SLIPPERY ROCK — After playing in the District 10 championship game the last two years, the 2023 season was a tough pill to swallow for Slippery Rock High's football team.

The trying campaign came to an end Saturday with a 49-0 loss to Farrell at Troy-Alan Stadium.

The Rockets (1-8, 1-6) scored just 99 points all season while allowing 350.

"We had a number of kids who we thought would be junior varsity players, but because of injuries and other situations, ended up seeing a lot of varsity time," said Rockets coach Larry Wendereusz. "Players had to move into different roles and that made things difficult for us."

Slippery Rock's lone win came with a 14-7 decision over Greenville in early September. Another victory was within reach the following week at Sharpsville, but the Rockets instead shouldered a 23-6 defeat.

"We had multiple chances to pull that one out, but just couldn't make the plays to make it happen," said Wendereusz. "The effort was there all season, but when the tide started to go against us during games, we couldn't stop it."

That scenario played out in Slippery Rock's game Oct. 13 at Wilmington. The Rockets led 20-13 at halftime, but lost 55-20.

Saturday night's game was scoreless until the undefeated Steelers (9-0, 7-0) scored a touchdown late in the first quarter. They scored five more times in the second period.

Despite the struggles the team endured, senior quarterback Eli Anderson still relished time on the field with his teammates, both in practice and during games.

"You form a special bond with those guys and just being around them, I enjoyed showing up every day to prepare and play," he said.

Anderson was one of 11 seniors to play their final football game for the Rockets.

"I've played football most of my life and to know that it's over, that I'm never going to play again, it's a feeling that is hard to describe," he said.

Farrell 7 34 0 8 — 49

Slippery Rock 0 0 0 0 — 0

First Quarter

F — Juelz Johnson 3 run (kick good), :44

Second Quarter

F — Johnson 24 run (kick failed), 11:33

F — Julius Phillips 13 pass from Kabron Smith (kick failed), 7:28

F — Smith 3 run (Brandon Chambers pass from Smith), 3:42

F — Danny Odem 64 punt return (pass failed), 1:40

F — Simeir Wade 10 pass from Smith (Nemo Jones pass from Aaron Pegues), :11

Fourth Quarter

F — Dey'mar Cain 27 pass from Pegues (Cain pass from Pegues), 1:11

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Farrell, Kabron Smith 4-32, Brandon Chambers 1-6, Juelz Johnson 12-88, Simeir Wade 1-(-7), Stevie Dean 2-21, Rhashaud Dunbar 6-20, Dorean Cain 2-19, Aaron Pegues 2-(-7). Slippery Rock, Eli Anderson 9-10, Dominick Zandi 1-(-1), Owen Long 11-21, Blaise Mullen 1-3, Peyton Reich 1-(-3), Rico Esquivel 2-41, Alex Cornelius 5-6, TEAM 1-(-1).

Passing: Farrell, Kabron Smith 9-10-125-0, Aaron Pegues 4-7-36-0. Slippery Rock, Eli Anderson 7-14-45-3.

Receiving: Farrell, Danny Odem 2-37, Simeir Wade 4-38, Julius Phillips 1-13, Marion Norris 1-17, Juelz Johnson 1-20, Nemo Jones 2-2, Dey'mar Cain 2-34. Slippery Rock, Cooper Alleman 2-16, Zac Frederick 2-16, Owen Long 1-4, Cooper Glass 2-9.