INDIANA — Knoch quarterback J.J. Szebalskie suffered a frightening injury that overshadowed the Knights' on-field struggles during Friday night's loss at Indiana.

Midway through the third quarter of a 29-6 defeat, Szebalskie dived onto a fumble in the backfield before taking a hard hit from behind by an Indiana defender. Szebalskie, a 5-foot-10 junior, remained on the turf at Andy Kuzneski Field as medical personnel rushed onto the field during a lengthy stoppage in play.

Szebalskie was taken off the field by stretcher and transported to Indiana Regional Medical Center for evaluation, but Knoch coach Brandon Mowry was cautiously optimistic following the game.

“We were running an option play and he made a cut and he went down,” Mowry said. “It looked like one of their guys kind of jumped on him and fell on his neck and he kind of got twisted up. I think he's going to be all right. They were going to the hospital as a precautionary. He had feeling in all of his limbs. He was just a little tender and they wanted to get him checked out.”

Spectators were not permitted in attendance to the WPIAL Class 4A Allegheny Conference football game.

Indiana (2-2) was charged with a personal foul penalty on the play.

The unfortunate play followed a mistake-filled first half in which Knoch (0-4) committed a pair of turnovers and allowed three touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 22-0 deficit into the locker room.

The Knights recovered a fumble on Indiana's first possession after the break. And four plays after Szebalskie's injury, Keith Washington tossed an 11-yard touchdown to Jake Murphy on fourth down to snap the shutout.

“That was adversity and it was good to see us respond to that positively,” Mowry said. “We just have to fix the little things. It's the same things that we have to fix and we tell the kids every week. That's what we're working on — just being mentally tough when something goes wrong and we have to finish.”

The two teams traded ensuing possessions before Indiana used two-play, 67-yard drive to forge the final score. And after forcing a Knoch three-and-out, the Indians drained the final 8 minutes off the clock to seal the win.

Washington, a 5-10 senior, stepped in for Szebalskie at quarterback after starting at running back. He led the Knights with 61 rushing yards.

Szebalskie completed six of nine pass attempts for 111 yards. Tyler Buterbaugh and Murphy had three catches apiece and combined for 95 receiving yards.

Indiana junior quarterback Devin Flint and junior running back Zach Herrington each rushed for a pair of touchdowns.

Knoch plays host to Mars on Friday.

Knoch 0 0 6 0 — 6

Indiana 0 22 0 7 — 29

Second Quarter

I — Zach Herrington 1 run (Devin Flint run)

I — Flint 13 run (Josh Glaser kick)

I — Herrington 8 run (Glaser kick)

Third Quarter

K — Jake Murphy 11 pass from Keith Washington (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

I — Flint 31 run (Glaser)

Individual Statistics

Rushing:Knoch, Washington 15-61, Tyler Buterbaugh 7-10, Gavin McGowan 4-9, J.J. Szebalskie 3-(-19), TEAM 4-(-19). Indiana, Flint 21-131, Herrington 14-75, Josiah Johnson 3-19, Elijah Mauk 2-9, Korbin Wilson 2-8, TEAM 3-(-2)

Passing:Knoch, Szebalskie 6-9-111-1, Washington 1-4-11-0. Indiana, Flint 3-3-66-0

Receiving:Knoch, Murphy 3-49, Buterbaugh 3-46, Exzavier Johnson 1-27. Indiana, Liam McFarlane 1-36, Wilson 2-30