Knoch football erases demons, blasting Summit Academy in opener as offense shows off explosiveness
JEFFERSON TWP — A 63-point victory may seem devoid of drama, but Knoch football coach T.J. Wiley has a unique perspective.
In his first year with the program in 2025, he watched his team fail to win a game in 10 tries.
So moments after Knoch defeated visiting Summit Academy 71-8 Friday night at Knoch High School, Wiley could not help getting emotional.
“Last year was so hard on these kids, and it’s been a labor of love,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier for them, the school and the alumni base.
“The culture is shifting.”
The win snapped a 12-game losing streak for Knoch, which began in mid-October of 2024.
After scoring 66 points all of last season, Knoch wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Roman DeFelice returned a punt 42 yards for a touchdown less than two minutes into the game.
It was the first of three TDs for the senior. He later scored on an 8-yard pass from Max Wiley and returned another punt 53 yards to pay dirt.
Max Wiley, who did not throw a touchdown pass as a junior, tossed two others Friday, with Ashton Mosby and Carter Beres turning short passes into scores.
“I thought he did a good job of controlling the offense,” T.J. Wiley said of Max, who added a short scoring run late in the first half that put Knoch up 48-0.
Ethan Rouleau, expected to be the team’s top ground gainer, rushed for 129 yards and two TDs on just five carries, including an 83-yard jaunt early in the second quarter.
While stiffer tests await Knoch, the team is confident big offensive plays will be a common sight this fall.
“We have a lot of speed and power,” senior receiver Evan Fink said. “We’re going to be explosive.”
Summit struggled to find continuity on offense. Quarterback Kamarii Coleman reeled off a 42-yard run that set the team up at Knoch’s 10 late in the first quarter, but a turnover on downs ensued.
Summit’s lone score came late in the game on a 61-yard touchdown pass from another quarterback, Marcus Martin.
“Both quarterbacks have a good skill set,” first-year Summit head coach Teddy Orringer said. “We’re looking to use both to help us get the offense going.”
While Knoch is a Class 3A team, Summit is 1A and rarely has starters returning from the previous year.
“My hats off to them,” T.J. Wiley said. “For them to get organized and put a team together takes a lot of effort.”
Knoch’s players know 2026 is about more than breaking a losing streak.
“Winning feels great, but after tonight, it means nothing,” senior lineman Makai Noah said. “I want to feel like this nine more times this season.”
Both teams host games next week. Knoch faces McGuffey on Friday while Summit plays Springdale on Saturday.
Summit Academy 0 0 0 8 — 8
Knoch 21 35 8 7 — 71
1st Quarter
K — Roman DeFelice 42 punt return (Whitaker Schwalm kick), 10:19
K — DeFelice 8 pass from Max Wiley (Schwalm kick), 6:53
K — Ashton Mosby 43 pass from Wiley (Schwalm kick), 4:14
Second Quarter
K — Ethan Rouleau 83 run (Schwalm kick), 11:33
K — DeFelice 53 punt return (Schwalm kick), 9:38
K — Carter Beres 18 pass from Wiley (Schwalm kick), 5:45
K — Wiley 2 run (Schwalm kick), 2:55
K — Rouleau 1 run (Schwalm kick), :09
3rd Quarter
K — Blake Montgomery 1 run (Kade Sundie run), 7:25
4th Quarter
K — Zane Nowicki 6 run (Schwalm kick), 8:57
SA — No. 11 61 pass from Marcus Martin (Alberthim Satterfield run), 4:50
Individual Statistics
Passing: Summit Academy, Kamarii Coleman 3-13-24-2, Marcus Martin 3-4-60-0. Knoch, Max Wiley 5-5-90-0.
Rushing: Summit Academy, Kamarii Coleman 9-44, Alberthim Satterfield 6-2, Maddix Bland 1-(-3), Marcus Martin 7-36. Knoch, Ethan Rouleau 5-129, Cameron Lang 1-6, Max Wiley 6-40, Ashton Mosby 1-8, Blake Montgomery 4-44, Liam Myers 1-6, Braedan Drane 3-36, Karson Sundie 1-9, Zane Nowicki 7-66.
Receiving: Summit Academy, Alberthim Satterfield 1-6, Maddix Bland 1-15, Danny Alcantara 1-(-8). Knoch, Roman DeFelice 2-14, Ashton Mosby 1-43, Evan Fink 1-15, Carter Beres 1-18.
