Powell fuels Rockets
SLIPPERY ROCK— It was a warm night, but nothing was hotter than quarterback Jono Powell.
The Slippery Rock High senior posted a strong start in his final season, leading the Rockets to 35-0 win over Fort LeBoeuf Friday.
The Bison had no answer for Powell, who racked up 183 yards on the ground and two touchdowns to go with his 77 yards through the air and two touchdown passes to wide receiver Derrick Orloski.
The Rockets scored on all four of their first-half possessions, flying out to a comfortable 28-0 halftime lead.
On the first possession of the night, Slippery Rock marched down the field in 11 plays, passing only once and capping the drive with a 4-yard plunge by Ayron Gallagher.
After forcing Fort LeBoeuf to punt at the 40-yard line, Slippery Rock went on an 89- yard drive in five plays, with Powell throwing a 23-yard strike to Orloski for the first of his touchdowns.
After Bison quarterback Colin Feeney threw an interception, the Rockets went up 21-0 when Powell ran for a 33-yard touchdown.
But the Rockets were still not done. After a muffed kickoff, the Bison could only make it to their own 7-yard line, where they were forced to punt.
After a 20-yard return by Orloski, Powell took a muffed snap and ran 16 yards to put the Rockets up by 28 at the half.
The Bison had a chance at the end of the first half to score a touchdown, but Feeney had his ball tipped at the line of scrimmage and was intercepted by Gallagher inside the 5-yard line to end the half.
With virtually no passing attack from Fort LeBoeuf, the Rockets just had hang onto the ball in the second half to seal the deal, and they did just that.
The final score of the evening came on the second touchdown hook up between Powell and Orloski, this one from the 8-yard line just two minutes into the fourth quarter.
The Rockets' defense was stellar the entire evening, never surrendering a score and forcing five turnovers.
Powell's main target through the air for Slippery Rock was Orloski, who ended up with five catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Gallagher picked up 47 yards on nine carries, while Justin Angerett gained 43 yards on five carries.
