JEFFERSON TWP — Look for Knoch's varsity football team to turn back the clock this season.

“We want to get back to old-school Knoch football — running the football behind a strong offensive line,” 18th-year coach Mike King said.

Why not? The pieces all fit.

The Knights are coming off a 3-6 season, but return eight starters offensively. Among those returnees are seniors Ethan Horn at center, Jeff Huckestein at guard, Zach Curry and Mark Kroneberg at tackle. Curry weighs 290 pounds, Kroneberg 285, Huckestein and Horn 240 each.

Running behind those guys will be senior quarterback Mac Christy at 6-foot-4, 240. Christy is shifting over from running back. Two other returning backs — fullback Austen Renfrew and tailback Jayden Renfrew — will get their share of carries as well.

“We've got some powerful runners and I like the way our senior offensive linemen have been leading the way in camp,” King said. “I feel like our power running game can be very effective.”

The other returning offensive starter for the Knights is senior wide receiver Dylan Plutyk, who had 10 catches for 137 yards a year ago.

Tanner Grassi, a sophomore, has the inside track as the other starting guard for Knoch. Zach Boldy is the tight end with Lane Rodgers joining Plutyk at receiver.

“While we'll be running some Wildcat packages. I do expect us to be able to throw the ball a little bit,” King said. “Mac is a very accurate passer, one of the most accurate throwing quarterbacks we've had here.

“If we run the ball as well as I believe we can, there will be things open in the passing game.”

Christy agreed.

“Our strength this year is the returning seniors on our line,” Christy said. “They're working with the underclassmen really well, too.

“With our blocking up front, I'm looking for our offense to be able to control the football.”

Defensively, the Knights will line up in a 44. Six starters return on that side of the football.

Both tackles are back in Curry and Huckestein. Kroneberg returns at defensive end and Christy is being shifted from outside linebacker to in the middle. Austen Renfrew moves from the defensive line to inside linbebacker and Jayden Renfrew is back at a corner.

The other defensive end is Horn, who King said “has been having a very nice camp.”

Outside linebackers will come from Plutyk, Boldy and Nick Kuss. Rodgers will be at safety with A.J. Karenbauer manning a corner.

“I like our starting personnel, but we don't have much depth right now,” King said. “We're thin at a lot of positions and we're trying to work on that.

“We need kids to grow into positions. They are one cramp away rom being on a varsity football field and they need to understand that. Injuries happen and we're going to need guys to fill in from time to time.”

Matt Gore, a junior, returns as Knoch's place-kicker. Christy was an all-conference punter last year.

“Our No. 1 goal is to get back to the playoffs,” King said. “Clearly, you want to finish in the upper echelon of the conference and win the conference if you can. But the first step is to secure playoff position.”

Knoch is Class 4A under the PIAA's new six-division alignment this season. The Knights will have plenty of competition in their section with Mars, South Fayette, Montour and Highlands, among others.

“It's going to be a battle,” King said.

But he's happy with the positioms on the field the Knights hav e expertoence.

“I'd rather have an experienced line with new skill people than experience at the skilled positions with an untested line,” he said.

“We're counting on our linemen to lead the way on both sides of the ball.”