SLIPPERY ROCK — Last year, the Grove City High football team played keep-away against Slippery Rock.

The strategy worked as the Eagles built a 21-7 halftime lead on the way to a 34-14 victory thanks to an offense that possessed the ball for nearly the entire first half.

Slippery Rock ran just 10 offensive plays in the first 24 minutes and had the ball for just 28 seconds in the second quarter.

Grove City coach Jeff Bell is hoping for a repeat performance this year when his Eagles travel to Slippery Rock to take on the red-hot Rockets at 7 p.m. Friday.

“I think definitely keeping the ball away from them will be great,” Bell said. “The problem is they may only run 10 plays in the first half this week, but they could get 30 points.”

That’s because Slippery Rock (6-0) has shown a penchant for the big play this season.

The Rockets have scored 14 touchdowns this season that have covered 50 or more yards. They are averaging 11 yards per rush and have scored 297 points.

And they are coming off a week in which they rushed for a school record 622 yards in a 55-7 win over Warren.

“I think what we are most happy with, what we are most happy about is the down-field blocking,” said Slippery Rock coach Brendan Hathaway. “These guys hustle on every play. When we watch film, they are in the screen all the way to the end zone.”

The guys carrying the football — and there have been a lot of them — are also buying into the offensive philosophy of Hathaway.

“Make one cut and go,” Hathaway said. “Some of the plays that went for 5 yards last year are going the distance this year.”

After losing two straight games to Hickory and Greenville by a combined score of 71-20, Grove City (4-2) rebounded in a big way against Saegertown with an 82-14 win.

The Eagles rolled up 554 yards on just 23 offensive plays in that lopsided win.

“No matter who you play after losing two in a row, a win is important,” Bell said. “We got a little bit of our confidence back.”

Grove City senior Foster Reznor has been consistent for the Eagles this season both rushing and receiving. He had 457 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground and also has 10 receptions for 210 yards and four scores.

“You look at No. 23 on film and no doubt he’s one of the best, if not the best, running back we’ll see all year,” Hathaway said.

Slippery Rock’s defense has been up to all challenges it has faced this season.

Grove City also has struggled with the health of its offensive line. Four starters returned from last season, but they all have been on the field together very briefly this season.

“I will say we are probably as healthy as we have been this year,” Bell said. “It’s been hard for us to practice because we have to be so careful and we don’t want to lose any more guys. If we lose a couple of more, we won’t have enough to play the JV game.”

Still, no matter which team has been up or which team has been down through the years, this rivalry game tends to be a competitive affair.

“We just need to be ready to play,” Hathaway said. “Grove City is going to be disciplined and well-coached. This is going to be our biggest challenge of the year so far.”

East Allegheny (2-4)

at Freeport (2-4)

7:30 p.m., Friday

Last Week: East Allegheny lost to Shady Side Academy 52-14 while Freeport rallied to stun Burrell 12-10.

Numbers: Freeport finally scored in the first half on a 3-yard run by QB Andrew Romanchak. The Yellowjackets had been shut out in the first two quarters in its first five games. ... Romanchak was 8-of-13 for 83 yards in the win. ... Mitchell O’Shell scored the winning touchdown on a 15-yard run with 2:24 remaining in the game. He had just three carries for 33 yards. ... East Allegheny’s offense starts with senior QB Kyle Whipple, who rallied the Wildcats to a win over Ford City early this season to break the school’s 10-game losing streak.

Notes: Freeport beat East Allegheny 36-20 last season.

Punxsutawney (3-3, 0-2)

at Karns City (5-1, 2-0)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: The Chucks downed Clarion-Limestone 28-12; Karns City earned a 55-14 win over Keystone.

Numbers: Christian Falgout leads Punxsy with 788 yards and eight TD on 138 carries. ... Perry Arrington has also emerged as a threat for the Chucks with 223 yards and three TDs no 39 totes. ... Karns City’s Dakota Mohney is tied for the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy lead with 72 points. He has tallied four rushing TDs, seven receiving TDs and returned an interception for a score. ... Tristan Rhoades leads a versatile Gremlins rushing attack with 464 yards and five TDs on 32 carries. ... Tyler Kepple has completed 43-of-76 passes for 834 yards with 15 TD and six interceptions this season.

Notes: Every game for Karns City has been decided by 35 points or more. ... The Gremlins edged Punxsutawney 17-14 last season.

St. Marys (4-2, 2-1)

at Moniteau (0-6, 0-2)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: St. Marys was blanked 46-0 by Clarion; Moniteau was edged 29-26 by Redbank Valley

Numbers: St. Marys is led by running back Alex Feldbauer, who has 894 yards and nine touchdowns on 123 carries this season. ... The only other members of the Dutch with more than 100 yards rushing are Nate Straub (195) and Jordan Straub (102). ... Moniteau QB Cody Skiver leads the Warriors in passing (36-of-75, 581 yards, 5 TD, 10 INT) and rushing (76 carries, 331 yards, 2 TD). ... Dustin Geagan paces the Warriors with 10 catches for 185 yards and a score and also has 138 yards and a TD on the ground.

Notes: St. Marys beat Moniteau 29-20 last season.

A-C Valley (0-6, 0-3) at Keystone (0-6, 0-3)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: The Falcons dropped a 43-19 decision to visiting Brookville. Keystone lost 55-14 at Karns City.

Numbers: A-C Valley’s Hunter Defibaugh and Andrew Strauser both scored their first TD of the season last week on a 40-yard blocked punt return and a six-yard run, respectively. ... Junior Zach Stiglitz leads Keystone in rushing with 243 yards and paces the defense with eight tackles per game from his linebacker position.

Notes: The Falcons’ 21-7 home win over Keystone last year snapped a 12-game losing streak against the Panthers, but A-C Valley’s last victory at Keystone was a 51-42 decision in 1998. Since then, the Falcons have dropped six straight road contests to the Panthers by an average score of 37-9.

Union (2-4, 1-1)

at Clarion-Limestone (2-4, 2-1)

7:30 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Union blanked Kennedy Catholic 27-0; Clarion-Limestone fell 28-12 to Punxsutawney

Numbers: Union’s passing attack is led by Lane Cicciarelli, who has completed 40-of-83 attempts for 774 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. ... Shane Murphy (308) and Chet Carmichael (300) have each hauled in at least 300 receiving yards. Murphy has seven TDs. ... Chase Alcorn leads C-L with 627 yards and three TDs on 80 carries. ... Brent Slater has also been productive for C-L with 303 yards and two scores on 50 carries. ... Slater is also C-L’s top receiver with 225 yards on 13 catches.

Notes: Union dominated Clarion-Limestone 46-6 last season.

Valley (5-1, 4-1)

at Summit Academy (3-3, 3-2)

Last Week: Valley beat Yough 48-32 in a non-conference matchup; Summit Academy trampled Deer Lakes 48-6.

Numbers: Demetrius Houser has a team-high 565 yards and nine touchdowns on 59 carries. ... Ty Matthews has completed 33-of-55 passes for 539 yards with four TDs and four interceptions. ... Summit’s Elijah Hardy busted loose for four touchdowns last week and has 529 rushing yards on 60 attempts this season.

Notes: Valley beat Summit Academy 22-16 last year.