Renewed fuel Rockets uncovering new arsenal of weapons for the 2020 season
SLIPPERY ROCK — When trying to replace 97 percent of your offense, the offseason becomes even more important.
Unless you don't have an offseason because of a global pandemic.
Now, the Slippery Rock High football team has been thrust into scramble mode, trying to sort out the names this year that will replace the big names lost to graduation after last season.
“Kids are tired of us saying, 'run somewhere,' because the more you walk, the less time you have,” said Slippery Rock coach Larry Wendereusz. “It's like a fire drill. We're doing the best with the situation.”
The situation is made more difficult by the unknown and the protocols the coaching staff and players have to fulfill to simply get on the practice field.
Wendereusz said he feels less like a coach and more like a crisis manager.
“I've talked to some friends of mine who are also head coaches and it's almost as if head coaches are eliminated from coaching,” Wendereusz said. “We're so responsible for the other stuff. I'm walking around the practice field with the disinfectant spray spraying everything down. Our assistant coaches are all coaching and I'm spraying stuff down. I'd much rather be hand-on with the kids. That's the tough part.”
The unknown has also been tough, in more ways than one.
“It takes one phone call or one incident and ... it could be your season,” Wendereusz said. “You never know if this is your last opportunity to play football not knowing what tomorrow will bring. We haven't preached that, that scare-factor, but we've talked. My instruction to them was we have one chance to do this and do it right. They're not going to give us a second or third chance to play football.”
It has given the team a sense of urgency, however.
And a renewed focus.
They may not be well-known names in Slippery Rock like Vito Pilosi and Nathan Hyatt and David Duffalo, but there is a crop of younger players ready to introduce themselves to District 10 and the state.
“Losing Nathan, David and Vito, I don't think one guy can fill those shoes,” Wendereusz said.
Pilosi threw for 917 yards and also rushed for 577 more last season.
Vying to replace him is William “Zip” Mokel, a sophomore with a cannon of an arm, and junior Andrew Massella.
Zip got his nickname because of his arm strength.
“Zip gives us a little more of a throwing ability,” Wendereusz said. “He has zip on the ball, that's for sure. He does a good job throwing the football.”
And he has an elite weapon in senior Evan Plesakov, one of the few skill players returning.
Plesakov caught 17 passes for 238 yards and two TDs last season.
Duffalo and Hyatt combined for 1,159 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground last season and also teamed up to catch 41 passes for 443 yards and three more scores.
But junior Shane Thompson and sophomore Brody Galcik showed flashes in limited action last season and will run behind a line that returns some experience.
One of those lineman, Tony Pilosi, has liked what he has seen so far.
“We have a lot of young talent,” the junior said. “We've been working together like a team.”
Wendereusz won't be sure about anything until he sees his team in full pads and in full contact.
“As I tell everyone, we all look good in t-shirts and shorts,” Wendereusz said.
