JEFFERSON TWP Enter Adam Tuzikow. Exit Greensburg Salem.

The Knoch senior fullback-inside linebacker sat out the first half of Friday night's WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff game with a sprained ankle.

He started the second half, recovered a fumble and broke loose for two long runs leading to touchdowns as the Knights outlasted Greensburg Salem, 21-14, at Knoch Stadium.

Knoch (9-1) will play Central Valley (7-3), a 21-13 upset winner over previously unbeaten Ringgold, in the quarterfinals next Friday.

“That fumble recovery was big,” Knoch coach Mike King said. “We got some momentum there. Then he broke off the big runs to set us up.”

The game was even at seven at halftime. On the 11th play of Greensburg Salem's first possession of the third quarter, running back Michael Kizzie stumbled after a short gain and lost the football inside the Knoch 40

Tuzikow fell on the ball and the Knights started the other way.

Quarterback Ky Kenyon's 23-yard pass to Dakota Bruggeman preceded a 37-yard Tuzikow run that ended at the Golden Lions 1-yard line. Kenyon scored from there and Knoch had a 14-7 lead.

“I was able to break a couple of tackles, spun around and got loose,” Tuzikow said.

Greensburg Salem (7-3) answered with a 14-play, 69-yard drive on its next possession to tie the game. Kizzie, who had 32 carries for 110 yards to go over 1,600 for the season, scored on an 8-yard run with 8:28 left in the contest.

“They kept possessing the ball for 11, 12, 13 plays. ... They didn't always score, but it was tough getting our offense on the field,” King said.

After the ensuing kickoff sailed into the end zone, Tuzikow took a first-down handoff from his own 20 and rambled 45 yards. A holding penalty took away part of the gain, but the Knights were suddenly across midfield.

“Ky handed me the ball and all I saw was 80 yards of open field,” Tuzikow said. “I ran as fast as I could, but they caught me.”

But the damage was done.

“A huge play,” Golden Lions coach Casey Cavanaugh said. “It changed field position.

“I wasn't at all surprised to see (Tuzikow) in there. He's a good football player. He definitely hurt us.”

Knoch faced a fourth-and-4 from the GS 39-yard line and opted to go for it. Kenyon scrambled and was tackled right at the marker. A measurement was going to take place, but Greensburg Salem was flagged for a horse-collar tackle, moving the ball to the 20-yard line.

Three plays later, Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin scored on an 8-yard run with 4:54 left. Rumburg-Goodlin had 73 yards rushing to surpass 1,000 for the year.

Greensburg Salem had two more possessions. The first ended with a punt from the Golden Lions 15-yard line. A Rumburg-Goodlin interception ended the second with 21 seconds left.

“I'm proud of my team,” Cavanaugh said. “We came in here and fought. Three or four plays decided this game.”

“This was a typical high school playoff game,” King said. “Every team is banged up at this point. Guys have to fill in and play. Our guys did that tonight.”

Knoch lost lineman James Zellhart to a probable concussion early in the fourth quarter. He was removed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital for precautionary measures.

Sam Montgomery stepped in at outside linebacker in the first half while Tuzikow watched from the sidelines.

The teams traded long TD drives in the first half. Kenyon's 38-yard scoring pass to Bruggeman capped a 13-play, 83-yard march for the Knights.

Tanner Hahn's 3-yard TD catch his first reception of the year capped a 14-play, 54-yard drive by Greensburg Salem.