SLIPPERY ROCK — Brendan Hathaway has spent most of this season cutting down trees on his property.

His Slippery Rock High football team has spent the same amount of time chopping down opponents.

The Rockets are a dominating 5-0 this season and are coming off pair of wins by a combined score of 128-18.

Slippery Rock will hope to keep chopping wood when it travels to Warren to take on the Dragons at 7 p.m. Friday.

“We’re 0-0 right now,” Hathaway said. “Some of the teams we have played this season were struggling with injuries and struggling with numbers a little bit. Teams that we are going to be playing here the next couple of weeks, we’re really going to see where we are as a program.”

The Rockets have done anything but struggle so far this season.

Slippery Rock (5-0, 2-0) is averaging 397 yards rushing per game and nearly 10 yards per carry. And that is with more than a dozen players getting at least one rushing attempt.

“Our younger guys, when we’ve put them into the game, they’ve executed just as well as the older guys,” Hathaway said.

The Rockets have run the ball 204 times and have thrown the ball a mere 10 times this season.

That is not a concern for Hathaway.

“Our offense isn’t built to throw the ball,” Hathaway said.

Warren’s offense is, however.

Dragons’ quarterback D.J. Fehlman was 16-of-25 for 251 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Oil City last week.

Fehlman, a junior, replaced Austin Jerman under center this season. Jerman threw for more than 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns last season for Warren (4-1, 2-1).

Fehlman is on pace to match those stats from Jerman last year. He has thrown for 927 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

His main target as been Tanner Stanz, who has caught 14 passes for 243 yards and eight TDs.

The Slippery Rock secondary will be tested this week.

“Their quarterback is an athlete,” Hathaway said. “He runs around on offense and defense and makes plays. As we preach every week, it’s going to come down to not giving up the big play.”

That is something the Rockets have done successfully this season.

Slippery Rock has been stingy on defense, surrendering just 47 points and an average of 181 yards per game this season.

Meanwhile, the offense has racked up big plays in bunches this season.

That was clearly evident against East last week when the Rockets rushed for 532 yards on only 35 carries.

Ryan Lauster had three carries for 131 yards; Trenton Porter two attempts for 83 yards and Shane Kirkwood one carry for 64 yards (and a touchdown).

If Hathaway has a quibble with his team this season, it’s that it’s been too explosive on offense.

“Probably the only thing I’m a little concerned about is we have to look at a 15-play drive as a really good thing,” Hathaway said. “In this offense, a 4-yard gain is a good play. The big play isn’t what this offense is all about. That needs to be our mentality, our philosophy.”

Mars (4-1)

at Uniontown (1-4)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Mars defeated visiting Greensburg Salem 38-13. Uniontown lost to Elizabeth Forward 56-20.

Numbers: Mars senior QB Owen Nearhoof has passed for 485 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions this season. ... Uniontown has been outscored in its last three games 151-41 in losses to West Mifflin, Ringgold and Elizabeth Forward, all Big Nine Conference opponents.

Notes: Uniontown is coached by John Fortugna, who has guided the Red Raiders since 1995. He last led the team to the WPIAL playoffs in 2009. Since then, the program has gone a combined 8-24. ... The Red Raiders’ one victory this season came against Albert Gallatin, a 26-25 decision Sept. 6. ... Mars beat Uniontown last year 44-0.

Keystone (0-5)

at Karns City (4-1)

7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Keystone fell 48-20 to Clarion-Limestone; the Gremlins demolished Franklin 62-7.

Numbers: Zach Stiglitz leads the Panthers in rushing with 233 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries. ... Junior QB Austin Chambers has completed 25-of-58 passes for 459 yards. ... Dustin Wolbert is Keystone’s top receiver with nine catches for 151 yards and two scores. ... Karns City QB Tyler Kepple leads the county in passing, going 37-of-66 for 711 yards with 11 TDs and five interceptions. ... Kepple threw five TDs last week, including four to Dakota Mohney, who has 12 catches for 256 yards and six TDs this season. ... After missing the first two games of the season, Tristan Rhoades has paced the Karns City rushing attack with 411 yards and five touchdowns on 26 attempts.

Notes: The Gremlins beat Keystone 34-7 last season. ... Karns City has outscored its opponents 213-81, while the Panthers have been outscored 239-77.

Moniteau (0-5)

at Redbank Valley (3-2)

7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Moniteau was edged 20-14 by Brookville; Redbank Valley defeated A-C Valley 45-12

Numbers: The Warriors are led by quarterback Cody Skiver, who is 27-of-61 passing for 384 yards with three TDs and nine interceptions. The junior also has a team-high 290 rushing yards on 64 carries. ... Stephen Hagg has 170 rushing yards on 44 carries. ... Trevor Shaffer leads Moniteau in receiving yards with 132 on seven catches. Dustin Geagan has tallied eight receptions for 106 yards. ... The Bulldogs’ ground game is paced by Mark Strothers, who has 601 yards and nine TDs on 72 carries. ... Redbank QB Jake Dougherty is 40-of-81 passing for 702 yards with seven TDs and two interceptions. ... The Bulldogs have four receivers with at least seven catches and 90 receiving yards.

Notes: The Warriors’ lone win of the season in 2012 came during a 32-8 triumph over Redbank Valley.

Burrell (2-3, 1-3)

at Freeport (1-4, 1-4)

7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Burrell was routed by Kittanning 48-14; Freeport was shut out by Shady Side Academy 28-0.

Numbers: The Freeport defense has played well for most of this season. The Yellowjackets held SSA to 269 yards. ... The Yellowjacket offense continued to struggle, however, gaining a mere 62 yards and collecting only five first downs. ... Michael Troup led Freeport with 41 yards on 15 carries. ... The Bucs were hurt by mistakes in the loss to Kittanning. After an INT that halted a Kittanning drive, Burrell fumbled it back on its first offensive play following the TO. ... Bucs’ QB Cody Wolfe threw a TD pass to Nick Pattock. ... Burrell has been outscored 97-28 in back-to-back losses to SSA and Kittanning.

Notes: Freeport beat Burrell 26-7 last season.

Saegertown (0-5, 0-4)

at Grove City (3-2, 2-2)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Saegertown lost to Wilmington 49-0 while Grove City fell to Greenville 34-13.

Numbers: Grove City RB Foster Reznor has been a bright spot for an Eagles’ offense that is struggling. The senior has rushed for 404 yards and scored six TDs. Saegertown has scored just two TDs as a team this season. ... The Panthers have been outscored 286-14 this season. ... Saegertown QB Ryan Kirdahy has completed only 2-of-17 passes this season. ... The Panthers have 274 yards of offense this season.

Notes: Grove City beat Saegertown 55-15 last year.

Brookville (4-1)

at A-C Valley (0-5)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Brookville defeated Moniteau 20-14 while A-C Valley dropped a 45-12 decision at Redbank Valley.

Numbers: Brookville senior RB Zach Vroman tallied 117 rushing yards last week, putting him over 1,000 for the season and 3,000 for his career. ... A-C Valley senior RB Dallas Wingard has totaled 315 rushing yards this season, second on the team behind Mike Suto’s 386.

Notes: The Raiders’ lone defeat this season was a 32-22 setback at St. Marys Sept. 13. ... The Falcons held a 12-0 first-quarter lead last week against Redbank, thanks to touchdowns from Wingard (98-yard kickoff return) and Suto (43-yard run).

Kennedy Catholic (0-5)

at Union (1-4)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Kennedy Catholic was trampled 42-6 by Lakeview; Union was blanked 62-0 by Clarion.

Numbers: Union quarterback Lane Cicciarelli sat out with an injury last week, but has thrown for 35-of-67 from 661 yards with nine TDs and three interceptions this year. His status for Friday is unknown. ... Dylan Shirey leads the Golden Knights in rushing with 301 yards on 50 carries. ... Shane Murphy has hauled in 12 passes for 273 yards and six TDs, while Chet Carmichael has 13 catches for 249 yards and one score. ... Kennedy Catholic has been outscored 190-34 this season.

Notes: Union beat Kennedy Catholic 42-21 last season.

Summit Academy (2-3, 2-2)

at Deer Lakes (0-5, 0-4)

7:30 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Summit Academy downed Ford City 38-15; Deer Lakes was dropped 21-13 at Charleroi.

Numbers: Elijah Hardy leads the Knights in rushing with 529 yards and six TDs on 61 carries. ... Larry Richardson is the second-leading rusher with 216 yards on 29 carries, while Kush Wilkerson has chipped in 175 yards on 27 totes. ... Summit linebacker Nate Cofer has returned a fumble for a touchdown in each of the past two games and also has a rushing TD this season. ... The Lancers have been outscored 175-45 this season.

Notes: Deer Lakes edged Summit Academy 18-14 last season.