SLIPPERY ROCK - Cory Shaffer is a favorite to win a gold medal this spring in the javelin.

Mike Edwards is one of the most feared 215-pound wrestlers in the state.

Andy Combine is an adept hurdler.

Richie Burnworth and Jake McBride excel in multiple sports as well.

When it comes to the Reynolds football team, there is no shortage of athletes.

Or experience.

Slippery Rock High School football coach Clyde Conti is well aware of the multi-sport stars who dot the Raiders' roster.

When the Rockets host Reynolds at 7 p.m. Friday, his task will be to find a way - any way - to contain all those athletes.

"They're not going to sneak up on anybody," Conti said. "Every coach knows how good they are. They are just solid all over the field. Geez, I've been going through the (film against Kennedy Catholic), and they run almost 60 (different) plays."

Second-year Reynolds coach Tim Scarvel is happy to have the experienced athletes at his disposal.

"It's a big bonus," Scarvel said. "Any time you have kids who are well-rounded athletes, it benefits you. The thing is, they are always competing. They are competing year round, so they know what it takes."

Scarvel also has a lot of four-year starters.

Shaffer, the senior quarterback, threw for 100 yards on 4-of-5 passing Saturday against Kennedy Catholic in the 14-7 win.

Burnworth rushed for 107 yards and a score, and McBride added 38 yards behind a line that includes Edwards.

Combine, a big, bruising fullback-tight end, caught a 57-yard pass from Shaffer.

"These are all four-year guys," Scarvel said. "They have taken their lumps."

Now might be the time they start handing out lumps to others. Scarvel hopes so, anyway.

He has been on the staff for eight years and the head coach for two. This group always was expected to make a run for the region title during their senior seasons.

"I never like to say that because you have to be careful not to give up on a season," Scarvel said. "But in the back of my mind, yeah, we were looking toward this year. We knew this was going to be a pretty good group when they were seniors."

McBride is the back that concerns Conti the most.

"He's an oversized water bug on the field," Conti said. "He always gives us problems."

Slippery Rock is coming off a disheartening 19-14 loss to Fairview Friday night in which they led late, but lost the game on a 35-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds remaining in the game.

The Rockets were victimized by 222 yards passing.

"They know it," Conti said. "I'm not here to throw darts at kids who blow coverages. That was our Achilles Heel."

Scarvel attended the game and left late in the fourth quarter thinking he was going to face a 1-0 team, not an 0-1 one.

"I thought they won," Scarvel said. "When I found out they didn't, I was a little shocked."

Scarvel said he was impressed with Slippery Rock's offense.

There was a lot to like.

The Rockets compiled 368 yards of offense using a balanced attack.

Senior quarterback Ben Collins threw 23 passes, completing nine of them for 132 yards. David Bauer rushed for 119 yards on just 15 carries.

Collins also rushed for 39 yards.

"If I would have known we would have over 300 yards of offense, I would have felt pretty good," Conti said.

Scarvel was particularly impressed with Collins, both his running and passing.

"He's a four-year starter, so you expect that," Scarvel said. "We're going to have to contain him as best we can. The wing-T gives you fits as it is, but when you throw out of it as much as Slippery Rock did, it makes it tough to prepare for."