JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch coach Mike King was optimistic going into Friday night despite the team's 0-2 start.

He was confident and enthusiastic because the Knights had a chance to take on rival Highlands in a conference game for the first time since 2013.

“This is a big rivalry for us,” King said. “We're glad for them to be back in our division.”

Knoch welcomed the Golden Rams to the Northwest nine with 450 yards of offense in a 21-14 win at Knoch Stadium.

The Knights (1-2, 1-1) have won six straight against Highlands.

“It might be the biggest win we've ever had given the fact we looked so poor last Friday night (a 42-0 loss against West Mifflin),” King said. “We made up for last week.”

The yeoman's work on the ground was done by senior quarterback Mac Christy.

Christy rushed 31 times for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw for 108 yards and a touchdown.

“It was the Mac attack tonight,” King said. “He knows that he is a big part of the running game. He's too much of a force for us and he welcomes the challenge.”

Knoch got on the board in the first quarter by balancing running and passing. Christy threw consecutive passes of 33 and 17 yards, respectively, to senior Jayden Renfrew and ended with a three-yard keeper to the end zone.

Highlands responded on the ensuing drive with a 58-yard touchdown sprint by junior running back Jermaine Jett to end the first quarter.

The Knights continued their crusade, driving 89 yards in three-and-a-half minutes, capping the drive with a 30-yard pass from Christry to senior tight end Zachary Boldy on fourth-and-12 to put Knoch up 14-6 with 8:25 left before halftime.

“You have got to play to win,” King said on the Knights taking their chances on 4th down.

The Knights extended their lead after Christy scored with a 59-yard run late in the third quarter.

Highlands struggled to mount any offense in the air, with Brayden Thimons throwing two interceptions.

Along with that, penalties hindered any chance of finding the end zone.

The Golden Rams (1-3, 1-2) in the third quarter drove all the way to the Knights' 13-yard line with a 55-yard run by Dominic Martinka.

However, an illegal block penalty and a tackle for loss led to Highlands going for it on 4th and long.

Thimons found receiver Lonnie Long open for what would have been a first down had Long not bobbled the football before stepping out of bounds.

“We always seem to find a way to play our worst game out here,” Golden Rams coach Sam Albert said. “Things we usually do very well, we didn't do well.”

Albert said the team's struggles with bringing down Christy and being outweighed led to Highlands' defeat.

“My hats off to them,” Albert said of his former team. “I thought they had a nice game plan. He (Christy) would run right through us.”

Highlands came within striking distance late in the fourth quarter after driving 78 yards and ending with a 20-yard touchdown run by Thimons.

However, Knoch recovered the ensuing onside kick and held on for the win.

The Knights' win also came on the school's hall of fame night, where five alumni athletes were inducted into the school's hall.

“That put a lot of pressure on us,” King said. “Those people had a lot of wins in their careers. We couldn't come out here and lay an egg and they didn't.”