JEFFERSON TWP — Seth Montgomery couldn't have written a better script for his return to the Knoch starting lineup.

The senior offensive lineman, who sat out four games with a knee injury, was back in uniform on Senior Night to ignite the Knights' running game as Knoch defeated Greater Allegheny Conference opponent Indiana, 18-0. Friday night.

Despite the win, Knoch was eliminated from the postseason with Hampton's 34-12 victory over Greensburg Salem.

With Montgomery leading the offensive line, Knoch piled up 217 yards on the ground.

"I was pretty anxious to get back," Montgomery said. "This is the best way to come back."

"He missed four games," Knoch coach Mike King said. "He missed the heart of our schedule."

Knoch (4-4, 2-3) went 1-3 without Montgomery. Its lone win was a nonconference victory against Laurel Highlands.

Junior running back Alex Whisler was the main beneficiary of Montgomery's return. Whisler rushed for a season-high 170 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns.

"That was huge," Whisler said of Montgomery's return. "He is a great lineman for us. He brings experience, probably the strongest kid on the team. He brings the whole aspect to the line."

Knoch scored first with some strong special teams play.

With just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter, Kyle Reiser fielded a punt and returned it 44 yards to Indiana's 34. Indians coaches argued that a fair catch signal was made, but the officials didn't see it that way.

Two plays later, Knoch quarterback Zack Gross found Rob Briggs for a 15-yard scoring strike.

But it was the defense that sealed the Indians' fate.

With seven minutes left in the first half, sophomore Brandon Flick intercepted a pass at the Indiana 44. Seven plays later, Whisler scored from 11 yards out.

The Knights' defense forced the Indians to punt with under two minutes left in the half. Knoch and Whisler needed only 11 seconds to break the score open at 18-0 on a 63-yard scamper.

"We just didn't play hard in the first half," Indiana coach Mark Zilinskas said. "It's frustrating. Our kids weren't playing fundamental. Unfortunately for us, we didn't get nasty when we needed to."

The Knights defense was stellar all evening, holding Indiana to 107 total yards of offense.

"That was a big win for our defense," King said.

With the playoffs out of reach now, King said he will approach the season finale at Highlands next Friday like a playoff game.

"We are just going to have to play for a win next week, no matter what," he said.