Slippery Rock High football 2024 preview: What to watch, 3 things to know and schedule
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Slippery Rock football players Jacob Reich, left, Cooper Glass and Owen Long pose for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football players Owen Long, front, and Jacob Reich, back left, Coach Larry Wendereusz and Cooper Glass pose for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football players Owen Long, Jacob Reich and Cooper Glass talk with Butler Eagle Managing Editor Donna Sybert during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football players Owen Long, front, and Jacob Reich, back left, Coach Larry Wendereusz, and Cooper Glass pose for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football players Jacob Reich, left, Cooper Glass and Owen Long pose for a group photo during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football coach Larry Wendereusz, left, and Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Adams chat while the Butler Eagle podcast team make social media videos during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Adams speaks with Slippery Rock football coach Larry Wendereusz during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football player Cooper Glass poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football player Cooper Glass poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football coach Larry Wendereusz poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football player Owen Long poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football player Jacob Reich poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football player Owen Long poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock football player Jacob Reich poses for a portrait during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)
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Slippery Rock High School offensive lineman Jacob Reich strikes a pad held by a teammate during a Monday practice at Troy-Alan Stadium. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High School offensive lineman Jacob Reich blocks the air during a drill in Monday's practice at Troy-Alan Stadium. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High School football kicker Zach Lasko rings out ice cold water to try and stay cool during football practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock High School quarterback Freddy Campagna cocks back to throw a pass during the first half of the Rockets' Monday practice. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock quarterback Freddy Campagna spins the ball during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock High School running back Owen Long surges through a hole against air during the first half of the Rockets' Monday practice. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s coach Larry Wendereusz talks with players during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock quarterback Johnny Petras works on his throwing form during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock’s coach Larry Wendereusz talks with players during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock’s coach Larry Wendereusz talks with players during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock’s coach Larry Wendereusz talks with players during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock quarterback Freddy Campagna works on his throwing form during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock quarterback Freddy Campagna works on his throwing form during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock quarterback Freddy Campagna works on his throwing form during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock quarterback Freddy Campagna works on his throwing form during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock’s Doug Popovec tries to keep three balls in place during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock’s coach Larry Wendereusz talks with players during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock’s coach Larry Wendereusz talks with players during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
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Slippery Rock’s coach Larry Wendereusz talks with players during practice on August 14, 2024. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle (08/18/24)
After playing in the District 10 championship game in back-to-back years, Slippery Rock football fell on hard times in 2023, winning just one of its nine games. The Rockets will look to improve on that effort despite a largely green roster.
Just three starters return on offense — lineman Jacob Reich, running back Owen Long and receiver Cooper Glass — and two on defense in Reich on the line and Long at safety.
“We are really, really young,” Rockets coach Larry Wendereusz said. “If we go through a bad stretch, it’s on us coaches to make sure the players don’t get down on themselves. The key is we need to continue to get better every week, win or lose. The kids need to see growth.
“We will make mistakes, but they will come at full speed. If we can play consistently with that kind of effort, it will lead to success.”
A key position battle in camp comes at quarterback to replace for the graduated Eli Anderson, who put up 1,473 yards of offense and nine total touchdowns in 2023.
Junior Doug Popovec and sophomore Fred Campagna are vying for the position. Wendereusz said if Campagna wins the job, Popovec will start at wide receiver. He caught 13 passes for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a sophomore.
The rushing attack will be counted on to take pressure off whoever is calling the signals.
Long should see more carries after rushing for 201 yards and three scores a year ago. His production will go a long way in determining if the Rockets can improve on their 3.2 yards per carry from last year. Alex Cornelius will also see time in the backfield.
“I need to be a more physical runner this year, get yards after that first hit and break tackles,” said Long, who added 15 receptions for 111 yards last season.
Glass is the team’s top returning receiver with 20 grabs for 221 yards and a touchdown in 2023. He will be joined in running routes by Zac Frederick and possibly Popovec.
“I want to be there to lead the younger guys,” Glass said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but I want to help keep everyone positive.”
The Rockets aim to improve on offense after the team scored seven or fewer points in four games last year.
“We want to be balanced, and to do that we need to spread defenses out,” Wendereusz said.
1. Getting their chance
A host of defensive players are hoping to earn either starting jobs or significant playing time.
They include Brayden Hemphill, Liam Throm, Klint Shamblin and Cade Grossman on the line; Lamont Patterson and Kolbie Magill at linebacker and Cornelius in the secondary.
“At linebacker, we have two sophomores and four freshmen,” Wendereusz said. “There’s a different vibe on this team with the kids being so young. They are so eager to learn and are excited to get going.”
2. Against the odds
The youth and inexperience the Rockets carry into the season has them pegged as underdogs.
“I am embracing that role,” Long said. “If we win a game nobody expects us to win, it will show people we are better than they thought.”
Whether or not Slippery Rock is able to consistently take steps forward will be on Reich’s radar.
“Wins are a plus, but if the effort is there and we’re doing our best, I would love to see that,” he said.
3. Unknowns on schedule
While Grove City, Hickory and Sharon remain region foes of the Rockets, Conneaut and Titusville are newcomers to the field.
“What those teams do offensively and defensively, their tendencies, figuring that out will be a transition for us,” Wendereusz said. “There’s definitely going to be a learning curve.
“We open the season against Fairview. I’ve never coached against them, and we’ll be learning on the run.”
- Friday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m. - at Fairview
- Saturday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m. - vs. Franklin
- Friday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. - at Sharon*
- Saturday, Sept. 14, 1 p.m. - at Grove City*
- Friday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. - vs. Sharpsville
- Thursday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. - at Harbor Creek
- Friday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m. - vs. Conneaut*
- Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. - vs. Titusville*
- Friday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. - vs. Hickory*
- Friday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. - at Mercer*
* connotes division/conference game
Correction: This story was updated 11 p.m. Aug. 21. A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled Kolbie Magill’s name.
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