Rugged Titusville roughs up Rockets, 27-0
SLIPPERY ROCK — There's a reason the Titusville High School football team posted four shutouts in its first six games coming into Friday's Region 5 matchup with Slippery Rock.
"They're big, they're physical and they're tough kids," Slippery Rock coach Clyde Conti said. "They play hard."
Conti found out just how physical Titusville can be as it recorded shutout No. 5, 27-0.
But it wasn't total domination.
Slippery Rock (1-6 overall, 1-2 region) drove deep into Titusville territory twice before coming up empty each time.
Late in the first half, trailing 14-0, Conti elected to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard-line.
But Jesse Kniess was hit at the line of scrimmage and fumbled, erasing a chance to score.
"That's the story of us all year," Conti said.
Look no further than the fourth quarter to see what the coach is talking about.
Down 20-0, Slippery Rock quarterback Jonathan Powell fumbled at the Titusville 3-yard line, thwarting another scoring chance.
"That's a momentum buster for (Slippery Rock)," Titusville coach Scott Salvo said. "These guys dug in whenever they had to."
Salvo should know. His Rockets (6-1, 4-0) have won their last four games by a combined 118-0 and sit in the regional driver's seat going into next Friday's pivotal home game against Warren.
Slippery Rock, which travels to Meadville, is at the other end of the standings.
Conti said a main reason for that is the problem holding onto the ball.
Slippery Rock fumbled six times, losing two, while Titusville kept pace, putting the ball on the ground five times. The difference was Titusville recovered all of its fumbles.
"It wasn't pretty," Salvo said. "I don't know how you can say 27-0 isn't pretty, but tomorrow morning we're 6-1."
Titusville's rushing attack ensured that. David Stewart, who finished with a game-high 124 rushing yards, punched in touchdown runs of 13 and 3 yards to give Titusville the two-touchdown halftime edge.
"(Titusville was) just a lot more physical," Conti said. "We'd hit people and they would carry us."
