JEFFERSON TWP — Some of the hardest hits Cole Shinsky took Friday night were from his own fans in a raucous on-field celebration.

They mobbed the 6-foot-4 junior after the receiver-turned-quarterback led the Knoch football team to a 14-7 home win over rival Mars Friday night.

“They are truly the 12th man,” Shinsky said of the fans, a wide smile on his face. “When they get pumped up, we get pumped up.”

Shinsky was 10-of-20 passing for 188 yards and a touchdown in the win. He also had 18 tough carries for 49 yards.

The left-hander provided a spark that Knoch sorely needed after four consecutive losses, three in section play and two by less than a touchdown in games the Knights held their opponent to single digits on the scoreboard.

“I knew we had this in us,” said Knoch coach Mike King. “We came out in the first game of the year and knocked off Franklin Regional. This team has the make-up to do that stuff. We kind of lost our way through mid-season. I think we found our way back home.”

While Shinsky, who didn't find out he would start at quarterback until after practice on Wednesday, gave the offense a spark, it was the staunch defense that helped the Knights get back on track.

Knoch (3-4, 3-3) intercepted Mars quarterback Jake Rosswog three times and held the Planets to 236 yards of offense.

“We had plays, but we didn't string them together,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. “You know what, a lot of credit to them. They did a good job. They made plays when they had to make plays. They made the big plays and we didn't make the big plays tonight and that's the difference in the game.”

One of the biggest plays came on a seven-play, 98-yard scoring drive by Knoch in the second quarter as Skinsky hit a streaking Addis Crouch for a 66-yard pass on a third-and-nine play from the Knights' own 3.

Four plays later, Cody Milsom plowed into the end zone from the 2 to give Knoch a 7-0 lead.

“It was a huge play,” Shinsky said, “and exactly what we needed.”

Mars (4-3, 3-3) answered, however, on its first possession of the second half when it marched 47 yards on 11 plays to tie the game at 7-7 on a 5-yard run by Isaiah Johnson.

Johnson was the featured back on the drive because of an injury that forced Ori Rinaman out of action in the second half.

Rinaman had 77 yards on 11 carries in the first half, but Johnson filled in admirably with 82 yards on 19 carries.

“I don't know the extent of the injury,” Heinauer said. “We just have to play. We have people injured. People have to suck it up.

“Isaiah is a good player,” Heinauer added. “No question. We need him to run the ball. He's fine. We have people we feel can run the ball.”

Running it wasn't the problem for Mars.

Passing it was, however.

After Mars' defense forced a punt on Knoch's first possession of the third quarter, Knoch defensive back Asa Adams stepped in front of a pass by Rosswog and returned it to the Mars 23.

Two plays later, Shinsky found Mac Christy, who made a juggling catch, avoided a tackle and stretched the ball across the goal line for a 19-yard catch and run to put Knoch up 14-7.

“Asa, he's just a worker,” King said. “He's one of the smallest guys on the field, but he makes some of the biggest plays because he does it with a whole lot of heart.”

Mars had a pair of late drives turned away, the final march stymied by a leaping interception by Ryan Grossman at the Knoch 4.

The Knights were able to run out the clock behind Milsom, who finished with 103 yards rushing on 18 carries, to send their home crowd into a frenzy.

It also put Knoch back into the thick of the playoff race with games at Indiana next week and home against Yough in Week 9.

“Mars is a very good football team and they run an outstanding program. I have a lot of respect for them and their coaches,” King said. “This puts us right where I thought we'd be and it gives us a shot in the arm that the team sorely needed.”

And it gave Shinsky a chance, which was all that the junior wanted.

“I get another opportunity to prove myself on the field as an athlete,” Shinksy said. “Prove to everyone else that I can play quarterback.”