JEFFERSON TWP — From a one-win season to looking for one crowning moment.

That’s where the Knoch football team will be at Friday night when the Knights (7-1, 3-0) host East Allegheny (6-2, 3-0) with the Allegheny 6 section championship on the line. Knoch will clinch the title with a win while East Allegheny may need to defeat Shady Side Academy the following week to finish on top.

“You go to the weight room in January and February, when it’s 10 degrees outside, you go through off-season conditioning ... It’s to be part of a game like this,” Knoch coach Tim Burchett said. “The crowd should be huge. The atmosphere should be special.

“These kids have earned the chance to play in a game of this magnitude.”

Both teams have already clinched WPIAL 3A playoff berths.

While Burchett is in his second year at Knoch, coming off a 1-9 campaign in his first season, Dom Pecora is in his 11th season with the Wildcats. East Allegheny was 1-9 in the year before he took over. The program has been to the WPIAL playoffs in each of the past eight years, reaching the quarterfinal round three times.

“We’ve been knocked out of the playoffs by the state champion three times, twice by Central Valley, once by Belle Vernon,” Pecora said. “I’m not surprised Knoch is in this situation at all. We beat them in a tough game last year.

“They bumped down from 4A and we’re barely a 3A team. Our roster size is like a 2A team. We’re not as big as them up front and that’s a concern.”

East Allegheny defeated Knoch, 31-21, last season.

The Wildcats are strong in the skilled positions. Quarterback Mike Cahill has thrown for well over 1,000 yards and has a pair of 300-yard passing games to his credit. Running back Amair Rollins has more than 500 yards combined rushing and receiving. Stevie Yusko leads East Allegheny in receptions while Brennan Rutledge leads the squad in yards receiving.

“Their quarterback is a really nice player,” Burchett said. “That’s a seasoned, successful program and they move the ball around effectively. I’m a former lineman and I’ve always believed the line is the most important position on the football field.

“We need to win the battle at the line of scrimmage, control the line of scrimmage and put pressure on them.”

Knoch’s offensive line features left tackle Lucas Rouleau, left guard Wyatt Foster, center Bennett Shaw, right guard Parker Anderson and right tackle Zach Szebalskie.

Top players for East Allegheny defensively include Cahill at safety, Kam Marshall at middle linebacker, Collins and Rutledge at cornerback.

Running back Tony Nicolazzo continues to be sidelined by injury for the Knights. Ethan Alwine will continue to carry the load in the ground game, as will quarterback Codi Mullen. The latter has thrown for 1,238 yards, rushed for 325.

“Ethan’s done a tremendous job stepping in and filling that role,” Burchett said.

Pecora recognizes the weapons Knoch has offensively.

“Their quarterback is dangerous running or throwing and they have game-breaking receivers,” he said. “But can we match their physicality, hold our own up front? That’s my biggest concern.”