SLIPPERY ROCK - Slippery Rock High School's football team ended Sharon's championship streak in 2002.

The Tigers turned the tables on the Rockets Friday night, however, as they Tigers knocked off Slippery Rock, 14-9, to keep it reeling in the midst of a six-game losing streak, dating to last season.

Sharon (2-1, 1-1) lost to Slippery Rock, 17-7, in the 2002 District 10 championship game to end a run of four straight titles, but the Tigers seem to be on the rise as they already have bettered last season's win total.

Slippery Rock (0-3, 0-2) was done in Friday night by Sharon's speed and trickery.

Leading 3-0 early in the second quarter, Slippery Rock was forced to punt from its own end zone when momentum dramatically swung in the direction of the Tigers.

Delon Bournes returned the kick 47 yards to the Rockets' 1-yard line. One play later, A.J. Wilson, who rushed for a game-high 123 yards on 23 carries, burst through the center of the defensive line for a touchdown and a 6-3 Tiger advantage. The two-point conversion failed.

Just over four minutes later, Bournes struck again. Running a reverse, the wide receiver tossed a 35-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open K.J. Smith.

"I was just trying to do the best for my team," Bournes said. "I wasn't getting any (passes thrown my way) because they were playing up tight on me. I just told my coaches I would do what I can; and I did what I could to help my team."

"That's something you put in Sunday night while you're watching pro football," Tigers coach Bob Fromm said. "The boys executed it, we called it. (Bournes) made a nice throw and (Smith) made a nice catch."

Slippery Rock had opportunities to come back, but senior quarterback Ben Collins threw two interceptions that squelched those chances. One of the interceptions was by Bournes.

"There are just so many things I don't want to talk about that sound like excuses," Rockets coach Clyde Conti said. "I thought we played hard again tonight. Maybe one of these days, it's going to come our way."

Both teams got away with numerous mistakes. The teams combined on six fumbles, none lost by either team, and three interceptions.

"It wasn't pretty," Fromm said. "Definitely not satisfied, that's for sure. Hopefully we learned how to overcome some mistakes and play all the way through the fourth quarter."

Slippery Rock got back in the game late in the third quarter after Collins helped himself by picking off a Todd Rearick pass. David Bauer ran around the left side of the Sharon defense seven plays later for a touchdown.

Rearick played three series in the second half in relief of starter Mike Snyderwine, who tweaked his groin in the first half.

In the fourth quarter, it was Bournes again who hurt the Rockets' defense. Facing fourth-and-13 from the Slippery Rock 25-yard-line, Snyderwine made his return and found Bournes down the left sideline for a 13-yard gain and a first down.

"The kid (Bournes) catches everything," Fromm said.

The Slippery Rock defense was able to hold after that, but could never move the ball past midfield.

"Sharon has some very good athletes," Conti said. "They're a good team. They played hard."

The road doesn't get any easier for Slippery Rock as it travels to rival Grove City next week for a showdown with the defending district champion and state runner-up.

"It's tough every week for us," Conti said. "It's tough wherever we go. It's just hard every week."