Knoch defeated at Hampton
It’s a new era for the Knoch Knights football team.
Unfortunately, new beginnings don’t always start out the way you imagine they will. In fact, a 48-0 loss is exactly what you’d expect when, as new head coach Tim Burchett describes it, “you’re afraid of success.”
The Knoch Knights have spent this summer learning an entirely new philosophy, so to coach Burchett, some growing pains were expected. But the game didn’t start with as much growing pains as you’d expect.
While Hampton was driving, the Knights defense forced Brock Borgo to fumble the ball. So only a little over a minute into the game, Knoch was set up nicely near midfield.
But this is where the theme of the night started for the Knights offense. A three and out gave the ball right back to the Talbots, and a few short minutes later, Hampton’s Benny Haselrig was holding the ball up with one hand as he scampered into the endzone off a simple bubble pass.
Things didn’t get any easier. Another three-and-out gave the ball right back, to Hampton and it took just six plays for Joey Mayer to run the ball in to put Hampton up 14-0.
But Knoch seemed to get a little spark after Hampton’s next drive resulted in a turnover on downs.
The Knights completed their longest pass of the night, when Codi Mullen hit Exzavier Johnson for 52 yards. They got as far as the nine-yard line before a negative play, two incomplete passes and a penalty forced them to attempt a field goal. That field goal was blocked.
“I mean it was a game, it should’ve been a better game,” Burchett said. “We made routine plays and drove the ball on them, and obviously there’s going to be growing pains because we’re switching things, but what I can’t deal with is kids not giving effort on certain plays.”
After the field goal block, it became the Eric Weeks show. Weeks found himself celebrating in the endzone three times over the next 15 minutes of game play. The final two scores of the game came when it was all but decided.
Haselrig hit paydirt again on a 70-yard pass and catch from Joey Mayer, and the to top it all off Hampton’s freshman back, Evan McAneny got some time in the spotlight on a 31 yard run.
To Burchett, this loss is something that could define this team, or be the beginning of growth.
But he knows they’ll get their answer very soon.
“Failing equals growth, so you either fail and you grow or you become a turtle and look at other people,” Burchett said. “Again, this game does not define us, we will learn, we will grow and we’re going to come in at 9 am and fix this, or I may not sleep for the next nine weeks.
Knoch 0 0 0 0 — 0
Hampton 14 14 13 7 — 48
First Quarter
H- Benny Haselrig 35 pass from Joey Mayer (Luke Fiscus kick), 8:01
H- Joey Mayer 6 run (Luke Fiscus kick), 3:55
Second Quarter
H- Eric Weeks 33 pass from Joey Mayer (Luke Fiscus kick), 6:38
H- Eric Weeks 62 pass from Joey Mayer (Luke Fiscus kick), 0:40
Third Quarter
H- Eric Weeks 31 run (Luke Fiscus kick), 10:27
H- Benny Haselrig 70 pass from Joey Mayer (Kick failed), 6:48
Fourth Quarter
H- Evan McAneny 31 run (Luke Fiscus kick), 5:50
Individual Statistics:
Rushing: Hampton, Brock Borgo 13-116, Joey Mayer 7-82, Evan McAneny 4-41, Eric Weeks 1-31, Benny Haselrig 1-16, Willie Haselrig 1-15. Knoch, Sam Skurka 13-44, Codi Mullen 4-10, Aidan Jones 2-19, Ethan Alwine 7-9, Team 2-(-15).
Passing: Hampton, Joey Mayer 8-10-234. Knoch, Codi Mullen 8-17-171, Aidan Jones 0-1-0.
Receiving: Hampton, Benny Haselrig 4-120, Eric Weeks 3-106, Mike Morgano 1-8. Knoch, Exzavier Johnson 4-73, Jake Murphy 2-63, Sam Skurka 3-35.
