SLIPPERY ROCK — Clinging to a 10-6 lead late in the third quarter, Slippery Rock coach Larry Wendereusz was looking for a spark.

Senior running back Kaleb Kamerer provided it.

Kamerer received a punt at his own 46 and rumbled 54 yards to the end zone to give the Rockets a 17-6 lead en route to a 24-6 home victory over Reynolds Friday night.

“That's why he's our captain,” Wendereusz said of Kamerer. “Kaleb is one of those guys that when everyone is done with practice, he's not, and I think that shows on Friday nights with what he does.”

The Rockets (2-0) controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, as they outgained the Raiders on the ground 262-172, one week after Reynolds rolled up 432 rushing yards against Union City.

“I told the kids that we were going to live and die with our defense,” Wendereusz said. “They're pretty good, but we just had guys that made some plays up front.”

Reynolds (1-1) opened up the scoring on their second offensive possession, as it marched 60 yards in six plays following a Slippery Rock turnover.

Cole Toy capped off the drive with a 25-yard touchdown run, but that would be the only time the Raiders reached the end zone.

The Rockets pulled ahead for good on the first possession of the second quarter. The third time was the charm for Slippery Rock in that drive, as they actually scored three times, but the first two were called back due to penalties. Quarterback Vito Pelosi scored the one that counted on a 6-yard run which gave the Rockets a 7-6 lead after the extra point.

Slippery Rock ended the first half with its longest drive of the game. Although it ended with a Nathan Willison 22-yard field goal instead of a touchdown, Slippery Rock held the ball for more than half the second quarter and went into the break leading 10-6.

The two teams exchanged turnovers and punts for much of the third quarter before Kamerer put the game out of reach with his punt return for a touchdown.

The Rockets added an insurance score late in the fourth quarter on a David Duffalo 10-yard run to wrap up the scoring.

Despite the loss, Reynolds head coach Josh Mull was optimistic.

“Let's face it, they're a great team,” Mull said of Slippery Rock. “We had chances, but the sun is going to come up tomorrow and we will move on.”

Pelosi and Kamerer led the way for the Rockets with 89 and 87 yards rushing, respectively, while Tyrese Baker paced the Raiders with 90 yards in the losing cause.

“He did a great job,” Mull said of Baker.

The Rockets will go back on the road next week as they travel to Franklin on Friday night.

Reynolds 6 0 0 0 — 6

Slippery Rock 0 10 7 7 — 24

First Quarter

R — Cole Toy 25 run (run failed), 3:38

Second Quarter

SR — Vito Pelosi 4 run (Nathaniel Willison kick), 8:53

SR — Willison 22 field goal, :30

Third Quarter

SR — Kaleb Kamerer 54 punt return (Willison kick), :50

Fourth Quarter

SR — David Duffalo 10 run (Willison kick), 1:37

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Reynolds, Jordan DeCarmen 7-23, Sean O'Hara 11-18, Tyrese Baker 12-90, Cole Toy 3-35, Chance Westover 1-3, Hunter Thompson 4-3.Slippery Rock, Vito Pelosi 16-89, Kaleb Kamerer 11-87, Nathan Hyatt 8-46, David Duffalo 10-53, Patrick Shea 1-(-3), Jacob Shaffer 1-3.

Passing: Reynolds, Sean O'hara 4-6-30-0, Aidan Mull 0-1-0-1.Slippery Rock, Vito Pelosi 7-12-57-0, Jacob Shaffer 0-1-0-0.

Receiving: Reynolds, Aidan Mull 1-10, Chance Westover 1-9, Tyrese Baker 1-8, Jordan DeCarmen 1-3.Slippery Rock, Kaleb Kamerer 3-25, Patrick Shea 1-10, Nathan Hyatt 2-9, Jacob Shaffer 1-13.