Former Knoch assistant football coach Ken Elliott, right, presents running back Tim McNerney with his first-team All-State plaque in 2007. McNerney died in 2012, but his legacy lives on through an annual golf outing that benefits college-bound seniors at his alma mater.

As good as he was on the football field, Tim McNerney was an even better person off of it.

Humble, friendly, devoted, respectful ... just a few of the words that have been used to describe the 2009 Knoch High School graduate, who was killed as a victim of a robbery in Washington, Pa., in 2012.

McNerney was a star running back halfway through his senior season at Washington & Jefferson College at the time of his death.

Every year since, the Tim McNerney All-State Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing has helped to perpetuate his legacy. The seventh annual event, which will include over 100 golfers, takes place Saturday at Aubrey's Dubbs Dred.

Proceeds help to provide scholarships to graduating students at McNerney's alma mater. Last May, scholarships totaling $3,000 were awarded to four Knoch students.

“He would love it,” said Tim's mother, Denise McNerney. “Every year, his former teammates at Knoch and W&J show up and Tim would be so thrilled that this many people get together for a good cause.

“This is our third year of having the event at Aubrey's and they have been absolutely wonderful to us,” she added. “They give us use of the entire facility and close the course to other events until we're done. We're happy to be working with them.”

The first golf outing was held in 2013 in Washington County.

“We barely broke even that year,” said Denise. “Before we had the second one, (Knoch football coaches) Mike King and Ken Elliott contacted me and asked me about bringing the event to Butler County.”

And it's been held here ever since. Local businesses and residents have responded, bolstering the amount made from the golf event.

“We have people donate money and there are hole sponsors and the scholarship fund is now up to $20,000,” said Elliott, who deals with the financial end of the outing. “The community has been very supportive.

“I think this event keeps Tim's parents' hearts in the right place, instead of being down or upset.”

Hollie Davis, a former schoolmate of McNerney's at Knoch, has been instrumental in the planning of the golf event, which benefits deserving, college-bound students.

Every year, students applying for one of the scholarships fill out an application, write an essay and are interviewed. Performance in the classroom is very important, as are extracurricular activities.

“Every student (to earn a scholarship) has to be involved in either sports or music,” Denise said. “Tim obviously loved football, but he also loved music.”

A group of 12 people, including teachers and administrators representing the South Butler County School District Foundation, makes the final decision on which students will receive the scholarships.

As a junior in 2007, Tim McNerney rushed for 1,785 yards and scored 24 touchdowns in just 10 games, leading the Knights to the WPIAL semifinals. Following that season, he was named first-team All-State. He finished his career as Knoch's all-time leading rusher with nearly 3,000 yards.

“It's funny, both his father (Bob) and I have no athletic ability,” Denise said. “It was great to see Tim do so well.”

“I was the offensive line coach,” said Elliott. “Our job was to block for him and he made things pretty easy for us. He didn't care about stats, all he cared about was winning.”