Knoch's Matt Goodlin runs through the Ambridge defense during Friday's Northwest 8 Conference game. Goodlin scored three touchdowns in the 56-0 win.

JEFFERSON TWP — In one of many football games delayed by severe storms Friday night, Ambridge was a bit rigid as it returned to the field to slip and slide through the mud at Knoch High School.

Ambridge was off to a rough start in the first half before the rain even became a factor in play, eventually losing the Northwest 8 Conference game, 56-0.

Knoch improved to 2-3, while Ambridge fell to 1-4.

“It was a great game for us,” Knoch coach Frank Whelan said. “The delay happened for us, (and) it happened for them.”

Many incomplete passes and fumbles, plus a strong start from Knoch, made it difficult for the Bridgers to recover. Knoch's first two touchdowns came during the first quarter, and the team quickly followed those scores with another four touchdowns, leading 41-0, in the second quarter, despite the rain delay.

“Our kids came out,” Whelan said. “They were ready to play football. They capitalized on everything that was given to them, and from that standpoint, I'm very proud.”

Even without the same fan energy from the beginning of the game to carry Knoch through, the Knights finished strong with another two touchdowns in the second half.

“Our guys were ready to roll,” Whelan said, “and I'm not saying that they (Bridgers) weren't, I'm just saying that I think they had some difficulty handling the football in the second half.”

As expected with the poor weather conditions, there were a few injuries, including Ambridge's Anthony Prentice, a wide receiver who walked off with an apparent leg injury.

“I feel for the guys over at Ambridge,” Whelan said. “Those are tough kids over there. ”

A second delay, this time for a lightning strike, prevented the teams from taking the field immediately after halftime, but after another 30-minute wait, Knoch continued playing just how it started the game.

A 21-yard run from Matt Goodlin led into Chase Mullen going in with a two-point conversion to boost their lead by another eight points at the beginning of the second half.

Ambridge had one last-ditch run with less than a minute on the clock, during which Steven Sakony rushed 26 yards, but it wasn't enough to get Ambridge near the end zone.

“We did extremely well tonight. It was a good night, and now we're just back in the thick of things,” Whelan said. We have a big game coming up against Montour this week, and we'll enjoy this one tonight, but next week it's all Montour.”

Ambridge 0 0 0 0 — 0Knoch 14 27 8 7 — 56First QuarterK — Matt Goodlin 45 run (Josh Goldscheitter kkck), 10:29K — Noah Cetnar 11 run (Goldscheitter kick), 5:24Second QuarterK — Chase Mullen 25 run (kick failed), 7:32K — Goodlin 1 run (Goldscheitter kick), 6:23K — Mullen 5 run (Goldscheitter kick), 4:06K — Goodlin 1 run (Goldscheitter kick), 2:34Third QuarterK — Goodlin 21 run (Mullen run), 5:17Fourth QuarterK — Kam Grassi 37 run (Goldscheitter kick), 8:32Individual StatisticsRushing: Ambridge, Deyvon Gill-Martin 16-25, Mason Osborn 10-0, Steven Sakony 3-26. Knoch, Noah Cetnar 2-16, Matt Goodlin 15-140, Chase Mullen 10-86, Jim Johnston 3-11, Kam Grassi 5-35, Keagan Fraser 1-3. Knoch,Passing: Ambridge, Mason Osborn 0-3-0-0. Knoch, Chase Mullen 0-2-0-0.

The Knights' Jarrett Bricker sacks Bridgers' quarterback Mason Osborn.