JEFFERSON TWP — There’s little Ben Tackett can’t do on the football field these days.

Return kicks. Make long runs and key short ones. Catch the ball. Make tackles and swat away passes on defense. Command attention in the huddle during and after a game.

And now throw.

Tackett is the swiss army knife for the Knoch football team and the senior running back is adept at plunging it into the heart of the opposition any way he can.

“He’s got command of everything,” said Knoch football coach Mike King.

He even has an offense named after him.

Three weeks ago, King and his coaching staff decided to expand on a short-yardage package that had Tackett lined up in the shotgun at quarterback.

Instead of using it near the goal line or when needing to pick up a short first down, the Knights decided to unleash it on other downs and distances.

The “Bencat” offense was born.

Against Indiana Friday, Tackett took more snaps from center than quarterback Dakota Bruggeman.

Tackett scored two rushing touchdowns and tossed a 57-yard scoring pass to Bruggeman in the 20-14 win.

“He has a big head now because he thinks he can throw,” Bruggeman said, smiling at Tackett as he walked off the field.

“No,” Tackett said. “I’m keeping my head small. I missed a touchdown pass.

“I definitely should have had a second touchdown (pass),” Tackett said of a misfire late in the game. “That would have been nice.”

Still, the “Bencat” seems here to stay.

“He likes it,” King said. “He’s done it before. He’s comfortable back there.”

Tackett seems comfortable anywhere.

He has break-away speed, but showed power and patience against Indiana, grinding out short runs to keep the chains moving.

“Three-yard runs are what you need,” Tackett said. “You get four 3-yard runs and you get a first down. That’s good football. It’s just not as explosive.”

Tackett has been explosive at times for the Knights this year.

He has rushed for 1,012 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He also has a receiving TD.

Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin was the workhorse back for the Knights in 2011. Tackett had just 39 carries for 269 yards and four TDs as a junior.

This year, Tackett was projected to be the main back and he has delivered.

Yards and touchdowns don’t matter much to Tackett, however.

“Whatever it takes to win football games,” Tackett said. “Early, the team needed me to put a couple in the end zone, so that’s what I did. When teams started keying on me, we have a great quarterback in Dakota, great players in Luke (Kroneberg), Mike (Cunningham), great wide receivers, a great line.

“I worked all offseason to get myself up to where I can be at that level, but I haven’t been keeping track of (yardage and touchdowns),” Tackett added. “It’s something that will be nice to look back on, but in the time being, it’s insignificant.”

What’s not insignificant is the leadership Tackett brings.

After the win against Indiana, Tackett held court in the middle of his teammates on the Knoch football field and gave an impassioned speech.

His teammates never took their eyes off of him.

“We’re all brothers and sometimes younger brothers look up to older brothers, to seniors,” Tackett said. “Even I look up to some of these seniors. If the team needs me to step up to be a leader, I’m more than happy to do it.”