JEFFERSON TWP — Ben Tackett doesn't have the size of a prototypical running back.

That hasn't stopped the Knoch senior from producing like one.

Tackett ran for 157 yards on 12 carries and scored four touchdowns — giving him eight on the young season — as the Knights claimed a 40-7 non-conference victory over Trinity on Friday night at Knoch High School.

“The kid's amazing,” said Knoch coach Mike King of Tackett. “He's one of the smallest kids on the field, but he's just so dangerous.”

Tackett — listed at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds — pointed to the big guys up front for his early-season success.

“Touchdowns are nice, but just because I'm the one running across the goal line doesn't mean I'm the one that should be getting the glory,” said the senior. “The (offensive) line does just as much as I do.”

Knoch's first score came two plays after Luke Kroneberg pounced on a fumbled snap at the Trinity 5-yard line midway through the first quarter.

Tackett plunged into the end zone from 1-yard out on a direct snap, similar to a Wildcat formation. The Knights (2-0) used the same formation successfully on a fourth-and-1 in the second quarter.

“We call it the 'Ben-cat,'” said King. “I think it could be something very good for us.”

“Quarterback isn't foreign to me, I just wasn't tall enough to play it,” said Tackett with a laugh. “I like it. Coach King is opening up doors with new ideas and we're just having a blast with it.”

Tackett scored on a 25-yard scamper later in the first quarter and tallied his third TD on a 15-yard jaunt in the second.

The Knights took a 26-0 lead into halftime thanks to the defense.

Mike Cunningham sacked and forced a fumble from Trinity quarterback Don McWreath, before Nathan Anuskiewicz scooped up the loose ball and raced 30 yards into the end zone.

“I love defense. I love getting after people,” said Cunningham. “It's always my favorite.”

He made an impact on the offensive side of the ball, too.

Cunningham hauled in three catches for 97 yards — including a 33-yard touchdown to cap Knoch's scoring late in the third quarter — and was the Knights' second-leading rusher with 41 yards on seven carries.

Knoch didn't give the Hillers (1-1) a chance to gain any momentum in the second half. Tackett took the first play from scrimmage 76 yards for a touchdown, spinning away from a pair of Trinity defenders at the 30-yard line before sprinting into the end zone.

“Any play has the potential to go,” said Tackett. “My dad always used to tell me, 'Run for 5, get 50.'

“That's just my motto,” he added. “You run hard for the first 5 and then instincts just take over.”

The running game was only a portion of Knoch's offensive attack. Quarterback Dakota Bruggeman was 6-of-10 passing for 161 yards and a score.

“We need that and we're going to need that. I like that balance,” said King. “It's going to take pressure off our running game, which we need to do.”

King praised his team's defensive effort, as well. Trinity didn't get on the scoreboard until 3:01 to go on a 65-yard run by Patrick Frey against Knoch's second unit.

“We have some young kids playing,” said King, noting Nick Cunningham, Cody Milsom and Peyton Maziarz in particular. “We jockey linebackers around and they did a good job.”

Three lost fumbles in the first half cost Trinity a chance to jump on Knoch early.

“The bottom line is we didn't recover from that,” said Trinity coach Ryan Coyle. “They were certainly the more physical and more disciplined football team.

“We can't dwell on it too much. A loss is a loss,” he added. “You have to try to improve the negatives, take the couple positives and regroup for next week.”

Tackett and the rest of the Knights are looking forward to the awaiting challenges of a difficult Greater Allegheny Conference.

“We're fighters, that's just how we are,” said Tackett. “We're just looking to win every week and with the Lord's blessing, hopefully we can.”