GC shakes slow start, rips Rockets
SLIPPERY ROCK — Grove City High football coach Jeff Bell said he's learned from the mistake he made before the start of the rivalry game against Slippery Rock High Friday night.
Bell said that since it was such a short trip from Grove City to Slippery Rock, he figured he would allow the players to warm up in Grove City.
It took the Eagles two quarters to warm up once they got to Slippery Rock, but they did and beat the Rockets 51-16.
"We can't play like this again," Bell said. "Hats off to Slippery Rock for being prepared and playing a good, tough game. But we made too many mistakes. Too many penalties and turnovers. We have to get better."
The Eagles turned the ball over three times and the winless Rockets were able to keep the game close until halftime.
After Mason DePeal fumbled on the Eagles' first possession, Slippery Rock quarterback Ryan Currie found Sam Furrh for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
With 8:23 remaining in the first quarter, the Rockets were thinking upset on Senior Night.
"They have some outstanding linebackers and were playing the 53 defense," Slippery Rock coach Brendan Hathaway said. "We knew that we were going to have to throw the ball."
The Eagles (8-0, 5-0) didn't have to wait long to take the lead. Five minutes later, Erik Record scored one of his three touchdowns with a 4-yard run. After a 2-point conversion, the Eagles held an 8-7 advantage.
Record led the Eagles with 144 yards as Grove City gained 372 yards rushing.
The Rockets took their last lead of the game with 2:45 remaining before the half. Starting from his own 23, Currie found Furrh for 59 yards, setting the Rockets up inside the Eagles 20.
After Currie had a touchdown called back on a holding penalty, he found Furrh in the back of the end zone to give the Rockets a 16-15 lead.
Grove City quarterback Tyler Dagres and the Eagles had plenty of time to answer.
Dagres found Wes Phipps for a 60-yard touchdown before the half to give the Eagles a 22-16 lead.
Phipps added two more touchdowns in the third quarter on runs of 5 and 21 yards.
After completing only one pass on four attempts last week against Oil City, Dagres completed 9-of-13 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown against the Rockets.
Slippery Rock (0-8, 0-5) couldn't muster much offense in the second half. The Rockets didn't record a first down and were held to 178 yards of offense, but Hathaway was pleased with his team's performance.
"There isn't once ounce of quit in these boys," Hathaway said. "We played hard for the first half, but we've just had a problem putting four quarters together."
