SLIPPERY ROCK — Despite going toe-to-toe on the ground with its opponents, Slippery Rock could not overcome early difficulties in its 42-23 football loss to Wilmington Friday night.

The Rockets' defense paid the consequence of an early roughing-the-kicker penalty call against them to extend a Greyhounds' possession.

With the extra 15 yards and a fresh set of downs, Wilmington took advantage with a 23-yard run by Spencer Demedal for a 6-0 lead.

Later in the first quarter, the Rockets' Ryan Lauster ran 49 yards to the end zone.

However, the play was called back after a block-in-the-back penalty cost Slippery Rock 10 yards, and the Rockets were forced to punt.

Wilmington scored again with a Cameron Marett 2-yard touchdown run, putting the Greyhounds up 14-0 in the first quarter.

“Penalties early in the game hurt us,” Rockets coach Travis Sarver said. “You've got to get a stop to overcome mishaps early and we just couldn't get a stop.”

Despite being behind 21-3 in the second quarter, the Rockets looked to have found their rhythm. Trent Porter broke out for a 47-yard scoring run to cut the deficit.

Porter ran 11 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

On the third play of the Rockets' first second-half drive, Lauster found an outside opening and sprinted downfield for 80 yards and another Slippery Rock touchdown.

However, the Rockets' defense could not contain the Greyhounds' running attack.

On the ensuing Wilmington drive, the Greyhounds ate up over five minutes of clock and drove for 67 yards en route to a Kyle Slicker one-yard touchdown run.

The Rockets kept up the pace with a 33-yard touchdown run by Porter.

But the Greyhounds scored again after Slicker found the end zone again with a 21-yard scoring run with 11:55 to go in the fourth quarter.

Slippery Rock started at their own 45-yard line and overcame a 10-yard holding penalty to drive down to the Greyhounds' 9-yard line.

The Rockets had 14 yards to go for a touchdown. Lauster tried for Rossi again, however, the pass was broken up at the goal line and Wilmington took over on downs.

The Greyhounds scored again with a Spencer Demadal 33-yard touchdown run to ice the game.

Demadal ran 11 times for 106 yards and three touchdowns.

Marett also put up numbers for the Greyhounds, rushing 11 times for 116 yards and a touchdown.

The Greyhounds offense ran for 341 yards.

“We came into this game and I told them (team), 'I want you to show me that you are a playoff team,'” Greyhounds coach Terry Verelli said. “They (Slippery Rock) has a good team.”

Verelli said the team is “beat up” and has a high number of underclassmen, but he is happy and excited about going to the playoffs.

Lauster ran for 146 yards on 21 carries, a team high. He also scored a touchdown.

The Rockets offense ran for 271 yards.

“It's what we do well,” Sarver said about the running offense. “We're going to clean that up and work on it also.”