It all starts up front
SAXONBURG — The mission is clear for Knoch football this fall:Develop an offensive line.
The Knights return three receivers, a tight end, fullback and tailback from a squad that reached the WPIALClass AAAplayoffs for the second consecutive season.
Only one lineman — senior guard and tri-captain Seth Montgomery — returns.
"Our offense can be balanced and effective,"ninth-year coach Mike King said. "We need to put together a physical offensive line, and the players are here to do that with."
Joining Montgomery at guard will be either Dustin Halahurich or Greg Kolish, both seniors. Kody Durrett and Aaron Davis may figure in there as well.
Tyler Krahe, a starting tackle last year, is moving to center. The tackles likely will be Jared Green and Brad Parks. Tri-captain Eric Farmer returns at tight end.
Alex Whisler rushed for 302 yards and five touchdowns last year before prematurely ending his season with a spleen injury. He is healthy now and rejoins fullback and tri-captain Justin McGowan in the backfield.
"We've got a lot of confidence,"McGowan said. "I think we should be a better team than last year. We have all-around talent. Our other teams have had individual talent."
Much of that individual talent belonged to Jordan Shoop, the Knights' starting quarterback the past two years. He is now playing at the University of Richmond.
"With Jordan back there, we sat around and waited for the big play a little too much,"King admitted. "We need to grind things out a little more, get everybody involved.
"This team will do that, and that should make us stronger overall."
Junior Zack Gross will replace Shoop at quarterback, and sophomore Michael Gallagher will push him for playing time.
"Both of these guys have strong arms and they know the offense,"King said. "All they're lacking is experience."
The Knights have plenty of experience at receiver. Joining tight end Farmer (9 catches for 138 yards) are Dan Pickard (7-110), Rob Briggs (7-83) and Kyle Reiser (7-61). Whisler caught six passes for 106 yards out of the backfield."We have a lot of weapons we can go with,"King said. "It's almost going to be like picking a number out of a hat as to who gets the ball."All that experience can only help an inexperienced quarterback develop, and that's the situation we're in."On defense, the Knights return seven starters. John Zellhart is back at nose guard in the 50, while Montgomery and Krahe return at tackle and Farmer and Briggs are back at end.McGowan returns at a linebacker spot with Pickard manning a cornerback position."We won't be pushed around defensively,"McGowan said.Sophomore Kevin Brodeur likely will start at inside linebacker. The other corner will be either sophomore Tim McNerney or junior Matt Lefevre.Gross and Gallagher are the safeties.Senior Alex Fuellgraf adds needed depth at defensive end."Alex will be a third starter there,"King said. "With Farmer and Briggs both playing offense, we'll need to spell them defensively. Alex will see plenty of playing time."King said he likes the mix of players on his squad."Our junior class has been successful at every level of football they've played,"the coach said. "Our seniors have been to the playoffs twice already, so they know what it takes."This is not a team of stars. We have a bunch of kids who know how to play football and who love to play football. If we play together, we can win."If they win, they will be doing so in a tough league."Our section has to be the toughest triple-A league around," King said. "Franklin Regional is the defending state champion, Pine-Richland always reloads and Hampton has one of the best backs in the state in the (Steve)Paskorz kid."Our goal is to get into that level of play. It's a physical league and it's a grind week after week. Our kids have to be up to the challenge physically."
