All in the family: Slippery Rock football’s Jacob Reich serves as mentor, rival with 4 cousins on Rockets
Slippery Rock High School coach Larry Wendereusz gives instructions during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock High’s Alex Cornelius practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock High’s Owen Long practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock High’s Lamont Patterson practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock High’s Alex Cornelius practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock High’s Lamont Patterson practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock High School coach Larry Wendereusz gives instructions during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock High’s Michael Bossler tries to stay cool in 90-degree heat during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
(L-R) Slippery Rock’s Jacob Reich, Owen Long, Douglas Popovec, and Sawyer Allen during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Jacob Reich during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Jacob Reich during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Owen Long during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Owen Long during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Sawyer Allen during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Sawyer Allen during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Doug Popovec during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock’s Doug Popovec during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High School coach Larry Wendereusz gives instructions during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High’s Alex Cornelius practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High’s Owen Long practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High’s Lamont Patterson practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High’s Alex Cornelius practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High’s Lamont Patterson practices defensive drills on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High School coach Larry Wendereusz gives instructions during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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The Slippery Rock High School varsity football team practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock High’s Michael Bossler tries to stay cool in 90-degree heat during football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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(L-R) Slippery Rock’s Jacob Reich, Owen Long, Douglas Popovec, and Sawyer Allen during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Jacob Reich during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Jacob Reich during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Owen Long during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Owen Long during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Sawyer Allen during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Sawyer Allen during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Doug Popovec during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock’s Doug Popovec during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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In 2022, Jacob Reich was a freshman on Slippery Rock High’s varsity football team, serving as a backup lineman and playing on special teams.
Aside from the instruction he received from his coaches, one of his teammates took special interest in his development — his older cousin Braiden Reich.
“Anytime I screwed up or slacked off in practice, he was there to push me and to correct me on things,” Jacob said. “At the start, I thought he was just being harsh with me, but as the season played out, I realized I was better focused. He wanted me to improve and helped me get there.”
Now a senior who will be starting on the offensive and defensive line for the third straight year, Jacob Reich is a leader on the team, which includes four of his younger cousins.
Two pairs of brothers — Peyton and Maddox Reich, and Trenton and Camden Reich — are all donning Slippery Rock’s red and gray this season.
“I know I can steer them in the right direction, and I’m glad to be in this role,” Jacob said.
Maddox, Camden and Trenton are all linemen while Peyton is a running back/linebacker. Their cousin Jacob is 6-feet, 245 pounds. Two seasons of starting in the trenches have given him an edge to his personality on the field.
“During a game or practice, he’s a captain and takes on a leadership role,” said Peyton, a junior. “Off the field, he’s a nice guy, someone you can joke around with.”
Maddox and Trenton are sophomores while Camden is a freshman. Boys in the Reich family have similar interests.
Slippery Rock High School’s varsity football team includes five members of the Reich family this season. They include, kneeling from left: Camden and Maddox; standing from left: Jacob, Peyton and Trenton. Derek Pyda/Butler Eagle
“We hunt and fish and we’re always trying to do better than the others,” Jacob said. “Peyton got his first buck a few years ago, then Camden got a big one. Everything’s a contest between us.”
“Our families are all very close,” Peyton said. “And everything is so competitive, like Wiffle ball in the yard. It gets pretty heated.”
But it never turns physical, right?
“Uh, sometimes, yeah,” Peyton said. “But nothing too bad.”
Trenton Reich could not think of a drawback to having four family members on the team.
“I’ve been playing with them and hanging out with them all my life,” he said. “When it comes to football, we’re able to bring each other up.”
