JEFFERSON TWP —Knoch's game-opening possession consisted of 15 plays, 64 yards and eight minutes of elapsed time Friday night.

And produced nothing. The Knights turned the ball over on downs at the Trinity 7-yard line.

No worries.

The Knights scored touchdowns on their next six possessions in rolling to a 41-14 non-section homecoming football victory over Trinity,

“Our offense is designed to wear the defense out,” Knoch quarterback Chase Mullen said. “I think we did a good job of that tonight.”

Mullen wound up rushing for 119 yards and scoring three touchdowns. He also threw for 106 yards and a score. Scott Fraser caught a 32-yard touchdown pass to break a scoreless tie with 7:47 left in the first half.

But Trinity (1-7), which entered the game riding a four-game losing streak, didn't go away easily.

The Hillers tied the game with a touchdown pass of their own, then recovered an onside kick. The teams traded touchdowns for a while and Knoch (4-5) took a 21-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

Trinity faced a fourth-and-1 at its own 41-yard line to begin the final period. Fullback Bryan Byers — on his only carry of the game — was stuffed for a yard loss by Knoch defenders Jarrett Bricker, Dalton Reeed and Joey Wojciechowski.

“That was a huge stop in this game,” Knoch coach Frank Whalen said. “It gave us a bit of momentum and we ran with it.”

A 20-yard run by Jim Johnston highlighted a 40-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard Mullen touchdown run.

Wojciechiowski intercepted a pass and returned it 17 yards to the Trinity 30 on the game's next offensive play. Mullen's 29-yard pass to Fraser out the ball on the 1-yard line.

Following an illegal procedure penalty, Johnston scored on a 6-yard run. The Knights had a 35-14 lead with 7:32 to play and the competitive portion of the game was over.

Both of Johnston runs came on outside pitches from Mullen.

“That's all part of the triple-option package,” Whalen said. “They were overloading on Matty (Goodlin), so Chase made the read to pull the ball back and keep it himself.

“When they started keying on Chase, he pitched the ball outside. That play was open.”

Mullen says he has (about one second) to make the first two reads, whether to hand the ball to Goodlin or keep it himself. Goodlin had 24 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown, but only seven carries in the second half.

“It took me a while to get the offense down and make the right decisions,” Mullen admitted of his season. “Like I said, you have to make quick reads.

“We're rolling now. I think we belong in the playoffs. We're playing much better now than we were in as first few games.”

The defense has been a big part of that surge. Jared Schrecengost intercepted a pass in the end zone to snuff out Trinity's final scoring threat late in the game.

“Jarrett Bricker has been outstanding at our mike linebacker and I think Scott Fraser is the best free safety in our conference, hands down,” Whalen said.

Knoch stayed alive in its playoff quest as Beaver and New Castle both won Friday night. Had either lost, the Knights would have been eliminated.

“We just have to play the waiting game right now,” Whalen said.

Knoch generated 21 first downs and 395 yards offensively Friday night.

Drew Cain led Trinity with 82 yards rushing. Quarterback Kaden Kolson threw for 151 yards and a touchdown.

Knoch hosts Freeport in a mutual regular season finale next Friday.

Trinity 0 7 7 0 — 14

Knoch 0 14 7 20 — 41

Second Quarter

K — Scott Fraser 32 pass from Chase Mullen (Josh Goldscheitter kick), 7:47

T — Cole Bair 8 pass from Kaden Kolson (Ryan Homickel kick), 4:31

K — Matt Goodlin 2 run (Goldscheitter kick), :38

Third Quarter

T — Drew Cain 1 run (Homickel kick), 7:40

K — Mullen 9 run (Goldscheitter klick), 3:46

Fourth Quarter

K — Mullen 3 run (Goldscheitter kick), 8:43

K — Jim Johnston 6 run (Goldscheitter kick), 7:32

K — Mullen 5 run (kick blocked), 2:04

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Trinity, Kaden Kolson 4-6, Micah Finley 6-18, Cole Bair 3-2, Drew Cain 12-82, Marques Lacks 1-5, Peyton Thompson 1-1, Bryan Byers 1-(-1). Knoch, Chase Mullen 19-118, Matt Goodlin 24-133, Noah Cetnar 1-10, Jim Johnston 2-26, Kam Grassi 1-2.

Passing: Trinity, Kaden Kolson 9-23-151-2. Kmnoch, Chase Mullen 6-10-106-0.

Receiving: Trinity, Cameron oran 5-64, Cole Bair 3-58, Marques Lacks 1-6, Drew Cain 1-30. Knich, Kam Grassi 3-41, Matt Goodlin 1-4, Scott Fraser 2-61.