SLIPPERY ROCK — With Slippery Rock driving to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Ryan Currie bounced outside to find an opening.

Currie had just one man to beat, but as he made his move to the corner, the lone DuBois defender got an arm on the ball and jarred it loose, ending the Rockets' hope for the lead.

The turnover was a theme for Slippery Rock Friday night, as DuBois scored on the ensuing drive and pulled away with a 28-19 District 10 victory.

The Rockets (0-3, 0-2) had taken a 19-14 lead into the half before surrendering the lead early in the third quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Sean Sleigh.

Slippery Rock trailed 21-19 when it gained possession on its own 14-yard line.

Behind seven pounding John McAvoy runs and a Currie scramble, Slippery Rock moved the ball inside the Beavers 30.

But just as it looked like the Rockets were taking command, Currie fumbled on the next play, turning the ball over for the third time.

"Mistakes have plagued us all year, every single game" Slippery Rock coach Brendan Hathaway said. "We're showing heart, we're playing hard, but we gotta cut down the mistakes."

Despite the fumble, DuBois (1-2, 1-0) was pinned inside its 20 and was forced into a third-and-14 situation.

Sleigh dropped back and found a wide-open John Kane in the middle of the field. The 21-yard completion gave DuBois a first down and took the life out of the crowd.

Five plays later, Shawn Newpher had a 39-yard touchdown run to put the Beavers up 28-19.

Newpher's score capped a three-touchdown night, highlighted by a 73-yard kickoff return in the first half.

But it was Sleigh who ignited the offense in the second half.

Sleigh had completed just 3-of-11 passes in the first half before connecting on 6 of 7 in the second, including his first four to help DuBois take the lead on the first possession of the second half.

"Newpher and I both had a great game, but we both have to give it up to the offensive line," Sleigh said. "We struggled a little bit the first couple of weeks, but we're really starting to come together, looking like a team."

Even though DuBois had two big performances from Sleigh and Newpher, the Rockets outgained the Beavers 360-314.

Slippery Rock relied on McAvoy in the running game. He gained 175 yards on 18 carries and kept his team in the game.

With under four minutes remaining, Slippery Rock was again moving into DuBois territory. But this time, Currie was intercepted by Sleigh, thwarting any chance at a comeback with the team's fourth turnover of the game.

The Rockets still are finding encouragement from their last two defeats, knowing they are just a play or two away from turning close losses into victories.

"We had guys stepping in for injuries and Johnny McAvoy is a beast," Hathaway said. "We had a bunch of bright spots out there."