SLIPPERY ROCK — The injuries are piling up faster than the points on the scoreboard for the Slippery Rock High School football team.

"We'll play whoever is healthy," said Rockets' coach Clyde Conti.

Slippery Rock will host Franklin at 7 p.m. Friday with an 0-3 record and with a roster decimated by injury.

Three more players went down with injuries in the 35-17 loss to Sto-Rox last Friday. Chase Conti, the senior son of the coach who was playing football for the first time this season, went down on the game's second play with an ankle injury.

Adam Brydon, who was already battling injury, succumbed to his own ankle ailment and Vince Papley gutted his way through the second half with a bicep injury.

"We have a lot of bubbles on our team," Conti said. "We did have a good effort the other night. It just feels like someone keeps punching you in the stomach."

This week, the Rockets will face a team with its own issues.

Franklin has had an up-and-down season already, rolling over Erie Central in the season opener 30-6, only to falter badly in a 26-0 loss to Titusville.

Last Friday's 9-7 win over Meadville was a microcosm of that inconsistency, Franklin coach Dave Smith said.

The Knights came into the season as the favorites to win the new Region 5.

"That doesn't mean anything to us," Smith said. "We've been very inconsistent. That game against Titusville was the worst game I have ever seen a Franklin team play. We were a little more consistent against Meadville, but we have to do better."

Franklin has been giving up chunks of yardage in the running game this season. Teams have gained 447 yards rushing in three games against the Knights this season.

Meanwhile, Franklin has seen its own running game become uneven.

Cody Cummings leads the team with 166 yards on 22 carries, but main rusher Sean Caffrey is averaging only 3.6 yards per attempt.

Quarterback Nick Wested has fared well, however, throwing for 299 yards and two scores while completing nearly 50 percent of his passes.

Smith isn't taking Slippery Rock lightly, either, in part because of its injury problems and in part because of its competitiveness against strong teams.

"This is not a team to take lightly," Smith said. "CoachConti has a way of getting things done and he's doing a great job with all the problems they've had."

One bright spot this season for Slippery Rock has been the play of sophomore quarterback Jonathan Powell, who has completed 11-of-35 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown.

Powell has looked poised beyond his years and has shown the ability to throw the deep pass accurately.

"I've been really happy, without a doubt," Conti said. "That's a tough role to be thrust into, and he's done some nice things. If we wouldn't have dropped a couple of passes, he could have thrown for over 200 yards. He also has some quick feet.

"All I know is he better stay on the field. I hope I didn't jinx him."