Coach Clyde Conti has been a regular MacGyver this season.

A piece of duct tape here, the right mix of elements there and his Slippery Rock High School football team has been competitive in all three games in 2005 without several key members of teams' past.

"Regardless of what Clyde says, this is a good team," said Grove City coach Jeff Bell, Slippery Rock's opponent for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Forker Field Friday. "The kids he has out there have played well."

But the Rockets are still 0-3, even though they have had a good chance to win two of those games, including last week's 14-9 loss to Sharon.

In the three losses, Slippery Rock has surrendered only 48 points. It has been tough against the run, too, giving up an average of just 116 yards on the ground.

Conti has done it with a hodgepodge of players, mixing and matching personnel with scheme to get it done, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

There's been no shortage of effort, even though there has been a shortage of healthy bodies, bodies in general and, of course, victories.

"(The effort) I don't question from the kids," Conti said.

But Conti can't help but pine for what could have been.

Several players Conti and the Rockets had penciled into the plans decided not to play before the season started, instead opting for other endeavors.

The team also has been banged up, making things even more challenging.

"There's no doubt in my mind this could have been a top-notch team," Conti said. "If you go to a dance with someone, you'll have a good time. If that someone decides to leave, you're not going to have a good time anymore."

While Slippery Rock's patchwork defense has been solid for the most part this season, the overhauled offense has struggled.

The Rockets have scored just 25 points and have been inconsistent moving the ball.

Wingback David Bauer has put up some solid numbers, rushing for 210 yards on 43 carries and the Rockets have gone to the air more with senior quarterback Ben Collins, who has thrown for 323 yards.

But he also has been intercepted five times.

"You just have to play as hard as you can and do as well as you can," Conti said.

Grove City (2-1) is coming off a difficult 19-12 road loss to Reynolds.

The Eagles turned the ball over twice inside the Reynolds' 20 and turned the ball over on downs inside the Raiders' 10 on another possession.

"We could have scored 25 to 30 points and won the game," Bell said.

But the Eagles didn't, snapping a nine-game regular season winning streak.

Last year, Grove City shut out Slippery Rock 24-0 to end a five-game losing streak against the Rockets.

But Bell is particularly wary of Slippery Rock this season.

"I know we're going to see every formation under the sun against them," Bell said. "Every year, Clyde comes out with something new. Last year he came out with a different defense."

Right now, Bell's only concern is his defense.

Grove City gave up 296 yards rushing to Reynolds last week. The Raiders managed just 66 yards on the ground against Slippery Rock the week before.

"If (Conti) can put in a new defense in a week, we can fix ours," Bell said. "We have to get this run defense shored up. I know if I'm playing Grove City, I'm going to line up and run it right at them. That's what people are thinking."

The Grove City offense is potent with senior Jesse Alfreno at quarterback.

Alfreno shook off a shaky first week and has excelled the last two games. Against Reynolds, he was 13 of 22 for 213 yards and no interceptions. For the season, he is 20 of 42 for 386 yards with just one pick.

Grove City also has a slew of receivers and a slew of running backs to draw on.

"They have kids all over the place," Conti said.

Slippery Rock would like nothing better than to get its first win against its chief rival.

"Every once in awhile in football you can zing someone," Conti said. "We've been close, really close. I just hope we can hold it together."