JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch was going nowhere fast — except on the practice field.

"These kids never stopped believing they were a good football team," coach Mike King said. "And the coaches never stopped believing in them."

That's why Knoch is going from 0-5 and being outscored 155-47 to playing for the Greater Allegheny Conference championship Friday night against Mars.

A Knoch win, coupled with a Franklin Regional loss to Indiana, gives the Knights their second league title in three years.

Knoch scored 57 points in its first six games. The Knights have scored 72 points in their past two.

"We played against some tough teams early and that's paying off now," senior offensive lineman Micah Lio said. "We had a lot of new faces in the lineup this year and we had to come together as a team."

Knoch suffered losses of 47-6 and 35-7 to Hopewell and Blackhawk, respectively, to begin the season. Before Week 3, second-year starting quarterback Jake McTighe visited King's office.

McTighe suggested that he be relieved of his quarterbacking duties.

"It was my idea to make a change," McTighe said. "I felt we'd be a better team if I moved to another position on offense. When you play quarterback, you have to know every position."

And he's played nearly every position.

"I go where I'm needed," McTighe said. "Wide receiver, fullback, tight end, it doesn't matter."

McTighe also is a stellar outside linebacker and likely will play that position in college.

Sophomore Kyler Kenyon stepped in behind center and has thrown for 448 yards. He's also rushed for 129 yards and two scores.

Knoch still hasn't thrown a touchdown pass this season, but McTighe leads the team with 13 catches for 155 yards.

"It's incredibly unselfish for a high school kid to do what Jake did," King said. "He's the oldest kid in a big family and he knows what unselfishness is all about. He was raised that way.

"He came into my office and told me Kyler was ready. Jake works with him all the time in practice. Jake would play anywhere we ask him to play at any time. All he's interested in is winning football games," the coach added.

Kenyon found out he was the varsity quarterback when King informed him he wouldn't be playing in the junior varsity game that week.

"It all happened so fast. "There was no time to get nervous," Kenyon said. "The way I was treated by the other guys ... they made me feel like a senior. They made me feel confident I could step in and do the job.

"I look up to Jake McTighe as a person and a player. He taught me a lot," he added.

While Kenyon stepped in at quarterback, it doesn't seem to matter who steps in at running back.

Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin had 29 carries for 168 yards and a touchdown in Knoch's 20-17 loss to Peters Township in Week 3. He has been out with a torn hamstring and might not return this season.

Senior John DeWalt stepped in and had 26 carries for 165 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-14 win over Indiana in Week 7.

Last week, junior Adam Tuzikow had 23 carries for 168 yards and three TDs in a 35-21 triumph over Highlands.

"All of our running backs are capable of getting the job done," Lio said. "We play hard-nosed football no matter who's back there."

"Those kids know the system because they're attentive at practice day after day," King said. "You never know when your time is going to come. These guys were ready for theirs.

"Lio, Corey Pelkofer, Chet Paul, Tom Kloes — those are four seniors up front who have provided great leadership through all of this."

Tuzikow plays middle linebacker on defense and had only 43 carries — averaging six per game — going into last week.

"We run basic plays," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "It's up to us to make it work. Make blocks, break tackles."

DeWalt, a free safety, carried the ball 43 times the past two weeks. He had 13 total carries in the first six games.

"That Indiana game was the best game I've ever had," DeWalt said "Last year, I wasn't even a running back. It feels good contributing to a win."

DeWalt said the 0-5 record never showed on the practice field.

"Everybody kept busting their tail," he said.

"Everybody was tired of losing," Tuzikow chimed in. "If you quit working, you can't change anything."