Slippery Rock football provides ‘great way to go out’ for seniors in rout of Mercer to end season

October 24, 2025 Last Updated: October 25, 2025 12:39 AM Sports

The Slippery Rock seniors are greeted by the underclassmen as the last game of the season concludes with a win over Mercer in a football game Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Slippery Rock did senior night right.

The Rockets honored their six seniors before their football season finale Friday night at Troy-Alan Stadium. Five of the six scored touchdowns — the other setting up one — in a 42-17 triumph over Mercer.

“Our goal coming in was to get all six of them touchdowns,” Slippery Rock coach Larry Wendereusz said. “We fell one short.”

But the memories were plentiful.

Slippery Rock (4-6) built a 35-3 lead before Wendereusz pulled his starters defensively late in the third quarter. Mercer (3-6) put together touchdown drives of 87 and 82 yards in the fourth quarter. Before that, the Mustangs had only 101 yards of total offense.

The Rocket seniors were enjoying an on-field party in the meantime.

Kole Scott scored on runs of 21 and 5 yards. Owen Long scored on a 26-yard run, Jacob Reich on a 4-yard run. Doug Popovec, the team’s quarterback, returned an interception 45 yards for a score.

After sophomore John Petras got loose for a 48-yard run on a quarterback keeper, senior Sawyer Allen capped the 80-yard drive with a 1-yard run on a direct snap to him. Allen normally lines up as a wide receiver.

Slippery Rock’s other senior, tight end Carter Jeannerat, caught a 7-yard pass to the Mercer 5-yard line to set up Scott’s second touchdown.

Reich is a two-way lineman and scored his touchdown on his only carry of the season. He started at center Friday night and played all five positions along the offensive line at some point this season.

Slippery Rock’s Owen Long (22) breaks through Mercer’s defense in a football game Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

“That was fun,” Reich said of carrying the ball. “I played some at tight end earlier in my career here. I go wherever I’m needed. This game tonight was a great way to go out.”

Wendereusz described Reich as “a true leader since he was a freshman. You always replace guys, but leadership like he’s provided these past four years ... that’s hard to replace.”

Popovec’s touchdown was a result of constant pressure being supplied by the Rockets’ defensive line. He picked off a screen pass and raced untouched into the end zone.

“We were saying all night we were gonna get something like that if we kept the pressure up,” Wendereusz said. “That play worked out just the way we drew it up.”

Besides scoring a touchdown rushing, Long produced 167 yards on kickoff and punt returns. He had a 57-yard punt return that set up a short 30-yard touchdown drive.

“Returning punts and kickoffs has been my thing all year,” Long said. “Tonight was about going out on the field and having a good time with my brothers one last time.”

When the game ended, Wendereusz had the seniors line up at the 50-yard line. They then marched arm-in-arm toward their awaiting teammates in the end zone while the song “Boys of Fall” blared over the public address system.

“This whole thing feels bittersweet,” Scott said. “We were able to score touchdowns in our final game. That march at the end ... it felt like a movie.”

The Rockets rushed for 246 yards on the night and did not throw a pass in the second half. Scott led the team with nine carries for 86 yards.

Rider Chiappini ran for 106 yards, Cody Osborn 82 yards for Mercer. Both scored touchdowns.

But this night belonged to the Slippery Rock seniors.

“Six great kids,” Wendereusz said. “We’re gonna miss those guys.”

Mercer 0 3 0 14 — 17

Slippery Rock 7 21 7 7 — 42

First Quarter

SR — Kole Scott 21 run (Zach Lasko kick), 9:30

Second Quarter

M — Jayden Amos 24 field goal, 10:48

SR — Owen Long 26 run (Doug Popovec run), 8:07

SR — Jacob Reich 4 run (kick blocked), 3:16

SR — Popovec 45 interception return (Lasko kick), :30

Third Quarter

SR — Scott 5 run (Lasko kick), 8:27

Fourth Quarter

M — Rider Chiappini 1 run (Amos kick), 11:48

SR — Sawyer Allen 1 run (Lasko kick), 8:33

M — Cody Osborn 2 run (Amos kick), 2:02

Individual Statistics

Passing: Mercer, Rider Chiappini 5-6-50-1. Slippery Rock, Doug Popovec 4-6-53-0.

Rushing: Mercer, Rider Chiappini 16-106, Kyle Suhrie 5-19, Preston Michael 8-13, Noah Miller-Frye 2-1, Cody Osborn 13-82, Drew Jenkins 1-(-1). Slippery Rock, Doug Popovec 3-5, Kole Scott 9-86, Owen Long 3-35, Sawyer Allen 5-35, Jacob Reich 1-4, Cole Schwartz 2-11, Carter Jeannerat 1-6, John Petras 3-64.

Receiving: Mercer, Noah Miller-Frye 1-12, Preston Michael 4-38. Slippery Rock, Sawyer Allen 2-34, Kole Scott 1-9, John Petras 1-10, Carter Jeannerat 1-7.

Slippery Rock’s Owen Long (22) breaks through Mercer’s defense in a football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Slippery Rock’s Douglas Popovec (3) throws a pass over Mercer in a football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Slippery Rock’s Lamont Patterson (5) sacks Mercer’s quarterback in a football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Slippery Rock’s Douglas Popovec (3) celebrates as he scores a touchdown in a football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Slippery Rock seniors do the Thriller dance during their last game of their high school careers in a football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Slippery Rock seniors Jacob Reich (68) and Douglas Popovec (3) become emotional as they take a moment as they realize it’s their last football game in a football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Slippery Rock senior Douglas Popovec (3) becomes emotional as they take a moment as they realize it’s their last football game in a football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Slippery Rock players high five all those who came to watch them play after their last football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw