Close did count for Knoch against Pine-Richland last year.

But it's still not good enough for coach Mike King and his players.

The Knights dropped a 35-34 decision to Pine-Richland to close the 2005 regular season, the one-point defeat enabling them to reach the WPIALplayoffs via Gardner points.

"Iwould have much rather had the win,"King said.

Knoch (2-1) ventures to Pine-Richland (3-0) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday. King has never defeated the Rams as a head coach and Knoch hasn't triumphed over Pine-Richland since 1997.

"But Knoch always gives us problems,"Pine-Richland coach Clair Altemus said. "They have a nice option game and they play tough defense.

"This has become a great rivalry for us."

Both teams enter the game on a roll. Pine-Richland owns victories over West Allegheny (31-10), Peters Township (24-21) and Franklin Regional (7-3).

Since a season-opening 34-6 loss at Montour, Knoch has toppled Ringgold (34-0) and Greensburg Salem (22-7) at home.

"I said in preseason that whoever won our game with Franklin Regional would take a major step toward winning the section,"Altemus said. "And that's not to disrespect the rest of our league. It's just a good start.

"(Receiver)Matt Klimczyk is a three-year starter for us and (Vince)Veltre is a big, strong fullback. The guy I'm pleasantly surprised with this year is quarterback Spencer Whipple."

The son of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple, Spencer Whipple has completed 21 of 35 passes for 302 yards so far this season.

"He's dangerous when he's flushed out of the pocket," King said of Whipple. "He is a really mobile quarterback."

Klimczyk has been Whipple's prime target, catching 17 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns. Brian Felker has eight receptions for 119 yards.

Veltre has 66 carries for 343 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Rams.

"The last time we started a season 3-0, we reached the state championship game,"Altemus said. "We're pretty superstitious around here. We posed for our team picture in the same outfit of the 2003 team, using the same pose as the 2003 team."

The Rams are led on defense by tackle Ben Scherer, end Ross Venturi and defensive back Tyler McKenzie. Former Steelers safety Mike Wagner, a four-time Super Bowl champion, coaches Pine-Richland's defensive backs.

"He's been great with the kids and he's a perfect role model,"Altemus said. "Mike's a low-key, unassuming guy who got the most out of his ability. That's the kind of kid we have."

Altemus is 74-30 in nine years at Pine-Richland — 34-6 since 2003 — while having only one Division Ifootball player:Virginia quarterback Kevin McCabe.

"They are just solid across the board,"King said. "Nice receivers, big fullback, big offensive line ... When they need a yard or two on third or fourth-down, they line up in that power-I and come right at you."

Of course, the Knights have developed some solid counter-punchers of their own. Improving quarterback Zach Gross threw for more than 100 yards last week while Alex Whisler (328 yards, 5 TDs) and Justin McGowan (251 yards, 3 TDs) provide a one-two punch in the backfield.

The Knights' offensive line is coming together as well, with sophomores Bobby Yenick and Tim McCorkle and junior Kurtis Schachner joining veterans Tyler Krahe and Seth Montgomery up front.

"We're a little better run-blocking right now than pass-blocking,"King said. "When we protect Zach, he's doing some nice things for us."

"(Receiver Rob)Briggs is the guy we don't match up well with,"Altemus said. "He's a big, strong receiver, and our secondary is relatively small."

King lauded the play of defensive tackle John Zellhart last week against Greensburg Salem.

"He has really come on since hurting his neck on the first day of camp," the coach said.

The teams are a little different in the kicking department. Tom Randazza won the Peters Township game with a 45-yard field goal and averages 43 yards per punt. Stanford and Pitt are among the schools recruiting him.

Kyle Reiser is Knoch's kicker, though King has opted to go for two points on occasion.

"That's just me,"King said. "If the opportunity is there for two, I'm going for it. That's no indictment on Kyle. He's a solid PATguy for us."