SLIPPERY ROCK — It was a score that shocked a lot of people.

Slippery Rock High 28, Mercyhurst Prep 0.

One person it didn't surprise was Slippery Rock football coach Larry Wendereusz, Slippery Rock's third coach in three years.

“I'm glad for that group of guys,” Wendereusz said. “They've had an up and down year. When you take a look at the distractions they have had the last three years and the different things that have happened to them, to get a chance to get a playoff win is special. To do it as an underdog was even better.”

Slippery Rock had won just one playoff game in the last five years under departed coaches Brendan Hathaway and Travis Sarver.

The Rockets entered the playoffs with a 3-6 record this season and were facing a prohibitive favorite in Mercyhurst Prep.

They won and now they will face 9-0 Hickory in the District 9 Class AAA semifinals at 2 p.m. Saturday at Greenville High School.

“They take pride in that,” Wendereusz said. “They're not a regular-season team. They wanted to be a good playoff team.

“I'm very proud of them and our coaches,” Wendereusz added. “We spent a lot of hours in the office watching film and preparing and then get kicked in the gut on Fridays. This was good for them to get that win.”

But now the focus turns to Hickory, a juggernaut that has blitzed its way through the schedule, trouncing teams along the way — including Slippery Rock 45-21 Sept. 9.

The Rockets, though, played the Hornets tough in that game for a time before Hickory pulled away.

“They're the No. 1 team in the state (in Class AAA) for a reason,” Wendereusz said. “You don't get a ranking like that by luck. The last time we played it was 7-7 near the end of the first quarter before it got away from us. You can't let them get away from you.”

That's easier said than done. Hickory running back Chuck Carr has run away from a lot of people this year. Carr has rushed for 1,770 yards and 36 touchdowns.

Slippery Rock, though, held him to his lowest yardage total of the season at 152 in September.

“We're going to do what we do,” Wendereusz said. “Hopefully, we'll do it a little better than last time.”