JEFFERSON TWP — Finishing drives is something that has hampered the Knoch Knights all season.

This Friday against undefeated Hampton (6-0, 9-0) was no different as two first quarter Knight drives were stopped in opponent territory after failing to convert on fourth down.

The Talbots went on to win 30-0 to secure its first Greater Allegheny Conference Championship title since 2014.

“We are moving the ball and doing some of the things we need to do,” Knoch coach Brandon Mowry said. “We got to finish. Unfortunately that's how its been all year, but we played a very good football team, my hat's off to them.”

Like Knoch, the Talbots love to run the ball with the committee approach.

Brock Bargo and Christian Liberto both rushed for over 100 yards with Liberto finding the end zone twice and Bargo once.

“The running game obviously is what we've been hanging our hat on all year,” Hampton coach Jacque DeMatteo said. “We're blessed with the different type of runners we have, but it's a team effort. It's just been an unselfish group of runners and it has been fun to watch.”

Six different players ran the ball for Hampton as they racked up 341 yards on the ground on the mud-soaked field of Knoch High School.

“We're extremely blessed and happy to be in the position we are in,” DeMatteo said of their first conference title in seven years.

A light rain came over the Saxonburg area early in the game, rendering the field to be a slick track, which in the first half was playing slightly to the Knight's favor.

“I think early on that does play to us because we are used to it,” Mowry said regarding the playing surface. “Maybe it's just a mental thing but a good team like Hampton, they're going to dig in and give you everything they got. There is a reason that's a 9-0 football team.”

The Knights' defense made a few stops in the first half that left their offense some life.

However, once the Talbots began running the ball outside the hash marks, they were able to rack up some long gains on the ground.

“It's very similar to what we do,” Mowry said. “They run that jet sweep, just unfortunately our kids were getting out leveraged and we were getting sucked down inside and we didn't maintain that.”

Hampton, though, was able to put together some time killing drives, especially the one at the end of the second quarter that ended with a Matt DeMatteo 44-yard field goal.

“It was a boot and I was quite impressed,” coach DeMatteo said. “But I was more impressed that our kicking unit was able to execute that kick in the field conditions we had.”

The second half saw more of the same, as Hampton chewed up the clock while adding two more touchdowns on its way to its sixth conference win of the season.

Knoch (1-5, 2-7) on the season, has officially been eliminated from playoff contention this season, but will look to end on a strong note at Highlands (6-3) next week.

“Big thing I told these guys is I want them to compete and I want them to finish,” Mowry said. “Everything comes down to execution and I just want to see us finish.”

Highlands defeated Greensburg Salem Friday night, 40-20.

Hampton 7 10 7 6 — 30

Knoch 0 0 0 0 — 0

First Quarter

H — Brock Borgo 18 run (Matt DeMatteo kick), 7:42

Second Quarter

H — Christian Liberto 2 run (DeMatteo kick), 6:39

H — DeMatteo 44 field goal, :25

Third Quarter

H — Liberto 3 run (DeMatteo kick), 5:10

Fourth Quarter

H — Jacob Premick 3 run (kick blocked), 11:26

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Hampton, Michael Morgano 4-11, Matt DeMatteo 3-21, Joey Mayer 8-43, Christian Liberto 14-102, Jacob Premick 11-37, Brock Borgo 9-127. Knoch, Codi Mullen 1-6, Keagan Fraser 22-72, Gavin McGowan 9-8, Exzavier Johnson 1-(-4).

Passing: Hampton, Matt CeMatteo 1-6-12-0, Joey Mayer 1-2-3-0. Knoch, Keagan Fraser 0-1-0-1.

Receiving: Hampton, Brock Borgo 1-12, Benny Haselrig 1-3.