QB takes control

September 26, 2020 Last Updated: September 26, 2020 09:05 AM High School

Knoch's Tyler Buterbaugh (32) gets upended by Armstrong defender Adam Huidock after making a reception during the Knights' 34-7 loss Friday night.

Armstrong's Olsen flips 4 TD passes in 34-7 GAC triumph over Knoch

JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch controlled the line of scrimmage.

Armstrong quarterback Cadin Olsen controlled the game.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore threw for 337 yards and four tuchdowns — 269 and all four scores in the first half — in leading the River Hawks to a 34-7 Greater Allegheny Conference football victory over Knoch Friday night.

“That kid is a nice player,” Knoch coach Brandon Mowry said. “He hung in there and threw the ball. We were getting some pressure on him.

“That's two good young quarterbacks we've seen in this league already.”

Highlands sophomore Chandler Thimons threw for 239 yards against Knoch in the season opener.

Olsen was sacked four times and the few times Armstrong tied to run the ball, it struggled. The River Hawks (2-1) managed only eight yards on the ground.

“We've had issues with our offensive line, but we're makling adjustments,” Armstrong coach Frank Fabian said. “I thought we protected Cadin a little better tonight.

“He made a few of those throws with defenders at his feet. I like the way he hangs in the pocket, always keeping his eyes looking downfield.

“You don't see that in a young quarterback very often. It's a natural thing,” Fabian added.

Olsen's touchdown passes went to four different receivers. His first strike was a 65-yard bomb to Jesse Hepler on a 3rd-and-10 play from his own 35 midway through the first quarter.

Olsen added TD tosses of 30 yards to Aaron Robb, 39 to Cole Brown and 6 to Noah Cooper — all in the second quarter.

“We don't complicate things,” Fabian said. “Where the coverage is dictates where the football goes.”

Dalton Reed had a pair of sacks for the Knights, but untimely penalties and three turnovers in the first half proved costly to Knoch (0-3).

“Unfortunately, that's the way our season's been going so far,” Mowry said. “We've been controlling the line of scrimmage. Our line has been outstanding.

“But we keep making misakes, keep hurting ourselves.”

Cooper intercepted a Knoch pass that gave Armstrong possession on the Knoch 40. Robb caught his 30-yard TD pass eight plays later.

The River Hawks put together a 15-play, 80-yard drive late in the first half that nearly didn't happen. Zane Inklovich intercepted a pass that would have given Knoch the ball in Armstrong territory.

A defensive holding penalty nullified the play, however.

A 67-yard bomb to Cooper gave Armstrong a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Brown scored on a running play from there for a 34-0 lead late in the third quarer.

The Knights responded with their lone scoring drive of the night. An 80-yard march was completed by a 14-yard JJ Szebalskie touchdown pass to Tyler Buterbaugh on the final play of the quarter.

Gavin McGowan had 19 carries for 120 yards for Knoch. Szebalskie threw for 91 yards.

“Offensively, we can do what we want,” Mowry said. “But we have to clean up the mistakes.

“Gavin got rolling in the second half, so we stayed with the hot hand.”

The hottest hand of this game belonged to Olsen.

“He was 5-10 last year at this time. He's just sprouted physically,” Fabian said. “He's doing a great job for us.”

Armstrong 7 20 7 0 — 34Knoch 0 0 7 0 — 7First QuarterA — Jesse Hepler 65 pass from Cadin Olsen (Adam Hudock kick), 5:25Second QuarterA — Aaron Robb 30 pass from Olsen (Hudock kick), 8:49A — Cole Brown 39 pass from Olsen (kick blocked), 8:32A — Noah Cooper 6 pass from Olsen (Hudock kick), :17Third QuarterA — Brown 1 run (Hudock kick), 4:04K — Tyler Buterbaugh 14 pass from JJ Szebalskie (Brendan Tristani kick), :00Individual StatisticsRushing:Armstrong, Cadin Olsen 7-(-13), Cole Brown 3-9, Caleb Retzer 5-16, Connor Cigola 1-(-4), Alex Patton 2-0.Knoch, JJ Szebalskie 7-11, Tyler Buterbaugh 6-22, Luke Goodlin 6-15, Gavin McGowan 19-120, TEAM 1-5, Zane Inklovich 1-2.Passing:Armstrong, Cadin Olsen 18-31-337-0.Knoch, JJ Szebalskie 6-12-91-2.Receiving:Armstrong, Cole Brown 3-63, Isaiah Brown 2-12, Noah Cooper 7-127, Jesse Hepler 1-65, Aaron Robb 4-62, Caleb Retzer 1-7, Mikael Allensworth 1-1. Knoch, Gavin McGowan 1-12, Zane Inklovich 2-39, Tyler Buterbaugh 3-40.