SLIPPERY ROCK — Call it the Zack Ejzak Effect.

Last year, the Slippery Rock High School basketball player turned football star caught passes for 889 yards and made the all-state team in his first season in pads as a senior.

His success has brought several players out of the woodwork who seek the same gridiron greatness at Slippery Rock, and coach Clyde Conti is happy to welcome them into the fold.

"We need those kids to cross over," Conti said. "We have a lot of kids who haven't played football before."

Conti is hoping at least one of his new players can make the same kind of impact Ejzak made last season, when the Rockets advanced to the District 10 playoffs for the first time in four years.

There are several intriguing candidates.

Out for the football team for the first time are junior Ethan Geisler, the point guard on the basketball team and a state qualifier in the hurdles; senior Isaac Osborne, who has the potential to make it to the state track meet in the hurdles; speedy sophomore Ryan Gordon and plenty of freshmen on the middle school track and field team.

Slippery Rock might need them. The Rockets lost Ejzak, two starting halfbacks and some key members of the offensive and defensive lines.

"We have other kids we think are capable of coming in and playing well," Conti said.

There is no problem at quarterback, a position Jono Powell has held down for two seasons.

Last year, Powell passed for more than 1,000 yards and rushed for nearly 700 more. He combined for 17 touchdowns through the air and on the ground.

Powell also is the unquestioned leader of the team.

"I love his intensity," Conti said. "I love his desire to play the game, to come to practice, to work. He does that every day to try to get better. He's a team player. Certainly, he's a main cog for us."

Powell has the freedom to change plays sent in from the sideline. To Conti, his quarterback is like another coach on the field.

"This year is the most important year of football I have ever played," Powell said. "I just want to push everyone to give it their all. As long as everyone works hard and gives 110 percent, whatever happens, happens. I will be happy."

That appears to be happening.

Conti has few worries about the work ethic of his team, which he calls one of the most dedicated groups he has ever coached.

"Sometimes your best athletes aren't your hardest workers. We're fortunate here where our best football players are our hardest workers," Conti said. "You are always looking for the younger guys to learn from the older guys."

Ayron Gallagher will move into the fullback position vacated by RyanFerguson, who had some huge games when he was healthy last season.

Gallagher showed he could be a force as well when he filled in for Ferguson, who missed part of the season with a hip injury.

"He can play a number of different positions," Conti said. "He never misses a workout. He has a big upside to him. We need him to play well."

Slippery Rock moves back intoDistrict 10 Class AA after spending two years inClass AAA.

Conti will be reunited with some of the venerable coaches in the league, such as Terry Verrelli from Wilmington.

"I missed seeing those guys the last couple of years," Conti said.

Defensive inconsistencies hurt the Rockets in 2007. Slippery Rock gave up 26 points per game, but that number was skewed by a couple of contests in which the Rockets coughed up better than 50 points.

"I think it is difficult to win a championship if you don't play team defense in a team sport," Conti said.