Mike Regal will start his 42nd game. Ben Collins his 36th.

It will be an end of an era of sorts Friday night when the Regal, Collins and the rest of the Slippery Rock High School football team suit up to host Erie McDowell.

If it really is the end, that is.

"It's going to be a special night for our seniors," said Slippery Rock coach Clyde Conti. "Mike Regal is the finest two-way lineman I have ever been around. Not many people can say they have started 42 high school football games."

But the intriguing question around Slippery Rock these days is will there be a 43rd for Regal?

What looked impossible not more than a month ago, may be a reality if the Rockets can find a way to topple the latest Goliath on their schedule — the Quad-A Trojans.

With a 3-0 upset win over Region 3 champion Wilmington last week and the fact that the District 10 committee is mulling chosing six playoff teams from Class AA instead of four, Slippery Rock can start thinking about playoffs.

"I don't know, I may be a little biased," Conti said. "But I believe last week (against Wilmington) the two best teams in the conference at this stage were playing.

"I don't get too fired up about these things, to be honest with you," Conti added. "If someone wants to tell us we're not good enough to go, that's their prerogative. All I know is we've been in every football game we've played."

And the Rockets (4-4 overall, 4-3 in Region 3) have played some pretty good football teams.

Wilmington was undefeated heading into the game against the Rockets last week, but Slippery Rock controlled the ball and the game, using a 40-yard field goal by Craig Bicehouse to emerge with the victory.

Slippery Rock ran 59 offensive plays, 57 of them runs.

For the Rockets to win, they may have to employ the same kind of ball control against McDowell.

The Trojans (6-2) beat rival Erie Central Catholic last week to sew up the Region 6 crown.

McDowell has size and plenty of it up front.

Dan Matha, a 6-foot7, 310-pound behemoth anchors both the offensive and defensive lines.

All-region wide receiver Brian Ras is back as a potent threat in the passing game and McDowell can also turn to running back Anthony Weaver and huge fullback Anthony Gore to churn out yardage.

"They're big," Conti said. "You expect that from a Quad-A team."

It may come down to special teams, and both Slippery Rock and McDowell have standout place kickers.

Bicehouse won another game with his foot for the Rockets and has kicked at least one field goal in five of the team's eight games this season.

"He won that football game for us," Conti said. "I'd have no hesitation going for a 45- or 50-yarder in the right situation."

McDowell also has a strong kicker in Justin Gomes, who is considered one of the best in the country.

What it has come down to for Slippery Rock this season is health.

"When Slippery Rock kids got healthy, they started winning football games," Conti said. "This is going to be a very special game for us."