NEW WILMINGTON — Slippery Rock had to overcome a slow start under bizarre circumstances to defeat an injury-depleted Wilmington, 27-7, and cap off its second straight undefeated regular season.

Both coaches agreed to a running clock right from the opening kickoff. Wilmington rested most of its starters due to injury and illness.

“It was just a game we needed to play and get over with,” Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said. “I can't afford any injuries going into the playoffs and I'm sure he can't afford any either.”

The win brings the Slippery Rock's win streak in the regular season to 23.

“It was an odd game,” Slippery Rock coach Brendan Hathaway said. “I've never been a part of a game like that before, but we are happy to get a win against a good program like Wilmington.”

Slippery Rock senior quarterback Jake Whitmer scored on a 35-yard run four plays into the second half for what proved to be the winning score.

“These seniors deserve the second straight undefeated regular season,” Hathaway said. “Anytime you can go undefeated in Western Pennsylvania is special. It was one of our goals going into the season and they accomplished it.”

The Rockets added two more scores in the fourth quarter. One was a Ryan Lauster 18-yard run, and the other one was scored by Shane Kirkwood, who recovered a fumble in the end zone.

After a scoreless first quarter, though, Wilmington found a groove and drove 80 yards in 10 plays, scoring on a 14-yard Reese Bender pass to Marc Peoples.

Slippery Rock answered one play later on a 50-yard touchdown run by Ryan Lauster, who finished with a game-high 101 yard rushing, to even the score with 8:57 remaining in the first half.

The Rockets forced a punt on the next Wilmington possession. Slippery Rock moved the ball on the ensuing drive, but ran out of time, which kept the score tied at 7 going into halftime.

The Greyhounds didn't play any starters after halftime. While the Rockets have been dominant in the regular season, they are still searching for their first playoff victory under Hathaway, who has been at Slippery Rock for five seasons.

Hathaway isn't concerned about his team going into that game. He feels they are ready to break through.

“These are a great group of seniors,” Hathaway said. “They hate losing more than they like to win and I think they will be prepared for anything. It's the playoffs. It's win or go home. For us it's onto another season where everyone is zero-and-zero. We're going to try and get that first playoff win.”