JEFFERSON TWP — When in doubt, give the ball to Tim McNerney.

Such was the strategy of Knoch football coach Mike King, whose team trailed New Castle 17-14 at halftime of their first-round WPIALClass AAA playoff game Friday night.

The Knoch running back scored on runs of 21 and 25 yards in the third quarter and had 26 carries for 296 yards and four touchdowns on the night as the Knights (8-2) won 42-24 in a game that became a track meet.

The teams combined for 783 yards rushing and 39 first downs.

"If we didn't counter their scores, we were in for a long night,"King said. "I just figured put it in the hands of the kids who got us this far, and that starts with Timmy McNerney."

After a Nick Colella 23-yard field goal gave New Castle (6-4) a 10-7 lead with 3:31 left in the first half, Knoch answered with a six-play, 80-yard drive to take its first lead of the night at 14-10. Fullback Kevin Brodeur's 43-yard burst set up a 2-yard scoring run for McNerney with 1:18 left in the half.

New Castle had enough time to regain the lead, however, as Keith Keene got loose for a 76-yard scoring run on a third-and-10 play.

"That was a reverse off a counter play,"New Castle coach Frank Bongivengo Jr. said. "Our line opened a hole and Keith hit it perfectly."

It also sent the Knights to a quiet locker room at intermission.

"It was pretty serious in there," McNerney said. "It was starting to hit home. ... This could be the last game we play. Nobody in the room wanted that."

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Knoch at the end of the half enabled New Castle to kick off from the Knights' 45-yard line to begin the third quarter. The 'Canes tried an onside kick, but failed to gain possession.

What followed were three third-quarter Knights touchdowns that changed the game.

McNerney picked up 36 yards on the first play of the second half, setting up his 21-yard score.

Knoch defensive tackle Tyler Krahe then stopped Keene for no gain on second down and a deflected pass on the next play forced New Castle to go three and out.

The 'Canes had scored two touchdowns and a field goal on three of their first four possessions in the first half. They lost a fumble to Rob Briggs on the other, setting up Knoch's first touchdown.

When the Knights got the ball back following New Castle's punt, McNerney's 17-yard run set up his own 25-yard score and Knoch had a 28-17 lead with 6:18 left in the third quarter.

John Zellhart sacked quarterback Mike Bongivengo for a 13-yard loss on third down, forcing another New Castle punt. A subsequent 51-yard Knoch scoring drive ended with Zach Gross tossing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Michael Gallagher with 1:46 left in the quarter.

"We came out and took care of business,"Zellhart said. "We knew what we had to fix defensively and we did it."

New Castle pulled within 35-24 on a 52-yard scoring run by Keene with 8:54 left in the game.

The 'Canes drove into Knoch territory again, but lost a fumble with 2:24 left. McNerney's 49-yard run set up Brodeur's 15-yard scoring run with 59 seconds left to seal the deal.

"Tim just ran the ball like a crazy man tonight,"King said.

"People may not think we had to score that last touchdown, but we did. We needed a cushion against those guys. They're quick and athletic, a very dangerous team,"King added.

Coach Bongivengo said his team's two lost fumbles were not the difference in the game.

"Nah. We couldn't stop them,"he said. "296 yards and four touchdowns — I'd say that McNerney kid is a pretty darn good back, wouldn't you?"

McNerney could only smile and shrug his shoulders when he heard his yardage totals for the night.

"With an offensive line like we have, I just hit the hole and run hard," he said. "Those guys have given me open space all year."

Knoch will face Highlands — a 21-19 winner over Blackhawk — in the second round next week. The Knights defeated Highlands 41-13 in their regular season finale last week.

Notes:Knoch's only other playoff win at home was against Uniontown in 2002. ... Keene had six carries for 143 yards. ... McNerney had another 65 yards rushing and two touchdowns wiped out by penalties.