JEFFERSON TWP — This win was by no means an easy one.

That isn't necessarily a bad thing for the Knoch football team.

In most games this season, the Knights have faced little challenge. Against Highlands Friday night, the Rams offered plenty of it.

But a screen pass from Knoch quarterback Ky Kenyon to running back Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin resulted in a 45-yard touchdown. That gave the Knights a comfortable 14-point fourth-quarter lead on the way to a 28-21 home victory.

"This game right here is a game that teaches you something about yourself," said Knoch coach Mike King.

This game also showed the Knights (8-0, 5-0) don't have to be perfect to win.

Knoch muffed two punts early in the contest, the first leading to a Rams touchdown, and wasn't always sharp on offense.

Still, touchdown runs of 1 and 31 yards by Kenyon gave Knoch a 14-7 lead at halftime.

"We weathered the storm," King said. "And that storm they brought was a good one."

Highlands (4-4, 2-3) played like a desperate team.

The Rams' defense was aggressive and flying around the field. Linebacker Terrell Leonard recorded 17 tackles.

The Highlands offense, with senior wide receiver Seth Goheen making his first career start at quarterback, also hurt Knoch at times in the passing game.

Goheen threw for 137 yards and three touchdowns.

His final TD and second of the game to wideout Jerrial Carver cut the Knoch lead to seven points with 1:58 remaining in the game.

The Rams, though, never got the ball back after their onside kick attempt went only two yards.

"The kids did a great job. I'm proud of them," said Highlands coach Sam Albert. "That was (Goheen's) first start. We call him 'Slingshot.' He doesn't care. He slings it out there."

King was a bit disappointed with his defense in the second half, the fourth quarter in particular. But he had few qualms about his offense in the final two quarters.

Rumburg-Goodlin and fullback Adam Tuzikow churned out yardage as the physical Knoch offensive line wore down the undersized Highlands front eight.

"I've never seen our defense give up that kind of yardage in the fourth quarter," King said. "I was a little concerned about that. But I thought we did everything we needed to do on offense."

Rumburg-Goodlin finished with 92 yards on 20 carries and Tuzikow picked up 65 yards on 11 attempts.

Knoch had little answer for Carver, who made several spectacular catches, including one pass he snatched out of the air while lying on his back. He hauled in six passes for 124 yards.

This is Knoch's first 8-0 start since 2002 and only the fourth time in school history the Knights have played eight games without a defeat.

With the 56-0 win by Mars over Valley, the stage is set next week for the Knights-Planets game that will decide the section title.