JEFFERSON TWP — The Knoch linebackers do more than communicate on the field.

They communicate all the time.

Two of them, Adam and Andy Tuzikow, are brothers. All of them are good friends.

Andy Tuzikow and Dan McCormick are the outside linebackers, Adam Tuzikow and Luke Campbell man the inside. Andy Tuzikow is a junior, the other three are seniors.

"It's a lot easier to talk to them because I know they won't get mad," the younger Tuzikow said. "We've all known each other for a long time.

"It'd be a lot different if we were playing with a bunch of strangers out there."

Knoch plays a 44 defense. Five of its eight opponents have failed to score more than seven points against the Knights this year. Knoch is allowing a paltry 9.5 points per game.

"Your linebackers need to be active and work together in a 44 scheme," Knoch coach Mike King said. "These kids do that. They're always playing downhill. They're playmakers."

Adam Tuzikow leads the team in total tackles. He doesn't lead the team every game, however.

"That varies, depending on the type of offense we're facing," he said. "The inside run games come to Luke and myself. If a team's running on the perimeter, it's Andy and Dan.

"One guy has to fill the gap, the other guy has to scrape. If one of us is out of position or fails to execute, it's a long touchdown run," he added.

Adam Tuzikow is a third-year starter. Campbell is a first-year starter while Andy Tuzikow and McCormick are two-year starters.

"There's been no adjustment period for me with Luke," Adam Tuzikow said. "He's been a backup and we work with everybody in practice. This year, it was his turn."

Campbell made certain of that.

"I'm a senior," he said. "I knew the opening was there and I had to take it.

"I was in the weight room three times a week, from the time we lost our playoff game last year at West Allegheny until the start of camp. I wasn't taking any chances," he added.

McCormick said at least 30 Knoch players were in the weight room every day during the offseason.

He was one of them, having moved to outside linebacker last season after beginning his sophomore year as a strong safety. McCormick suffered a fractured hip two games into his sophomore season.

"I was on crutches for five weeks, then did physical therapy," McCormick said. "I couldn't wait to get back.

"We had a need at outside linebacker last year and I'm built more for linebacker," he added. "It was a good fit for me."

This linebacking corps has been a good fit for Knoch football, especially since the Knights' 2009 team started 0-5.

Knoch won three of its last four games that season to reach the WPIAL playoffs.

"We just kept working and good things happened," McCormick.

They haven't stopped happening since.