SLIPPERY ROCK — An 0-5 start is a distant memory.

Those first five games seem like another season for the Slippery Rock High football team these days

In a way, it was.

In the second season, the Rockets are 3-1 and will face Warren at 7 p.m. Friday at Slippery Rock University with a possible playoff spot on the line.

Well, maybe.

Slippery Rock's fate is ultimately in the hands of the District 10 committee and whether or not it decides to stick with a six-team field or scale it down to four.

No matter what happens Friday and beyond, Slippery Rock coach Clyde Conti is just happy his team has surged the way it has in the last month.

"It's like a child in the classroom who gets two Cs in a class and then two As for a B average or a child who gets two As and then two Cs for a B average. I kind of lean toward the child who starts with the two Cs then gets the two As.

"It's how you end that counts."

Right now, the Rockets (3-6, 2-2) are earning As in nearly every area.

They beat Erie Central 24-21 last Thursday, rallying from seven points down in the second half for the win.

Slippery Rock's only loss in its last four games was to Titusville, which hasn't given up a point since early September.

Warren (4-5, 3-1) is scuffling a bit defensively, but it rebounded from a pair of losses by a combined score of 92-7 with a 42-36 overtime win against OilCity last week.

The Dragons don't have anything to be ashamed about in their five losses. Their defeats have come against teams with a combined record of 37-7.

"Their record is very deceiving," Conti said. "The only team that beat them in our region is Titusville, and they have six straight shutouts."

Warren will offer Slippery Rock a unique challenge.

The Dragons use a spread offense and their trigger man runs it well.

Jeff Eaton has completed 110-of-197 passes for 1,637 yards and 18 touchdowns.

And he has plenty of weapons to choose from. Four of his receivers have caught at least 18 passes.

Ben Paul has hauled in 28 passes for 580 yards and nine touchdowns. Tyson Himes has 29 receptions for 326 yards.

Running back Cole Boje has been on the receiving end of 28 passes for 408 yards. He also has rushed for 445 yards on 93 carries.

Boje has scored nine touchdowns this season.

"They are a high-powered, high energy offense," Conti said. "Some people have been able to slow them down, but others have gotten into track meets with them. I certainly don't want to get into a track meet with them."

While Warren's offense is as flashy and glitzy as a sports car, Slippery Rock's offense is more like a dependable SUV.

The Rockets are all about controlling the clock and misdirection in the running game.

Jesse Kniess became the running hero of the week against Central, scoring twice and rushing for 92 yards.

Quarterback Jonathan Powell added 73 more yards on the ground.

Slippery Rock's second-half surge may be for naught because of the oddities in the District 10 playoff selection criteria.

"People do things in life for different reasons," Conti said. "If it was all about winning championships, then I'd be all fired up about it. People only remember No. 1 anyway.

"I have some personal feeling about it. It's good talk for the newspapers, but you're not going to get me to get all bent out of shape about it."

Warren coach BrandonFalk could not be reached for comment.