Greyhounds run past Rockets
SLIPPERY ROCK — First-year Slippery Rock High football coach Brendan Hathaway couldn't help but smile as he watched his team run off the field.
While a 40-12 loss to Wilmington wasn't a dream scenario for his first game as head coach of the Rockets, Hathaway said he believes this team will get better quickly.
"It's always tough when a new coach comes in," Hathaway said. "But I'm seeing enthusiasm even though they just lost. ... These kids are going to work hard and I'm excited for the rest of the season."
The Greyhounds used a powerful rushing attack that amassed 332 yards and overwhelmed the Rockets' defense. Senior running back Sutton Whiting led the Greyhounds with 149 yards and scored twice on runs of 36 and 1 yards, respectively.
After falling behind 14-0, the Rockets' offense began to move the ball in the second quarter.
Starting from their own 37-yard line, the Rockets moved down the field behind the powerful running of fullback John McAvoy.
McAvoy, who finished with 112 yards, carried the ball five times on the drive, picking up 51 yards.
Slippery Rock quarterback Ryan Currie found a seam in the middle of the Greyhounds' defense and capped the 5-minute, 65-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Josh Antal.
The Rockets missed the extra point and, with 5:19 remaining in the half, trailed 14-6.
Hathaway said Currie was a bright spot for the Rockets.
"We've worked a lot on the option, but we've got a quarterback who can throw the football," Hathaway said. "He does a great job and gives us a lot of options."
The Rockets had gained momentum after being dominated by the Greyhounds for much of the half.
But on the ensuing kickoff, the Rockets hard-nosed touchdown drive seemed like a distant memory.
Greyhounds junior Anthony Derrick returned the kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, extending their lead to 20-6.
Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli said Derrick is one of the young backs he expects to help Whiting carry the load.
"We're playing a lot of young guys that aren't used to playing," Verrelli said. "Whiting's a heck of a running back, a super athlete, but all of the younger guys need to play and get experience. We really have a lot of speed in the backfield. These guys just need experience."
After halftime, the Greyhounds continued to pound the ball on the ground and built a 40-6 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Rockets did cap the scoring after the Greyhounds turned the ball over inside their own 5-yard line. Seth Randolph cut the score to 40-12 with a 2-yard touchdown run on the next play.
"Playing Wilmington the first game is tough," Hathaway said. "The kids settled down after the first quarter. They realized that they can hit just as hard as the Wilmington kids, and once they realized that they could, they were ready to play ball."
