Knoch football has chance late to tie it but loses critical WPIAL conference game to Burrell
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A Knoch player looks on from the sideline in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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A Knoch coach adjusts his headset on the sideline in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch players raise their helmets after a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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A Knoch coach smiles on the sideline in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's James Shatlock (56) looks on against Burrell in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Sully Coyne (16) chases a Burrell ball carrier in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Cameron Lang (9) watches the play against Burrell in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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A Knoch coach addresses players after a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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A Knoch coach raises a fist while addressing players after a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Max Wiley (4) and Makai Noah (73) huddle with a coach on the sideline in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Evan Fink (5) tries to break away from Burrell defenders in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Ethan Rouleau (1) runs the ball as Burrell defenders pursue in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Ethan Rouleau (1) runs the ball past a Burrell defender in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Sully Coyne (16) tries to stop a Burrell ball carrier in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Ethan Rouleau (1) runs the ball as Burrell defenders pursue in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Cameron Lazor (58) moves toward the play against Burrell in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Cameron Lazor (58) moves across the line against Burrell in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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A Burrell ball carrier runs with Knoch defenders in pursuit in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's James Shatlock (56) raises a hand at the line of scrimmage against Burrell in a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Kaeden Myers (40) and James Shatlock (56) raise their helmets with teammates after a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's homecoming queen and king pose after being crowned at halftime of a football game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Knoch High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch’s homecoming night was spoiled Friday night by Burrell.
The Bucs handed the Knights a 14-7 loss, which marked the fourth in a row for Knoch and dealt a serious blow to its playoff hopes.
The difference came on a 6-yard touchdown run by Bucs quarterback Antonio Perkins with 16 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Knights (3-4, 0-4 Allegheny 7 Conference) launched a late drive to attempt to tie the game and faced fourth-and-8 from the Burrell 13-yard line with less than 20 seconds to go. Their last chance for victory was snuffed out when freshman Kai Kay’s pass was intercepted by Bucs linebacker Trey Coury.
Kay started at quarterback with regular starter Max Wiley out with a concussion.
“(Before the last drive), the starting quarterback came up to me and talked about how I was fine and how he knew I could do it,” Kay said. “The play calls were really good leading into that drive. We had a great chunk of plays. The momentum was with us, but it didn’t end the way that it could have.”
Despite the loss, head coach T.J. Wiley said he was proud of his players — many of whom were underclassmen — for even keeping the game competitive against Burrell (5-2, 2-1).
“We basically had a freshman team playing tonight,” Wiley said. “I’m actually really proud of the kids. Burrell’s a playoff team, and we battled them and had a shot to win. We’ve just got to get healthy. We are so banged up right now. We have seven quality starters out with injuries right now.”
Knoch scored the first points of the game late in the first quarter after a 35-yard drive. After the Bucs went three-and-out on their opening drive of the game, it appeared that Ethan Rouleau had scored on a punt return.
But the touchdown was called back due to holding.
However, Rouleau’s score was only delayed, as he eventually broke into the end zone on a 1-yard run that stood.
Rouleau led the way for Knoch’s offense with 81 yards rushing and the one touchdown, and also took some of the passing load off of Kay by going 3 of 4 for 35 yards.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Perkins promptly tied the game for Burrell with a 46-yard touchdown run.
Perkins finished the game with 258 yards rushing on 26 carries along with the Bucs’ only two touchdowns. He also went 6-of-19 passing for 50 yards.
Burrell’s other key contributor was Coury, who not only rushed for 59 yards on 12 carries, but also nabbed two interceptions, including the one which sealed the win for the Bucs.
Knoch will try to snap its four-game losing skid at home next week against Valley (2-5, 0-4).
“We just can’t give up believing,” Wiley said. “We still have three games left that we feel are very winnable for us, but we have to get healthy.”
Burrell 7 0 7 0 — 14
Knoch 7 0 0 0 — 7
1st Quarter
K — Ethan Rouleau 1 run (Whitaker Schwalm kick), 1:15
B — Antonio Perkins 46 run (Trey Coury kick), 0:00
3rd Quarter
B — Perkins 6 run (Coury kick), 0:16
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Burrell, Antonio Perkins 26-258, Trey Coury 12-59, Hobbes Omecinski 3-11. Knoch, Ethan Rouleau 16-81, Blake Montgomery 6-12, Kai Kay 4-7, Braeden Drane 1-4, Evan Fink 1-1, Liam Myers 1-(-3).
Passing: Burrell, Antonio Perkins 6-19-50-0. Knoch, Kai Kay 6-13-74-2. Evan Fink 0-0-0-1
Receiving: Burrell, Trey Coury 2-12, Hobbes Omecinski 2-10, Rocco Gianetti 1-23. Knoch, Evan Fink 2-29, Ethan Rouleau 2-16, Kaeden Myers 1-17, Carter Beres 1-6, Keegan Orris 1-6, Roman DeFelice 1-5.
