SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock quarterback Bailey Mertens hit Calvin Rossi for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 4:47 left in the third quarter to break a tie to propel the Rockets to a 42-21 victory over the Sharpsville Blue Devils Friday night on Senior Night.

“Bailey didn't have to threw a lot earlier in the season,” Slippery Rock head coach Larry Wendereusz said. “But he threw well tonight and showed some patience and made some great reads.”

Mertens and running back Seth Slater led the way for the Rockets, as Mertens threw for 94 yards and rushed for 154 yards, while Slater gained 106 yards on the ground.

“Seth was huge for us tonight,” Wendereusz said.

Along with his game-winning touchdown pass, Mertens also found the end zone twice himself on runs of 13 and 14 yards.

The Blue Devils started off strong, as they took the opening kickoff and marched 48 yards on four plays in less than two minutes to take a 7-0 lead.

That would be the only time Sharpsville would hold the lead.

After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Slippery Rock scored twice in the opening minute of the second quarter to take a 14-7 lead.

Stephen Heller caught a fumble out of the air on the first play of the quarter and rumbled 20 yards to the endzone to tie the score at seven.

On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, the Rockets recovered another fumble, and two plays later, Mertens scored his first touchdown of the game.

The Blue Devils would answer back late in the half, as Luke Henwood, who threw for 201 yards for the game, threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Altman to tie the score at 14 going into halftime.

Both teams scored on their opening possessions of the second half, before Mertens threw his game-winner to give the Rockets the lead for good, 28-21.

The fourth quarter was dominated by Slippery Rock, as their ground game, led by Mertens, Slater, and Kaleb Kamerer, who scored two rushing touchdowns, wore the Blue Devils down.

“They physically beat us up,” Sharpsville head coach Paul Piccirilli said. “It's happened more than once. We need to play with more enthusiasm and heart sometimes.

Cameron Prebble led the Blue Devils on the ground with 62 yards rushing, while Altman caught four balls for 117 yards.

Wendereusz was happy for his team to end the home schedule with a win.

“This senior class has gone through a lot of change,” Wendereusz said. “They have had three different head coaches over the last three years, so it was nice to see them go out with a win one more time in their red jerseys.”