GROVE CITY — Chris Clark and Dwayne Martin made sure the Grove City High School football team was able to tackle the dance floor instead of each other late Friday night.

Clark rushed for 150 yards, including a 65-yard scoring jaunt on the game's second play, and Martin gained 141 yards on the ground on only six carries as the Eagles used the big play to dispatch rival Slippery Rock 21-13 Friday night.

"The good news is, boys, we don't have to practice tonight," Grove City coach Jeff Bell said to his team after the game.

Bell was so displeased by his team's performance in practice during the week that he threatened to hold a full-blown workout after the game if they performed like that again.

"If we can't get it done in five days, then we'll practice six days," Bell said. "Hopefully, that sent a message. If I have to do that, I will."

Largely because of the big play, the Eagles got to attend a postgame dance after the contest instead of snapping the chin straps for a late-night practice session.

Clark struck the first blow for the Eagles when he took a pitch, hit a seam in the SlipperyRock defense at full speed and dashed 65 yards for the score.

The touchdown was twice as costly for the Rockets because they lost linebacker-running back J.R. Thompson on the play with a leg injury.

"I don't know how bad it is," said Slippery Rock coach Clyde Conti. "But it doesn't look good."

SlipperyRock, though, came right back with an 80-yard scoring drive, capped by a 33-yard run by sophomore quarterback Jonathan Powell to tie the score just three minutes into the game.

Grove City's outside linebackers were getting trapped inside, allowing Slippery Rock ball carriers free reign on the edges. The Eagles were able to adjust to that to slow the Rockets' ground game.

Yet Slippery Rock still led 10-7 at the half, thanks to a 31-yard field goal by Craig Bicehouse.

Grove City had plenty of chances to wrest the lead back, but fumbles haunted it. The Eagles fumbled four times, losing three. They lost two deep in Slippery Rock territory.

"There's too much talent up there," Bell said, looking toward the Eagles' locker room. "There's too much talent on this team for us not to have a good season. If we can limit the mistakes, we can play with anyone. But we have to limit the mistakes."

Slippery Rock's defense, the strength of the team last season, played solid throughout, except for the three touchdown plays for Grove City that covered a combined 189 yards.

Martin made the most of his carries, scoring on runs of 69 and 55 yards on consecutive attempts in the second half to put Grove City up 21-10.

The sophomore had 131 yards on three carries after halftime.

The Rockets made one final push, driving to the Grove City 15 before the drive stalled with 1:32 left on the clock.

Needing two scores to tie, Conti sent Bicehouse out for a 32-yard field goal, but the ensuing onside kick hit a Slippery Rock player before the football traveled 10 yards and the Eagles ran out the clock.

"All the kids played well," Conti said. "They played hard. They all played hard. But it's hard to replace kids on the fly."

Slippery Rock was without Thompson for all but two plays and also lost key offensive and defensive players Jesse Kniess and Ryan Ferguson for stretches of the contest.

For Grove City, the win was its first in a season opener in three years.

"We're 1-0," Bell said. "I didn't care if we won 3-2. I just wanted to be 1-0."