Rockets going back to the ABCs
SLIPPERY ROCK — Two weeks ago, the Rockets went to work on the alphabet.
Namely, learning just a few letters except for all 26.
“I think what happens sometimes when you have an offense like ours (the power spread) that can do so many things, you get mesmerized and want to do A through Z,” said Slippery Rock High head football coach Larry Wendereusz. “And maybe you have to go back and learn A, B, C, D and E first and not introduce the full alphabet.”
Slippery Rock is hoping its new focus on just a few letters yields a W against Sharon when the two teams clash at 7 p.m. Saturday in the District 10 3A semifinals at Wilmington High School.
The scaling down of the attack has worked.
The Rockets (4-6) scored 31 second-half points in a 38-14 rout of Harbor Creek in the first round of the playoffs.
A week before that, Slippery Rock had a 14-0 lead on undefeated Wilmington before eventually falling.
In both of those games, the offense, which had struggled most of the season, got some traction.
Jake Shaffer threw three touchdown passes against Harbor Creek and the offense rolled up more than 300 yards.
Shaffer will again split time at quarterback with Vito Pelosi this week against the Tigers.
“We're going to continue to do what has us playing good football,” Wendereusz said. “Moving forward, we're in the same boat (with the two quarterbacks). Both got reps this week and we're not going to change that piece. Both have their strengths.”
One of Slippery Rock's strengths this season has been its defense and it was a strength again in the first-round playoff game against Harbor Creek.
The Rockets forced four second-half turnovers and the two touchdowns they surrendered came on a 36-yard drive and a 19-yard drive by the Huskies.
Sharon (6-3), though, poses some problems for any defense.
The Tigers have a talented passer in sophomore Lane Voytik, who has thrown for 1,522 yards and 19 touchdowns this season.
Ziyon Strickland is undoubtably his favorite target. Strickland has hauled in 49 of Voytik's 111 completions for 687 yards.
Sharon also presents a problem on defense.
The Tigers gave up just 40 points during a five-game winning streak entering the playoffs. Sharon had a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
Slippery Rock and Sharon met five weeks ago with the Tigers winning 24-7.
The Rockets played well in that game, holding Sharon to just 207 yards, but five turnover killed any chance they had at the win.
“The first thing is the kids learned they can play with them,” Wendereusz said of the first meeting with Sharon. Things didn't go so well for the Rockets in the 2016 meeting with Slippery Rock losing 49-7. “Our players played well and played a good game against them. It showed them they can compete against (them).”
