SLIPPERY ROCK — With just 39 seconds remaining, a Kaleb Kramerer 30-yard insurance touchdown run was able to secure a Slippery Rock playoff berth as the Rockets defeated Hickory, 28-17 Friday night.

The touchdown was set up by a Hickory fumble, which put the Rockets deep in their opponent's territory.

Slippery Rock was able to force a total of three fumbles, recovering two of them, which left Rockets coach Larry Wendereusz with nothing but praise for his defense, especially late in the game.

“Since I've been here, we've said defense is the name of the game,” Wendereusz said. “We'll do things offensively to make some big plays here and we're getting to that offensively, but at the end of the day you are going to win the games defensively.”

Hickory opened up the scoring late in the first quarter off a Kuldera Delgros 1-yard touchdown run. On the following drive, Slippery Rock would need just one play to answer the Hornets. An 80-yard Vito Pilosi touchdown pass to David Duffalo tied the game with under a minute left in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Slippery Rock got its first lead of the game when Kamerer scored his first touchdown of the game from three yards out to take a 14-7 lead.

“It just feels like an honor to produce in front of our fans,” Kamerer said. “I just love playing in big crowds, big games, and I love my offensive line. They do everything for me, that's the most important position on the field, I think.”

Hickory answered six minutes later off another Delgros touchdown run, this time from two yards out with just over three minutes left in the half.

The third quarter remained scoreless until a Sam Scarton 35-yard field goal allowed Hickory to retake the lead with just 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The field goal was set up by a pair of long runs by Delgros, but the Rocket's defense was able to hold Hickory to just three points on the drive.

“You know you gotta watch the film to see,” Wendereusz said. “It could be a wrong gap by us here, a wrong gap there, but obviously that's a good football team; they're big up front.”

Slippery Rock again would have a quick answer to the Hickory score. On the next drive, a Pilosi 20-yard touchdown run gave the lead back to the Rockets at 21-17 with 11:15 remaining in regulation.

Kamerer's late fourth- quarter score sealed the deal and launched Slippery Rock into the playoffs.

At the end of the day, Slippery Rock had two 100- yard rushers in Pelosi and Kamerer with a combined 40 rushing attempts between the two.

“We know Vito's got the legs to do things,” Wendereusz said. “When you make your reads and our guys up front do their jobs, he's going get some carries and he's going to get some yardage and he did that tonight.”

The win on Senior Night was Slippery Rock's first home win of the season, after winning their first five games on the road.

“I wish it would have been a lot sooner,” Wendereusz said regarding their first home win of the season. “You always want to win in front of your home fans and it's Senior Night, so it's the last time those guys get to play on this field, so you want them to leave the field with those fond memories of that last game.”

Slippery Rock travels to Oil City next week for its final regular season game.

Hickory 7 7 3 0 — 17

Slippery Rock 7 7 0 14 — 28

First Quarter

H — Kuldera Delros 1 run (Sam Scarton kick), 1:04

SR — David Duffalo 80 pass from Vito Pilosi (NathAnaniel Willison kick), :50

Second Quarter

SR — Kaleb Kamerer 3 run (Willison kick), 9:05

H — Delgros 2 run (Scarton kick), 3:09

Third Quarter

H — Scarton 35 field goal, :20

Fourth Quarter

SR — Pilosi 20 run (Willison kick), 11:15

SR — Kamerer 30 run (Willlison kick), :35

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Hickory, Kuldera Delgros 15-62, Michael Hebnwood 12-63, TEAM 1-0, Julian Burns 3-15, Kameron Fisher 6-13, Nathan Richards 1-12, Asher Patton 1-1. Slippery Rock, Vito Pilosi 21-101, Kaleb Kamerer 19-150, David Duffalo 12-36.

Passing: Hickory, Michael Henwood 6-15-84-0. Slippery Rock, Vito Pilosi 8-14-193-0.

Receiving: Hickory, Michel Filardi 2-49, Asher Patton 2-11, Nathan Richards 1-16, Kuldera Delgros 1-8. Slippery Rock, David Duffalo 5-130, Kaleb Kamerer 2-30, Nathan Hyatt 1-33.