SLIPPERY ROCK — Cody Lawniczak and the linemen for the Slippery Rock football team were a steadying force during the Rockets’ 35-8 home win over Hickory.

Lawniczak and company dug in during goal-line stand in the second quarter that kept Slippery Rock in control.

With a big road showdown in region next week at Hickory, Slippery Rock couldn’t afford a slip-up against Titusville.

“We just needed to figure out their gameplan, get the mistakes out of the way early and make sure they didn’t happen again,” Lawniczak said.

Slippery Rock was ahead 14-0 when Titusville moved the ball to the Rockets 2-yard line on a 28-yard pass from Brady Corklin to Jordan Sutara in the waning seconds of the first quarter.

Following three plays, Titusville had the ball on the 1.

Corklin attempted to run it in, but he was stacked up by Shane Slater.

“That kills their momentum and gives us momentum,” Slippery Rock coach Travis Sarver said. “We stepped up to the challenge and dug in and had a real good gutcheck and executed well.”

The Rockets, who finished with 308 yards rushing, built their lead behind two rushing touchdowns.

Quarterback Bailey Mertens scored on a 25-yard run with 8 minutes, 38 seconds left in the first.

Ryan Lauster, who finished with 85 yards rushing and two touchdowns, scored on a 6-yard run six minutes later.

Slippery Rock’s issues on offense for the rest of the half were self-inflicted.

The Rockets committed 10 penalties and cost themselves 85 yards.

Slippery Rock, thanks to the defense, took a 14-0 lead into halftime.

“We always want to control the clock and time of possession,” Sarver said. “I thought we could have cleaned our game up tonight. We made too many mental mistakes tonight and those things can cost you in game we have to prepare for next week.”

Slippery Rock’s defense didn’t let Titusville get close after the goal-line stand.

While Corklin finished with 172 passing yards, Titusville’s ground game only mustered 53 yards on 25 carries.

“The offense is predicated on being an extension of the run game,” Titusville coach Tom Hancock said. “If you don’t have much of a run game, you have to open those holes up in the middle and be a threat.”

The Rockets’ offense figured things out to open the third quarter.

Trent Porter capped an 8-play, 60 yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.

Porter finished with a game-high 110 yards rushing on 11 carries.

He also scored on a 3-yard run with 1:44 left in the third quarter to put Slippery Rock up 28-7.

After a slow start, the Rockets (3-1, 2-1) were able to get steady.

Slippery Rock just needed time to settle in.

“Not to take any team for granted and to give 100 percent every play,” Lawniczak said about Slippery Rock’s attitude. “We have to bring focus to practice and everyone has to give their best effort. We need every single person to be helping out.”