JEFFERSON TWP — The Traveling Pike Trophy has taken up residence at Freeport the past couple of years.

Knoch hopes it’s time for the trophy to take on a new address.

Knoch (6-1, 2-0) hosts Freeport (2-5, 0-2) for homecoming in an Allegheny 6 Conference football game at 7 p.m. Friday. The winner receives the Traveling Pike Trophy.

“One hundred percent, it adds something to the game,” Knoch coach Tim Burchett said. “This is a bit of role reversal from a year ago, but it’s two neighboring rivals playing each other.

“We know we’re going to get their best shot. If we don’t play well, we’re going to lose.”

The Yellowjackets have defeated Knoch the past two years, claiming a 42-0 decision last season and a 28-14 win in 2021.

Freeport enters the game riding a four-game losing streak, including a 28-7 decision at East Allegheny last week. But the team is not without weapons.

“We graduated 16 seniors from last year, but we’re not young anymore,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “We’ve played more than half a season. We need to learn from our mistakes and I think we’re doing that.

“Every game is a big game, but the trophy does add to this one. Freeport and Saxonburg, these are two great towns. The kids all know each other. We know their staff. We’re almost like brothers.”

Quarterback Drew Ross has thrown for 719 yards and nine touchdowns for Freeport. Brady Sullivan is his prime target, tallying 22 receptions for 341 yards and six touchdowns thus far. Cyp Selinger has 14 catches for 203 yards and four TDs. Colton Otterman leads the Freeport ground game with 362 yards and three touchdowns.

Otterman also has 50 tackles and seven quarterback sacks. Isaac Woods has 50 tackles. The Yellowjackets have 20 QB sacks as a team.

“We need to try to put some pressure on Codi (QB Mullen),” Gaillot said. “They have a lot of good athletes on that team. I think our lines are fairly even, we play aggressively, they play aggressively, it should be a good game.”

“They have people who can hurt us, for sure,” Burchett said. “They weren’t a WPIAL semifinalist just because of those seniors they lost. They had plenty of other contributors who are still there.”

Junior quarterback Codi Mullen continues to lead the Knights, throwing for 1,058 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 266 yards. Jackson Bauman has 27 catches for 341 yards, Kaden Spencer 24 for 475. Spencer is averaging 19.8 yards per catch.

Running back Tony Nicolazzo remains questionable while recovering from injury. Ethan Alwine rushed for over 100 yards in his place during a victory over Deer Lakes two weeks ago.

Knoch won by forfeit over Shady Side Academy last week as the latter declined to play after hand, foot and mouth disease was detected at its school.

“That was disappointing and disheartening,” Burchett said. “We didn’t find out until Friday morning we weren’t playing. No one did any celebrating ... You’d much rather win on the field, go out and compete.

“We put the kids through a rigorous weight room workout Saturday morning, ran some sprints, but there’s no substitute for playing a game. We had a good practice (Tuesday), though, so I think we’re OK.”

Gaillot doesn’t care about the difference in won-loss records or his team’s current skid.

“We have the same expectations of everybody,” the Freeport coach said. “Whether the kids are seniors or freshmen, we’re resilient and our kids want to be the best. They play their hearts out every week and that’s all we can ask.”