets have won three straight since opening the season with a loss to Shady Side Academy.Notes: This will be the last ever meeting between the Yellowjackets and Wildcats. Kittanning will merge with Ford City next year.<b>Knoch (2-2, 2-1) at Hampton (4-0, 3-0) 7 p.m., Friday</b>Last Week: Knoch lost to Gateway, 8-7; Hampton defeated Yough, 37-0.Numbers: Knoch QB Dan Farinelli has thrown for 545 yards and threw his first interception last week. ... Knights RB Cody Milsom reached 100 yards rushing in a game for the first time this season last week and scored Knoch's lone touchdown. ... Hampton QB Nick Grabowski has passed for 238 yards and three TDs, rushed for 178 yards and seven scores. ... Talbots RB Matt Rech has run for 244 yards and four TDs.Notes: Hampton has defeated Knoch the past two years, 20-9 and 20-17.<b>Mars (2-2) at Laurel Highlands (3-1)</b>7:30 p.m., FridayLast Week: Mars defeated Greensburg Salem 44-6; Laurel Highlands thumped rival Uniontown 39-14.Numbers: Mars sophomore RB Isaiah Johnson has become a formidable weapon in the Planets' Wing-T offense, amassing 187 rushing yards and four TDs on just 17 carries. He's added four catches for 92 yards and a TD. In his first year as a starter, Mars senior QB Jake Rosswog has thrown for 338 yards with five TDs and just two INTs.Notes: Laurel Highlands went 1-9 in each of the past two seasons. While the program has qualified for the WPIAL playoffs seven times since 2000, the Mustangs are in search of their first winning season in over 20 years.<b>CW North Catholic (4-0) at Riverside (3-1)</b>7 p.m., FridayLast Week: North Catholic beat Brentwood 55-20; Riverside beat Rochester 26-12.Numbers: North Catholic cut down on its penalties last week. The Trojans were flagged nine times for 65 yards. In Week 2, North Catholic had over 100 yards of penalties in the first half. ... Jerome Turner has scored 10 touchdowns and leads Butler County with 68 points scored. ... Panthers QB Jason Dambach has passed for 665 yards and six touchdowns this season. ... Marcel Cleckley leads Riverside with 375 rushing yards.Notes: This is the first of two crossover games for North Catholic against Big Seven Conference competition. The Trojans will play host Shenango in Week 9.<b>Grove City (0-4, 0-3) at Titusville (1-3, 0-3)</b>7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Grove City fell to Greenville, 28-0, while Titusville was routed by Slippery Rock, 48-6.Numbers: Grove City had just six first downs against Greenville. ... Eagles' sophomore QB Kameron Peterson was 10-of-20 for 83 yards, but threw two INTs. ... GC RB Jared Graham, who was replaced at QB by Peterson, managed just 24 yards on 10 carries against the Trojans. He did have five receptions for 49 yards ... Titusville QB Todd Brown attempted 30 passes against Slippery Rock, completing 12 for 96 yards. He also led the Rockets with 33 yards rushing on 11 carries.Notes: Grove City beat Titusville 48-0 last season.<b>C-Limestone (0-2, 0-4) at A-C Valley (0-2, 0-4)</b>7 p.m., FridayLast Week: The Lions lost 46-32 at Smethport; A-C Valley fell 54-6 at home against Moniteau.Numbers: C-L's Kyle Robertson and Mike Macefe both scored a pair of rushing TDs in last week's loss. The Lions had three passes intercepted by Smethport, two of them returned for TDs. ... A-C Valley RB Anthony Painter paces A-C Valley's ground attack with 187 yards on 33 carries.Notes: The Lions were tied with Smethport at 32-all late in last week's game before the Hubbers scored twice in the final 3:37 to claim victory. C-L won last year's meeting with the Falcons 35-27.<b>Summit Acad. (0-4, 0-4) at Freedom (0-4, 0-4)</b>7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Summit Academy lost to Aliquippa 49-14; Freedom lost to Ellwood City 51-14.Numbers: The Bulldogs have struggled to move the ball through the air this season. Freedom has played two quarterbacks, Nick Henderson and Nick Wolff, and the Bulldogs have thrown six interceptions and only completed 40 percent (36 of 90) of their passes. ... Draek Boggs leads Freedom with 48 yards rushing. ... Javon Thomas tossed a touchdown pass and ran for another for Summit Academy last week against Aliquippa.Notes: This is the first ever meeting between the two schools.
