Knoch shuts out rival Freeport, improves to 7-1
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Friday, October 13, 2023 | 10:45 PM
Knoch’s Ethan Alwine makes a catch and runs for a touchdown against Freeport on Friday.
Knoch’s Ethan Alwine breaks the tackle of Freeport’s Justin Jack during the first half Friday.
Knoch’s Jackson Bauman (left) breaks up a pass intended for Freeport’s Cyprian Selinger during the first half Friday.
The Knoch student section dresses in pink for homecoming night as the Knights take on Freeport on Friday.
Knoch’s Keaton Oprosky pulls in a catch next to Freeport’s Danny King during the first half Friday.
Freeport’s Colton Otterman (26) wraps up Knoch quarterback Codi Mullen during the first half Friday.
Freeport’s Brady Sullivan pulls in a reception in the first half against Knoch on Friday.
Knoch’s Codi Mullen (left) breaks up a pass intended for Freeport’s Brady Sullivan during the first half Friday.
After a lopsided shutout loss to rival Freeport last season, Knoch wanted to return the favor Friday at Knights Stadium in the latest installment of the battle for the Traveling Pike Trophy.
The Knights held a one-score lead at the break, but two touchdowns in the first minute of the third quarter and a bend-don’t-break defensive effort the rest of the way produced a 19-0 victory.
“We went 1-0 this week, and that is all that we were worried about,” Knoch coach Tim Burchett said.
“I know the opponent was big and the trophy is big, but we tell the guys each week that we feel the only team that can beat us is standing in that home locker room right now. It was a great win for the kids tonight.”
Knoch improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference.
The Knights host East Allegheny for their final home game of the regular season. The Wildcats also improved to 3-0 in the conference with a 17-13 win Friday over Deer Lakes.
“It is now on to East Allegheny,” Burchett said.
Knoch returned to action Friday after not playing last week when Shady Side Academy forfeited their Allegheny 6 matchup because of illness among several players.
Freeport fell to 2-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play. The Yellowjackets still control their own destiny for a spot in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. They need to beat Valley (0-3) next week and Deer Lakes (1-2) in the finale to qualify.
Knoch, with the one-score lead, got the second-half kickoff and started at its 34.
All the Knights offense needed was one play to get in the end zone as Codi Mullen found an open Jackson Bauman in the Freeport secondary for a 66-yard scoring strike.
The point-after kick was blocked, however, and Knoch led 13-0.
The Knights coaches called an onside kick after the TD, and Ethan Alwine executed. Knoch recovered in Freeport territory.
“The execution was NFL-level from Ethan,” Burchett said. “He can do that all the time.”
On second down from the Yellowjackets 26, Mullen and Bauman again connected for a score.
The PAT kick again was blocked, but with just 59 seconds gone in the third, it was 19-0.
Mullen finished 11 of 21 for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Bauman had four catches for 102 yards.
“We had a really bad first half, but we knew we had to just come out guns blazing in the second half and do what we know we can do,” Bauman said.
“We wanted to get quick strikes for scores, and we were able to do that.”
From there, the Knights defense held strong as Freeport tried to rally.
The Yellowjackets sustained long drives in the third and fourth quarters and had a pair of first-and-goals. But Knoch’s defense forced turnovers on downs both times, the second one coming with 1:10 left in the fourth.
Two Mullen kneeldowns ran out the clock to finish off the win.
“It was a great win for us tonight, but we want more,” Bauman said. “We want that conference championship.”
Burchett said it was a calm but straightforward message at halftime, one that his team took to heart.
“We weren’t yelling and screaming. They did play their second-worst first half of the season, but it was 7-0 us,” he said.
“Freeport came in here needing to win two of three. That was us going into Freeport last year. We took some Mike Tyson upper-cuts at times (Friday), but the kids did a great job of making plays on both sides of the ball.”
The Knights thought they had a score on their opening drive of the game.
Mullen rambled 54 yards to the end zone on second-and-10, but the TD was called back on a hold.
Knoch would move the ball inside the Freeport 30 but the drive stalled on a Mullen incompletion on fourth down.
Freeport took possession and drove to the Knoch 20. A 37-yard field-goal attempt on fourth-and-9 was no good, and the game remained scoreless.
The teams traded punts, and the Knights took over at their 45 with 5:12 left in the first half.
Mullen went nowhere on a first-down run, but Knoch was not to be denied on second down.
Mullen found an open Alwine at the Freeport 40, and Alwine did the rest as he went untouched to complete a 55-yard TD connection.
Kannon Trofimuk added the point after, and it was 7-0.
Freeport quarterback Drew Ross threw 36 passes and completed 21 for 147 yards. Madden Wisniewski hauled in eight of Ross’s passes for 84 yards.
“Knoch did an unbelievable job tonight,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said.
“They made some big plays to get on the board, and then put up a wall a couple of times that we just couldn’t break. Hat’s off to them. They are a playoff team that can go pretty deep.
“We played really hard, and I was happy with how our kids performed. I told our guys to not put their heads down. We know what we have to do against Valley and Deer Lakes. We have to win. I know we will be ready to go.”
Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.
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