Knoch football 2025 preview: What to watch, 3 things to know and schedule
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Knoch's Zach Szebalskie goes to block a defender during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Evan Fink catches a ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Evan Fink gets set before a play during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Ethan Rouleau runs with the ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Makai Noah finishes work on the training sled during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Max Wiley passes the ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch football holds its last practice of heat week Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Zack Szebalskie works on step-overs during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch head coach T.J. Wiley instructs his players during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Ethan Rouleau runs to set a block during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch defensive line coach Don Thomas talks to players during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Carter Beres takes a handoff during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch football heads into the 2025 season under new leadership. The Knights held their last practice of heat week Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knock's Evan Fink catches the ball during football practice Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch football heads into the 2025 season under a new coaching staff. The Knights held their last practice of heat week Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Knights Stadium at Knoch High School. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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(L-R) Knoch’s Ben Allen, Carter Worsley, Koen Sundie, and Zach Szebalskie during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Koen Sundie during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Koen Sundie during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Zach Szebalskie during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Zach Szebalskie during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Ben Allen during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Ben Allen during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Carter Worsley during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Carter Worsley during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
JEFFERSON TWP — There wasn’t much of a secret why Knoch football finished with a 3-6 record last season.
The opponent scored at least 42 points in all six of the Knights’ losses, and fatigue played a major role.
“We started the season with a roster in the 30s and got hit with injuries,” fourth-year starting lineman Zach Szebalskie said. “We were playing with 20 guys by the end of the year. Everyone had to start both ways.
“It’s hard to win like that.”
First-year head coach T.J. Wiley — replacing Tim Burchett, who resigned after three seasons — agrees.
“We’re trying to build a culture here,” Wiley said. “We want kids dedicated to Knoch football, willing to put the team above themselves. That’s what we have here, and I’m excited about it.”
While Wiley has coached at five WPIAL schools prior to joining the Knights, this is his first head coaching job since 2019 (Bishop Canevin). He was an assistant coach at Shaler last year.
And he’s bringing plenty of experience with him.
His six new assistants at Knoch have more than 175 years of high school football coaching experience between them.
“There’s nothing these guys haven’t seen,” Wiley said. “A few of them have been head coaches themselves. Nothing will be thrown at them that they won’t be able to adjust to.”
Offensive coordinator John Wiley, T.J.’s father, has 50 years of experience and is in the Pennsylvania Coaches Hall of Fame. He was head coach when T.J. played quarterback at Titusille. T.J.’s son, Max Wiley, is projected to be Knoch’s starting quarterback. He saw action in six games at Shaler last season.
“Having three generations of our family on the field will be pretty cool,” Wiley said. “But we’re all about Knoch football. The kids are all in, and so are we.”
Defensive coordinator Hak Marziale also has 50 years of experience. He was a longtime assistant at North Hills and head coach at Richland High School. Defensive line coach Don Thomas has 40 years of experience, and wide receivers coach Kent Bloom has 25 years.
Holdovers from last year’s staff are Cole Shinsky, Anthony Andreassi and Seth Osikowicz.
“It’s a blessing we have all of these guys,” Wiley said. “There’s already a buzz around the program. Our numbers are at 43 to 45 kids entering camp, which is right around where we should be for a (Class) 4A school.
“We’re the second smallest 4A team in the WPIAL and we’ve got a challenging schedule. But these kids are up for it.”
“A lot of people are going to overlook us,” tight end/linebacker Ben Allen said. “We’ve got a group that will play together. There are no egos. We’re selfless, and we seniors know it’s not just about is and what happens this yer. It’s about what’s going to come after us.”
1. An offense featuring a lot of looks: When Wiley says the Knights’ offense will be multiple, he’s not kidding.
“I’m impressed by how quickly these kids pick things up,” the coach said. “During our seven-on-seven drills, we’d put something in and they’d be out there running it almost right away. Our offense will be extremely versatile.”
Knoch plans to run everything from the Wing-T to Air Raid, Power-I to Wishbone. These formations may change from possession to possession, play to play.
“We’ve got baseball and basketball players on our roster, kids who can do a lot of different things athletically,” Wiley said. “We plan to take advantage of that.”
2. Strength at linebacker: If this position anchors a defense, Knoch will be solid on that side of the ball.
Allen and Carter Beres are standouts at outside linebacker, while Koen Sundie and Carter Worsley will help hold down the inside positions.
“We call outside linebacker our ‘hero’ position, and Ben fits that bill,” Wiley said. “In seven-on-seven’s, he was all over the field. He will make a lot of plays for us. Both of those guys. They are very active football players.”
Beres tallied 59 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 7 1/2 quarterback sacks last season.
Sundie said the Knights “have plenty of team chemistry, and everything is positive in camp.”
Worsley doesn’t think opponents expect much out of Knoch, “which is just the edge we need. Practice harder, play harder. ... There is definitely a culture change here.”
3. Versatile running game: Teams love an inside-outside ground attack, and Wiley feels like he’s got one.
Beres is the inside runner at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, a gritty kid who can grind out the tough yards. Ethan Rouleau, a speedster, runs the 100-meter dash in 11.3 seconds.
“Those two guys will complement each other perfectly,” Wiley said. “We’ve got an athletic line as well, so we expect to have an effective running game.”
- Friday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m. - at Kiski Area
- Friday, Aug. 29, 7 p.m. - at North Catholic
- Friday, Set. 5, 7 p.m. - vs. Fox Chapel
- Friday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m. - vs. Montour
- Friday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m. - vs. New Castle
- Friday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. - at Indiana*
- Friday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. - at Mars*
- Friday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. - at Hampton*
- Friday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. - vs. West Mifflin*
- Friday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. - at McKeesport*
*Division/section/conference game
