SLIPPERY ROCK — Wins and losses aren't Clyde Conti's chief concern these days.

At 0-4 and welcoming to town No. 3-ranked General McLanefor a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, the Slippery Rock High School football team is staring 0-5 in the face.

But Conti is seeing the matchup against the talented, quick and athletic Lancers (4-0) as an opportunity for something else.

"I want our kids to go out and think of the next play as the most important play," Conti said. "Whether you are 10-0 or 0-10, you have to go out and compete hard."

The Lancers took it to Oil City 56-13 last week.

"They didn't just take it to Oil City," Conti said. "They're taking it to everyone."

Yes, the Lancers are. General McLane hasn't been held to fewer than 32 points in any of its four games this season and is winning by an average score of 42-14.

Against Oil City, quarterback Drew Astorino threw for two scores and ran for two touchdowns. Running back Dan Skelton rumbled for 100 yards on just 10 carries and scored four TDs as the Lancers built a 35-7 halftime lead.

General McLane runs an option attack and it runs it well, utilizing its speed and its brawn up front.

For Slippery Rock to be able to contain McLane, discipline on defense will be paramount.

"You have to get a lot of people to the football," Conti said. "And you have to make the tackle when you get there."

Slippery Rock is coming off a difficult region loss to Franklin in which the Rockets fell behind 35-0 at halftime and had minus-1 yard of offense at the break.

Slippery Rock did some good things on offense in the second half, scoring 14 fourth-quarter points, but by then the outcome had been long decided.

"I just want these kids to realize you can't just cave in," Conti said. "Successful people get off the ground. We're learning how to handle adversity."

There's no adversity to handle in Edinboro for McLane or coach Jim Wells.

The only thing the Lancers are trying to overcome is their own lofty expectations.

"We try not to overlook anyone," Wells said. "We try to give our opponent each week too much respect."

It's not like McLane hasn't had experience with high expectations. Its basketball team reached the PIAA semifinals and so did the football team last school year.

"These kids have a lot of experience. They're battle tested," Wells said. "Their mettle has been tested in the past in basketball and in football, and they are mostly the same kids."