Knoch’s Kaden Spencer (4) catches a pass during the fourth quarter against Hampton last week. He had nine catches for 258 yards in the game. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle

JEFFERSON TWP — Many of the names remain the same.

The question is whether Indiana and Knoch can come close to replicating their three-overtime football game last year on the Indians’ turf. The thing is, neither team wants to.

Indiana won that game, 32-31. The teams meet up again at 7 p.m. Friday at Knoch Stadium.

“Last year’s game is a painful memory for us,” Knoch coach Tim Burchett said. “We feel like we should have won that one.”

Missed PATs and kicking woes plagued the Knights in that loss. Kannon Trifomuk is Knoch’s place-kicker this season. He was perfect on six PATs and booted a 21-yard field goal in last week’s 45-38 win over Hampton.

“That field goal in the fourth quarter turned out to be big last week,” Burchett said. “That’s an element in our game we were missing last year.”

Indiana — coming off a 28-14 home win over Freeport — returns nine starters on both sides of the ball. Knoch returns plenty of personnel, but has reshuffled its offense and introduced a new scheme on defense.

Codi Mullen threw for 395 yards and four touchdowns for the Knights last week. Kaden Spencer had nine catches for 258 yards. Jackson Bauman had over 100 yards receiving and Tony Nicolazzo ran for a pair of touchdowns.

“We know the challenge we’re up against this week, trying to slow those guys down,” Indiana coach Bradley Wright said. “It’s a challenge we’re looking forward to.

“We got solid play out of our defense last week.”

Tyler Rifendifer had nine tackles and a quarterback sack for the Little Indians last week while linebacker Isaac Nigron contributed 10 tackles. Offensively, quarterback Trevor Smith threw for three touchdowns and Levi Porter, a sophomore, scored on a 59-yard run.

“Trevor is a second-year starter for us who threw for over 1,000 yards last year and rushed for more than 500,” Wright said. “He does a great job in our passing and our option game.”

The coach added that Porter isn’t your basic sophomore.

“The kid is 6-foot-1, 190, and runs a 4.5 40,” he said. “He rushed for 96 yards and caught passes for 110 last week. He can do a lot of things.”

Knoch’s defense limited Hampton running back Brock Borgo to 90 yards on 27 carries last week. Burchett lauded the play of middle linebacker Dylan Pinkerton, safety Skurka and linebacker Nicolazzo on the defensive side of the ball.

“I don’t know if there’s too many other backs in the WPIAL as tough as that (Borgo) kid and we held our own against him,” Burchett said. “Now we have to build off that win.

“Indiana brings a versatile attack and they can put points on the board.”

While Nicolazzo led the Knights’ rushing attack against Hampton, Ethan Alwine and Brady Pflugh are other backs who figure to get carries this season.

And while Knoch’s passing game struck for a number of big plays in the opener, Burchett emphasized that there’s work to be done.

“Potential is a good word to describe our passing game,” the coach said. “If everyone stays healthy, that group can do some special things. We have the makings of being a pretty good football team.”

Wright won’t argue that point.

“Their quarterback does a great job with their RPOs and we need to stress containment,” Wright said. “Knoch has a quality football team, but so do we.

“I feel like we can go in there and play with them. I’m anticipating a very good game.”