GREENVILLE — Both football teams came away from the Slippery Rock High-Greenville duel with something to remember Friday night.

The Rockets saw the return of senior running back Justin Angerett, who was seriously injured in an Oct. 15 car accident.

The Trojans, after defeating the Rockets 40-7, earned a playoff berth because of Sharon's 14-7 victory over Hickory.

Angerett's 80-yard kick return in the second quarter set up SR's only score of the evening: a 7-yard touchdown run by Ayron Gallagher.

Rockets coach Glenn Hazlett said the team used the game against Greenville to develop some younger players.

"We started a ninth grader (James Bury) at quarterback, middle linebacker and left tackle," Hazlett said. "I think (Bury) played well for his first start as varsity quarterback."

Bury finished the game 3-of-16 passing for 29 yards and one interception.

The Rockets' defense was unable to stop Greenville's rushing attack, allowing it 452 yards. Dylan Zuschlag and R.J. Malson led the attack, with 232 and 102 yards, respectively.

"They complement each other nicely," Trojans head coach Brian Herrick said. "They block for each other. It's nice having these two backs coming out of our backfield."

Zuschlag and Malson scored four of the team's six touchdowns as Greenville established the ground game early and continued to run throughout the game.

The Trojans' defense locked down SR's running game, allowing the Rockets only 45 yards.

The Trojans struck first when Josh Riffe scored on a 14-yard run in the first quarter. Greenville scored twice more on a 59-yard run by Zuschlag and a 3-yard run by Malson to extend its lead to 21-0 with 4:55 remaining in the half.

The Rockets halted the Trojans' momentum on the ensuing possession. Angerett returned the kickoff 80 yards to the Trojans 14. Two plays later, Gallagher cut the score to 21-7.

Gallagher played fullback after playing a lot at quarterback early in the season.

"Ayron's good enough where you can play him anywhere," Hazlett said. "With all of the injuries we have had this season, we've had to shuffle him around a bit."

The Rockets then made two goal line stands at the end of the half to stay within two scores. On the first stand, the Rockets ripped the ball out of Malson's hand while he was stretching for the end zone.

The Trojans (7-3, 4-3) were unable to score the second time because quarterback Dave Holiga stumbled and fell after taking the snap as time expired in the half.

The tough defense at the end of the half didn't carry over for the Rockets (2-8, 2-5), as Greenville rolled off 19 unanswered points to seal the victory.

Both sides were hit with multiple personal foul penalties for late hits and jawing at the referees late in the third quarter and early in the fourth.

"I wasn't pleased with what went on," Herrick said. "We tell the kids to keep their mouths shut and play football."

During one sequence, three personal fouls were given to the Rockets, one to the Trojans, and the referees signaled that one SR player had been ejected.

"No one was ejected," Hazlett said. "I took him out of the game. It was my call."