Slippery Rock High football coach Larry Wendereusz was forced to watch his team's game against Hickory last week from afar, but that didn't make the ending any easier for him.

Last Friday was the first day Wendereusz was quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19 and he had to watch the game via livestream from home.

Hickory won the game, 27-23, thanks to a touchdown with one second left on the clock. It was the first loss of the season for Slippery Rock (2-1, 4-1).

“(Assistant coach) Eli Christy and the rest of the staff did a great job, but it was tough not being there,” Wendereusz said. “I wasn't able to communicate with the team after every play.”

The Rockets will have to face another very strong Region 3 opponent without their head coach when Sharon (2-1, 5-2) travels to Troy-Alan Stadium Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Wendereusz should be back at practice next week. He's been watching a recording of each of his team's practices and is hoping his players can move on from last Friday's disappointment.

“We can't let one loss turn into two,” he said. “We need to make sure we're mentally ready.”

Wendereusz says his captains — Ryan Montgomery, Shane Thompson, Jacob Humes and Tony Pilosi — will be counted on for their leadership.

Thompson, a running back, is out for the season with injury, but shows up at every practice and serves as an assistant coach during games.

Sharon exploded for 34 points in the first quarter of last week's 48-21 win against Conneaut (Ohio). It was a nice way to rebound following the Tigers' 32-13 loss to Grove City Oct. 1.

“We feel like we're in a really good spot,” said third-year Sharon coach Jason McElhaney. “We played well last week and are looking forward to the opportunity of playing for a region championship.

Sharon, Slippery Rock, Grove City (3-1) and Hickory (3-1) are all in that mix.

The Tigers have received a solid season so far from junior and first-year starter Mikey Rodriques at quarterback. He has 1,004 yards with 12 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He also has 149 yards rushing.

“He's done a good job of handling being a starter and has matured a tremendous amount,” McElhaney said.

Cortez Nixon and Jayveerh White give the Tigers a formidable 1-2 punch at running back. They've combined for 520 yards on just 82 carries.

“Cortez is a downhill runner and Jayveerh has another gear,” McElhaney said. “That makes us difficult to defend.”

Adding to Sharon's potential on offense is senior receiver Jaon Phillips, who has grabbed 35 passes for 619 yards and seven scores.

“They have speed on the outside and have been moving the ball up and down the field,” Wendereusz said of the Tigers.

Slippery Rock quarterback William Mokel has thrown for 863 yards on just 52 completions, an average of nearly 17 yards per connection.

Defensively, Pilosi, a lineman, has spearheaded the Rockets' play against the run. They are allowing just 3.6 yards per rush, a vast improvement over last year's average of 5.0.

“Their front four is as tough as any we've seen this year,” said McElhaney.

Seneca Valley (3-1, 5-2)

at Baldwin (2-2, 2-5)

7 p.m., Friday

Seneca Valley emerged from last week with a double-overtime 24-17 win over Canon-McMillan ... After beginning the season 0-5, Baldwin won its second straight game last week, 28-0 over Hempfield.

SV junior QB Graham Hancox came out of last week's game banged up. Whether or not he plays Friday has yet to be determined. Hancox has passed for 1,333 yards with 8 TDs and 7 INTs this season. His backup is sophomore Sean O'Shea.

Sophomore RB Andrew Sharp leads Baldwin's offense with 410 rushing yards ... Sophomore RB Keith Mincin paces the Highlanders with 3 TDs.

The Raiders beat Baldwin last year, 19-16 in overtime.

Mars (1-3, 1-6) at Greensburg Salem (2-2, 4-3)

7 p.m., Friday

Mars won for the first time last week, defeating Knoch 14-13 ... Greensburg Salem fell at Armstrong, 33-16.

Planet junior QB Rafael Bartley is coming off his best game of the season, completing 13 of 19 passes for 227 with 2 TDs and 1 INT ... Noah Nesselroad and Adrian Alessio both caught a scoring pass last week and have combined this season for 27 receptions for 218 yards.

Greensburg Salem QB Hayden Teska has passed for 1,589 yards, 14 TDs and 10 INTs this fall ... Junior WR Cody Rubrecht leads the Golden Lions with 29 receptions for 748 yards and 8 TDs.

Mars topped the Golden Lions last year, 42-21.

Knoch (1-3, 2-5) at Plum (2-2, 2-5)

7 p.m., Friday

A missed extra point was the difference in Knoch's 14-13 loss at Mars this past Friday ... Plum dropped its home matchup with conference-leading Hampton, 35-7.

Due in part to injuries, the Knights allowed Mars its first victory of the season last week ... Carson Kosecki opened the scoring against the Planets but left the game with a sprained ankle before the fourth quarter ... Freshman Codi Mullen scored on a 40-yard pick-six in the defeat.

After claiming their first conference crown in almost four decades last season, the Mustangs dropped four straight bouts to open their schedule . . . Junior RB Eryck Moore leads the team with 591 all-purpose yards and seven scores . . . Plum won the two teams' clash last year by 4 TDs.

Freeport (2-0, 3-3) at Burrell (1-2, 1-6)

7 p.m., Friday

Freeport stifled East Allegheny, 17-7, last week ... Burrell jumped into the win column by beating Deer Lakes, 28-24.

Over the last pair of contests, the Yellowjackets' Zach Clark, Vinnie Clark, and Cole Charlton have returned interceptions for TDs ... The defense alone outscored Valley and East Allegheny over the last 2 weeks by a combined 19-13 score, with neither opponent able to get on the board until the fourth quarter.

The Bucs are still in the playoff picture, trying to fend off East Allegheny and Valley to reach the postseason ... Caden DiCaprio carried the ball 41 times for 149 yards and 3 TDs in the road victory last week. He also set up his go-ahead rushing surge by tossing a pass to Kamden Marmo on a fourth-and-4 play in the game's closing minutes.

Deer Lakes (3-1, 3-4) at

North Catholic (3-0, 7-0)

7 p.m., Friday

Deer Lakes' 3-game winning streak was halted last week with a 28-24 loss to previously winless Burrell ... North Catholic stayed unbeaten with a 41-0 victory at South Park.

The Lancers' 3 wins have come against teams with a combined record of 3-17 ... Senior RB Cody Scarantine has rushed for 685 of the team's 770 yards on the ground ... Sophomore QB Derek Burk has thrown for 846 yards with 6 TDs and 5 INTs.

North has won 5 games via shutout this season and the Trojans have outscored their opponents 298-31 ... Senior Kyle Tipinski has 286 receiving yards, 119 rushing yards and has scored 10 total TDs.

The Trojans beat Deer Lakes last year, 56-6.

Saint Marys (6-1, 6-1) at Moniteau (1-5, 1-5)

7 p.m., Friday

Saint Marys took down Brookville, 19-14, at home last week ... Moniteau was crushed at DuBois Area, 51-7.

The Flying Dutchmen have reeled off 6 consecutive victories since being bested by Ridgway to open their campaign ... Being good for over 258 passing yards per game, senior QB Christian Coudriet has been a big part of why Saint Marys currently sits atop District 9.

Trudging through a 2-game losing skid, the Warriors haven't been able to catch a break lately ... Four of the team's last 5 matchups have been with opponents that are in the running for a division title ... Junior Matt Martino is averaging 90 rushing yards per game.

Summit Academy (0-2, 0-7)

at Ligonier Valley (0-2, 5-2)

7 p.m., Friday

Summit lost to Steel Valley last week, 40-6 ... Ligonier Valley lost via forfeit to Serra Catholic.

LV began the season with 5 straight wins before dropping a 40-0 decision to Steel Valley Oct. 1 ... LV is averaging 180 yards per game on the ground with 17 rushing TDs.

After competing in District 6 for years, LV moved to the WPIAL in 2020.

Eagle intern Brendan Howe contributed to this report.