Well-earned 'W'
JEFFERSON TWP — Some will be surprised that Knoch's margin of victory against Indiana was so slim.
Knoch football coach Mike King isn't one of them.
“(Indiana's) a team fighting for their playoff life. There's a team with their backs up against the wall,” said King, who watched his team slug its way to a 20-14 win over the Indians at Knoch High School Friday night.
Indiana (2-6, 2-5) was able to make life tough on Knoch's running game thanks to 305-pound defensive tackle Cody Squiric and 285-pound defensive tackle Justin Spencer.
“Those two big boys they have in that middle, boy, we had our hands full,” King said. “They made it very difficult to run the ball.”
But Knoch (6-2, 5-2) found a way to win and in the process clinched a spot in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.
It was by no means easy, however.
Ben Tackett rushed for a pair of touchdowns and also threw for one — a 57-yard strike to starting quarterback Dakota Bruggeman — at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
The TD pass from Tackett, who took more snaps in the shotgun — or “BenCat” as Knoch calls it — gave the Knights some breathing room at 20-7.
Indiana, which took a 7-6 lead at the half on a 22-yard run by quarterback Sean Thompson on the first play following a Knoch fumble, made things interesting a few minutes after the Tackett TD pass.
Thompson hit wide receiver Darrious Carter on a crossing pattern and Carter did the rest, breaking a tackle and scurrying 36 yards for a touchdown to cut the Knoch lead to six points.
Indiana had one last gasp late in the game, taking possession on its own 15 with 54 seconds remaining, but Knoch's defense held.
“The big thing for our defense is bend, don't break,” said Tackett, who is also a standout safety for the Knights. “They are going to get a big play here or there. It's football. It happens. The big thing is to keep playing, play hard, and win the football game no matter what it takes.”
What it took was a grinding effort from Tackett, who put Knoch on the board quickly in the first quarter on a 45-yard touchdown run.
Tackett finished with 138 yards on 30 carries. He also caught two passes for 17 yards.
Still, Indiana led at the half. King's message in the locker room was clear.
“I told them, 'Hey, are you guys done messing around? Are you going to get serious about this game? Because we need to,'” King said. “It's just one of those things. You come off a big (21-0 win over rival Mars) last week. I don't think they took Indiana for granted. They never take Indiana for granted because they are a quality opponent.”
Knoch took the lead for good at 14-7 on an 11-play, 75-yard drive to start the second half, capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Tackett, who had nine rushes for 63 yards on the drive.
Tackett now has 1,012 yards rushing this season.
The Knights close out the regular season at Highlands next Friday.
“Things just have to be sharper,” King said. “But, if you can not play your best game and still come away with a win, you have to take it.”
