JEFFERSON TWP — Central Valley is the defending WPIAL and PIAA 3A champion with good reason.

The Warriors picked up right where they left off last season as they defeated host Knoch 62-0 in non-conference action Friday night.

A well-balanced offense and fast defense helped Central Valley defeat Wyomissing Area 35-21 last fall in the state championship game.

“We knew coming in Central Valley was very good,” Knoch head coach Brandon Mowry said. “Our focus was double team linebacker Sean Fitzsimmons (a Pitt recruit) a lot, but we just had trouble managing the line of scrimmage.”

The Warriors offense wasted little time as they marched down the field on their opening possession, which was capped off with a 10-yard touchdown run from Landon Alexander.

“It's Landon's turn, his time,” Central Valley coach Mark Lyons said. “He was a contributor last year on the state championship team and now he needs to take the next step as a leader.”

Alexander finished the day with 51 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns.

In total, the Warriors totaled 262 yards on the ground, with a bulk of those yards from Bret Fitzsimmons with 93 yards on just two carries and two scores.

After Alexander's first touchdown in the first quarter, a string of mental mistakes plagued the Knights. That included a kickoff gaff where no Knight player caught the ball, which allowed the Warriors to recover it deep in Knight territory.

“That one is on us,” Mowry said. “We should've adjusted, that kid was kicking it in that pocket all night. Those are the things we'll address with those guys this week for sure.”

Central Valley went up 49-0 at the half to initiate a running clock.

The second half was more of the same. The Knights allowed Machai Parham to return the second half kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown.

One more touchdown would be added in the fourth on a five-yard score from Antwon Johnson.

“This is only game one,” Lyons said. “We're not getting too excited. Just trying to keep an even keel about ourselves.”

The Knights will look for some redemption against Freeport (0-1) next week when the Yellowjackets visit Knoch.

“Those guys are right next door,” Mowry said of Freeport. “A lot of these kids, they know each other. Our guys are going to be amped up and ready to go with that group. We're just going to put a good week of work in and go from there.”

Freeport fell to Armstrong Friday night 48-14.

Central Valley 21 28 7 6 – 62 Knoch 0 0 0 0 — 0

First Quarter

CV – Landon Alexander 10 run (Serafino DeSantis kick), 8:12

CV – Deniro Simpson 31 pass from Matt Merritt (Serafino DeSantis kick), 7:24

CV – Donovan Jones 70 pass from Matt Merritt (Serafino DeSantis kick), 4:34

Second Quarter

CV – Bret FitzSimmons 72 run (Serafino DeSantis kick), 8:56

CV – Landon Alexander 39 run (Serafino DeSantis kick), 5:24

CV – Matt Merritt 22 run (Serafino DeSantis kick), 3:14

CV – Bret FitzSimmons 21 run (Serafino DeSantis kick), 2:02

Third Quarter

CV – Machai Parham 77 kickoff return (Serafino DeSantis kick), 7:45 Fourth Quarter

CV – Antwon Johnson 5 run (Serafino DeSantis kick missed), 3:45 Individual Statistics

Rushing: Central Valley, Matt Merritt 3-32, Landon Alexander 7-51, Rylan Jeter 1-5, Jayvin Thompson 1-1, Bret FitzSimmons 2-93, Antwon Johnson 4-59, Kyle Schad 3-15, Don Lindsey 2-6. Knoch, Keagan Fraser 8-54, Exzavier Johnson 3-(-5), JJ Szebalskie 1-(-4), Sam Skurka 9-9, Dalton Schrecengost 1-(-2), TEAM 22-52.

Passing: Central Valley, Matt Merritt 3-8-126-1. Knoch, Carson Kosecki 1-2-3-0.

Receiving: Deniro Simpson 1-31, Donovan Jones 1-70, Jayvin Thompson 1-25. Knoch, Exzavier Johnson 1-3.