PITTSBURGH — Momentum met its match.

Dillon Buechel threw for 186 yards and a touchdown, Julian Durden ran for 167 and four scores Saturday as Montour ended Knoch's emotional run through the WPIAL football playoffs with a 42-14 victory in the Class AAA championship game at Heinz Field.

The Knights — averaging 38 points per game this season — were held to one first down in the first half and trailed 28-0 at the intermission.

“Nothing has really shocked us in a game all year. But that first half shocked us a bit,” Knoch coach Mike King said. “We didn't expect anything like that.”

Montour (11-2) won its first WPIAL football crown since 1964 after losing title games at Heinz Field in 2007 and 2010.

“This team was incredibly focused in practice all week — as focused as I've ever seen them,” Montour coach Lou Cerro said. “We peaked at the right time this year.

“To be able to play like this against an outstanding Knoch team ... I'm extremely proud of this group.”

The Knights (12-1) managed only 41 yards offensively in the first half. The Spartans had 262 and Buechel threw for 179 of his yards in the first two quarters.

Knoch's rushing attack picked up only 57 yards on 26 carries all day.

“Once you get hit (by Montour's defense), everyone else swarms to the ball,” Knoch fullback Andy Tuzikow said. “They were really aggressive. They shut us down.”

Montour scored on drives of 71, 68, 61 and 66 yards in the first half. The first touchdown drive began after Knoch turned the ball over on downs at the Spartans' 29-yard line.

Devin Wilson — who had six catches for 99 yards in the first half — came open across the middle of the end zone for a 12-yard scoring reception to cap the drive.

An interception by Darren Massey was followed by a 61-yard bomb to Sherrod Naylor, setting up Durden's first TD. The running back scored on a 1-yard run with 9:47 left in the second quarter.

Durden added TD runs of 23 and 13 yards before the half was over.

“That kid is big-time,” King said of the Montour running back. “He has all of the tools.”

“This wasn't about me wanting to take over the game,” Durden said. “The opportunities were there for me and I took them. Our line was opening some big holes. All I had to do was run through them.”

Knoch made some plays in the second half. Sean Wasko nailed Durden for a yard loss on the first possession of the third quarter and Montour shanked a punt from its own 4-yard line.

The Knights took over at the 18 and scored two plays later, Ky Kenyon hitting Alex Strezeski for a 6-yard touchdown pass.

“You always feel like you can come back, absolutely,” King said. “We were hoping that was the start of it. We just couldn't contain their offense.”

On the next play from scrimmage, Durden broke loose up the middle for a 73-yard scoring run.

Shortly thereafter, Aaron Reed returned an interception 37 yards to the Knoch 1-yard line. He scored from there to make it 42-7 with 8:59 left in the third quarter and the mercy clock was on.

Mike Cunningham hit Buechel and forced a fumble that was recovered by Jon Whalen at the Montour 34 with 2:38 left in the quarter. The Knights turned the ball over on downs at the 18.

Late in the game, Kenyon found Strezeski for a 43-yard strike deep down the middle, the play ending at the Montour 11-yard line. Kenyon rolled out and reached the left corner of the end zone on a 5-yard run to cap the scoring with 24 seconds left.

A crowd of 15,975 passed through the turnstiles at Heinz Field for the first two WPIAL title games of the day. The lower grandstand on Knoch's side of the field was completely filled.

“I've never seen anything like it and I've been playing football since I was 7 ... and I'm 47 now,” King said. “We received an outpouring of support this season through thick and thin.

“My heart is warmed today by our team, our community and by our high school.”

Montour 42, Knoch 14

Knoch 0 0 7 7 — 14Montour 7 21 14 0 — 42K M8 First Downs 1526-57 Rushes-Yards 27-199131 Passing Yards 18612-23-2 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 10-17-0188 Total Yards 3850-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-12-13 Penalties-Yards 8-45

First QuarterM — Devin Wilson 12 pass from Dillon Buechel (Nathan Dearth kick), 2:17

Second QuarterM — Julian Durden 1 run (Dearth kick), 9:47M — Durden 23 run (Dearth kick), 5:55M — Durden 13 run (Dearth kick), 1:09

Third QuarterK — Alex Strezeski 6 pass from Ky Kenyon (Kory Wood kick), 10:16M — Durden 73 run (Dearth kick), 9:56M — Aaron Reed 1 run (Dearth kick), 8:56

Fourth QuarterK — Kenyon 5 run (Dearth kick), 8:56

Individual StatisticsPassing: Knoch, Ky Kenyon 11-21-119-2, Dakota Bruggeman 1-2-12-0. Montour, Dillon Buechel 10-17-186-0.

Rushing: Knoch, Ky Kenyon 8-19, Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin 10-25, Ben Tackett 3-6, Mac Megahan 1-5, Andy Tuzikow 3-12, Dakota Bruggeman 1-(-10). Montour, Dillon Buechel 2-7, Julian Durden 16-167, Darren Massey 3-12, Aaron Reed 2-2, Anthony Rippole 1-3, James Taylor 3-8.

Receiving: Knoch, Ben Tackett 5-54, Andy Tuzikow 2-6, Dakota Bruggeman 1-3, Alex Strezeski 3-54, Luke Kroneberg 1-14. Montour, Devin Wilson 6-99, Darren Massey 1-4, Sherrod Naylor 1-61, Aaron Reed 1-15, Julian Durden 1-7.