SRHS football coach Glenn Hazlet, 2009

SLIPPERY ROCK — Glenn Hazlet has been playing catch up.

Hired only a month ago as the head football coach at Slippery Rock High, Hazlet has had to cram what usually takes months to teach into four weeks.

The Rockets have precious few days left before their first test of the season when they travel north to take on Fort LeBoeuf at 7 p.m. Friday.

"We still have a lot of learning to do," Hazlet said. "The kids have responded well. I just wish we were a little further along."

Hazlet said his team fared well in its scrimmages against Grove City, Brookville and Karns City.

But those were test runs. The real games begin Friday and the Bisons present a particular challenge for Slippery Rock.

Last year, the Rockets rolled over Fort LeBoeuf 35-0. Things might not be as easy this time around.

The Bisons started slowly in 2008, scoring seven points or fewer in five of their first seven games, but the defense improved throughout the season.

Fort LeBoeuf finished 4-6.

The Rockets' biggest opponent may be the tumultuous offseason.

"It's definitely been a struggle for everyone," Hazlet said. "But we're not going up there to lose. I just want to see us smack somebody in the mouth. I just want the kids to play hard."

Freeport at Kittanning 7:30 p.m., FridayThe Yellowjackets are coming off their first playoff appearance in five seasons and return quarterback Alex Isenberg (699 yards passing, five TDs) and running back Andy Teorsky (784 yards, 10 TD) to power the offense. ... Freeport allowed just 12.9 points per game during the regular season. ... Freeport knocked off the Wildcats 21-7 to open 2008. ... Kittanning returns eight starters.

Hopewell at Knoch 7:30 p.m., FridayThe Knights are coming off a disappointing 2-7 season and return little experience at the skilled positions. ... QB Jake McTighe is team's top returning rusher with 190 yards, but he threw for only 284 yards and a single touchdown. ... Hopewell posted a 20-0 shutout of Knoch in last year's opener. ... Hopewell sophomore RB Rushel Shell ran for 1,500 yards and averaged 9.0 yards per carry as a freshman in 2008, drawing comparisons to famous Vikings alum Tony Dorsett. Rushel had three consecutive 200-yard rushing games. ... WR Mark Ross is a third-year starter for Hopewell and QB Mike Hudenski, a wrestling standout, is a first-year starter.

Moon at Mars 7:30 p.m., FridayThe Planets preseason battle for the starting quarterback spot ended prematurely when junior Brad Weischedel was injured in a recent scrimmage against Beaver Falls. ... Junior Eric Guzak, who looked strong in summer camp, will call the signals. ... Mars defeated Moon, 35-0 in the 2008 opener. ... The Tigers last made the playoffs in 2006 and have gone 1-18 since then, including 0-9 last season. ... Moon's new coach is former Upper St. Clair defensive coordinator Jon Miller.

Karns City at Punxsutawney 7 p.m., FridayJunior Dylan Hipple, who was competing for the starting quarterback position with two freshman, not only won the job, but won it impressively."He's further along than what we thought he would be," said Karns City coach Ed Conto. "He's done a good job." ... The Gremlins will face a huge Punxsy team. ... The Chucks, who lost the season opener to Karns City last year, got better as the season went along. ... Punxsy has a new coach in Blake Moilan and have abandoned the spread offense for a more balanced, traditional approach. ... "Last year, the spread kind of blew up on them," Conto said. "This year, they are a more balanced, disciplined football team."

Union at Brookville 7 p.m., FridayBrookville's top two rushers, Kyle Galbraith and Ethan Harmon, are back. Galbraith rushed for 782 yards and eight touchdowns on 138 carries. Harmon tallied 569 yards and six scores on just 98 carries. ... The Golden Knights have a first-team Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference player in Zach Traister, who was the team's No. 2 rusher with 261 yards on 20 carries and the top receiving threat with 23 catches for 371 yards and four TD. He added a kickoff and a fumble return for scores.

Keystone at A-C Valley 7 p.m., FridaySenior quarterback Michael Orrvick is back to spearhead the Falcons' spread Wing-T offense. ... A-C Valley will attempt to snap a 31-game losing streak, dating back to October 2005. ... Keystone senior quarterback Dan Reed passed for 1,059 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. ... The Panthers defeated A-C Valley, 48-20 in 2008 en route to a District 9 Class A playoff appearance, which ended with a 57-22 first-round loss to eventual champion Cameron County.

Summit Academy at Shady Side Academy 7:30 p.m., FridayThe Indians went 9-0 in the Allegheny Conference and 11-1 overall in 2008. ... Do-everything player Brian Nickel is the team's big returner, rushing for 1,452 yards and scoring 166 points. He also led the WPIAL in interceptions with 12. ... The Indians shut out the Knights 37-0 in the 2008 season opener ... Isaiah Davis is Summit's lone returning varsity player.

Grove City at Erie Central Tech 1 p.m., SaturdayGrove City coach Jeff Bell isn't thrilled with opening the season on a Saturday afternoon. ... The Eagles better get used to it. They play Wilmington on a Saturday night in Week 3. ... Central won only once last year and lost the opener to Grove City 21-12. ... Grove City will use two quarterbacks: sophomores Tyler Dagres and Mason DePeal.