S. Rock rolls over Sharon, 27-7
SLIPPERY ROCK — The Rockets found balance for a smoother flight in Friday night's football game.
After a tight first half, the Slippery Rock High School football team (1-0) turned big defensive plays and consistent offense into a victory over Sharon (0-1) by a score of 27-7.
“We knew we could hang with this team, and we showed it in the second half,” said Slippery Rock running back Shane Thompson, who finished with 90 yards and one touchdown.
The Rockets entered the second half tied 7-7 with the Tigers, then scored a quick touchdown a little more than a minute into the third quarter.
Sharon looked poised to counter the touchdown with a steady drive down field, but enter Thompson as a linebacker. He sacked Sharon quarterback Lamont Austin for a 10-yard loss in a first-and 10 at the Slippery Rock 16 situation.
Thompson said he could feel the momentum shift in the energy of his teammates, and the deflation of their opponents from drooping heads.
“We practice our pass rush every day, getting through the line, and it worked out tonight,” Thompson said.
Sharon continued to move the ball down the field, but the Tigers struggled on the final punch. Austin finished with 91 passing yards and one touchdown, but threw an interception to Slippery Rock's Brett Galcik late in the game.
Austin and Sharon running backs Aidan Buck and Nick Dignall also each had at least 30 yards rushing.
“They had a lot of yards. They moved the ball on us,” said Slippery Rock coach Larry Wendereusz Jr. “We had that sack and an interception at the end of the game. We're going to give up big plays, but at the end of the day, we're going to make big plays too.”
In addition to Thompson's play, quarterback William Mokel finished the night with 239 passing yards and two touchdowns on 19 completions from 24 attempts.
Running backs Galcik and Ryan Montgomery also had more than 30 yards rushing each and the latter had his own touchdown.
“I think it's just being comfortable with young kids,” Wendereusz said. “You have to let them get comfortable with the game before you open things up.”
Thompson and Montgomery are juniors, while Mokel, Galcik and receiver Brendan Earl, who caught a 30-yard touchdown pass, are sophomores.Wendereusz said the coaches had a gameplan based on their young team. They used the first half as an indication of where to move in the second, then they let the plays and the players build off one another.“Those guys came up with big plays when we needed them,” he said.Sharon 7 0 0 0 — 7Slippery Rock 0 7 14 6 — 27First QuarterS — Aidan Buck 17 pass from Lamond Austin (Jimmy Thompson kick), 3:17Second QuarterSR — Shane Thompson 33 run (Alex Duffalo kick), 7:31Third QuarterSR — Brebndal Earl 30 pass friom William Mokel (Duffalo kick), 10:50SR — Montgomery 1 run (Duffalo kick), :52Fourth QuarterSR — John Sabo 4 pass from Mokel (kick failed), 3:32Individual StatisticsRushing:Sharon, Nick Dignall 9-46, Lamond Austin 13-40, Aidan Buck 9-30, Cody Swartz 2-9, Wade Massey 2-4, Dante Currie 1-3. Slippery Rock, Shane Thompson 8-90, Brett Galcik 5-31, Ryan Montgomery 9-31, Wiolliam Mokel 1-(-8).Passing:Sharon, Lamond Austin 9-22-91-1. Slippery Rock, William Mokel 19-24-239-0.Receiving:Sharon, Bryce Carroll 6-69, Auisan Buck 2-22. Slippery Rock, Bret Galcik 3-92, Ryan Montgomery 6-43, Brendan Earl 4-38, John Dabo 3-28, Jimmy Thompson 3-26, Charlie Dugo 1-4, Ethan Plesakov 1-0.
