published Tuesday, August 27,1996

SLIPPERY ROCK HIGH SCHOOL

Team SCHEDULE // ROSTER // PREVIEW STORY
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`Slippery Rock hopes to make a run at playoffs`

If Slippery Rock can avoid the injury bug, which took a serious bite out the Rockets in 1995, third-year coach Mike Kish believes his team could make a run at a postseason berth in 1996.

That bug took starting quarterback Tad Campagna (broken wrist) and team leader Kevin Hesselgesser (knee ligaments) out in the second game of the season and that started Slippery Rock on a tailspin that saw the Rockets lose eight of their final nine games to finish at 2-8 (0-3 in MCAC AAA).

Of course, the Rockets only have Grove City to contend with in Class AAA this season.

``Number one, it really makes things exciting for us,'' Kish said of the new two-team AAA classification in the league. ``We look at finishing at least .500 and beating one team _ Grove City _ with an idea of having an opportunity to make playoffs. And that's an exciting situation for our players.''

Which unfortunately for Kish numbered only 34 at the opening of camp.

``We're returning a lot of experience, with a lot of players with extensive playing time,'' said Kish, who has a 6-13 career mark. ``With experience we're looking solid. The problem is when you're dealing with 34 or 35 players and you have players banged up you don't have people to replace them.''

In fact, Kish said in his team's first scrimmage his top two fullbacks were both injured. Starter Adam Kniess is expected back by the opener, however.

``I was saying, `Whoa, wait a minute, let's not start that again,'' Kish said.

Kish has a pretty solid nucleus with which to build upon this season as his entire starting backfield and three interior lineman return.

Leading the way is senior quarterback Campagna, senior all-league running back Jacob Reinert, junior fullback Kniess and senior all-league wideout Larry Raisley.

Top returnee on the line is two-way first-team all-MCAC tackle Matt McKnight, all-league pick John Kuhn and center Mark Massella.

Reinert, a first-team all-star at linebacker in 1995, should also help to anchor the defense.

``Based on us staying healthy we'll be very competitive,'' Kish said.

Among the big losses according to Kish were Brandon Miller and team leader and captain Chris McGary.

Vying for starting nods are:

ü Offense: quarterback _ Campagna; running back _ Jacob Reinert; fullback _ Kniess; wideout _ Raisley; split end _ senior Chris Saunders; tight end _ junior Jason Wood; tackles _ McKnight and junior Burton Sarver; guards _ Kuhn and junior Chris Pry; center _ Massella; punter _ Campagna and Kniess; placekicker _ Kniess.
ü Defense: ends _ Sarver and Wood; tackles _ McKnight, senior Jeremy Eppinger and sophomore Joe Wigton; outside linebackers _ Reinert, senior Corey Taggart and junior Doug Bowser; inside linebackers _ Kneiss, Kuhn and Pry; cornerbacks _ Raisley and Saunders; safety _ junior John Dove.

Assisting Kish are: Bud Sarver (head junior high), Barry Murray (defensive coordinator), Barry Skodak (special teams), Steve Gressley (junior high assistant), Eric Cunningham (DL) and Greg Angerett (junior high assistant).

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Updated August 29, 1996