JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch's fall proved to be a long haul.

For the first time in school history, all six of Knoch High's varsity fall sports teams — football, boys and girls soccer, volleyball, golf and girls tennis — qualified for the WPIAL playoffs.

"That's just a tribute to our coaches and kids," Knoch athletic director Josh Shoop said. "We have talented athletes in multiple sports and our coaches made everything come together."

• The football team is looking to complete its first perfect regular season Saturday, along with winning its first outright Greater Allegheny Conference title since 1992.

• The boys soccer team, coached by Doug Wood, finished 12-5-1, posting 10 shutouts.

• The girls soccer squad, under first-year coach Steve Perri, was 11-6-1 with five shutouts.

• The volleyball team, coached by 25-year veteran Diane Geist, reaches postseason play annually. It did so this year with an 8-3 record.

"Diane has the most successful athletic program at this school," Shoop said. "She does amazing work with those girls year after year."

• The girls tennis team, under second-year coach Kenny Nieser, finished 11-1, tying for the section title.

• Kevin Zitzman led the golf team to the team playoffs in his first year at the helm.

"This is a tremendous accomplishment," Knoch football coach Mike King said. "I hope the student body understands that stuff like this doesn't happen all the time.

"I'm the ghost of Knoch High School past, having went to school here. We only had four sports, volleyball, football, cross country and golf, when I went here," he added.

All of the fall athletic rosters at Knoch are fully stocked.

"You don't see many kids standing around doing nothing around here," King said. "Our kids find their niche.

"I remember when soccer came on the scene. Everyone feared the sport would take football players away. That just didn't happen."

In fact, Knoch football has a tradition of getting its kicker from the soccer team, including Kory Wood this season.

The son of the Knights boys soccer coach recorded 10 goals and seven assists in soccer. He is 4-for-4 in field goals, including a 40-yarder.

Kory Wood attributes the success of both teams to "a lot of teamwork and dedication."

Wood also plays lacrosse in the spring. He practiced soccer from 3 to 5 p.m. every day after school, then changed into his football gear and practiced for a half-hour.

"It was a little difficult at times, but it was worth it," Kory Wood said.

The elder Wood said Knoch athletes always work hard.

"They're not afraid to put the time in," he said. "Teams were practicing their sports all summer. Most of our coaches are teachers, always accessible in the building, and I think that helps."

King said Knoch's coaches always encourage their players to participate in other sports.

"It saddens me when I hear of coaches at some other places trying to get kids to play only one sport," he said. "High school is the only time these kids will ever be able to do this.

"They should enjoy them all."