BEAVER FALLS — Knoch rallied behind a flowing offense and a big performance by running back Ivan Stapchuck in their 39-13 victory over Blackhawk Friday at Geneva College's stadium.

Stapchuck, a senior, had 212 yards and five touchdowns on 30 carries.

“We just realized what we had in ourselves,” Stapchuck said. “We just have to believe in ourselves some more.”

Stapchuck carried the ball with consistency, averaging seven yards per carry. He said he credits that to Knoch's offensive line, which opened holes for him all game.

“The O-Line did a great job,” Stapchuck said.

Despite some mistakes in the first quarter, Knoch coach Frank Whalen said the consistency showed the potential for their triple option offense.

“Hats off to them. They shut us down a little bit early on, and then we were able to settle down and to just go through our reads, make our blacks and then we were able to have some success against them,” he said.

Whalen said part of that game plan was also clock management.

“(The game plan) is to take as much time off the clock as possible, and to try to wear down the defense,” he said. “We try to make them run from sideline to sideline with our pitches and our tosses, get them winded and then bust the dive in on them fast.”

Blackhawk struggled to adjust to the misdirection.

Blackhawk coach Joe Lamenza said he tried to make adjustments in the second half, but the Cougars struggled to find stops defensively.

“It's tough to defend,” he said. “I thought our effort was there and schematically we had people in the right places, but we have to execute.”

Lamenza said it also was hard to adjust to a player who played as well as Stapchuck did.

“He's just a tough, hard-nosed runner,” he said. “He looked really good.”

Whalen said Blackhawk was a good game to test their new scheme.

“Blackhawk is a very good football team,” he said. “So, for us to move the ball against them, it takes a while against a good football team, to get this offense going.”

Whalen said it helped to have a breakout performance from one of the team's leaders.

“Ivan is one of the most explosive players in the WPIAL,” he said. “We're glad he's a Knight.”

The win could help the players continue to build confidence in their new system.

“It definitely boosted our confidence a little bit,” Stapchuck said. “We just have to keep on executing in and out every week.”

Knoch 0 20 12 7 — 39

Blackhawk 0 6 7 0 — 13

Second Quarter

K — Jake Herrit 6 run (kick failed), 11:10

B— Kenny Gawley 73 run (kick failed), 10:48

K — Ivan Stapchuck 3 run (Matt Gore kick), 6:07

K — Stapchuck 3 (Gore), :28

Third Quarter

K — Stapchuck 36 run (kick failed), 10:42

K — Stapchuck 11 run (kick failed), 4:41

B — Matt Randza 42 pass from Payton Stewart (Joey Coveny kick), 1:25

Fourth Quarter

K — Stapchuck 30 run (Gore kick), 7:31

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Knoch, Ivan Stapchuck 30-212, Jake Herrit 14-46, A.J. Karenbauer 3-13, Saavon Mosby 3-10, Heath Erdos 1-7, Noah Cetnar 3-3, Jim Johnson 1-2. Blackhawk, Kenny Gawley 4-84, Vance Gratteri 5-42, Chance Liptak 1-13, Josh Butcher 2-6, Mar'Ques Watson-Trent 2-1, CJ Gailey 1-0, Carmen Campagna 3-(-1), Payton Stewart 4-(-10)

Passing: Knoch, Jake Herrit 1-2-11-0, Heath Erdos 0-1-0-0. Blackhawk, Payton Stewart 8-11-83-0, Chance Liptak 0-1-0-0

Receiving: Knoch, AJ Karenbauer 1-11. Blackhawk, Matt Randza 1-42, Mar'Ques Watson-Trent 2-21, Kenny Gawler 1-12, Dillon Kaszer 1-8, Tanner Haney 2-8, Carmen Campagna 1-(-5)