Knoch holds on for wild 45-38 win
JEFFERSON TWP — No shutout this time.
Knoch scored early and often Friday night in holding on for a wild 45-38 football victory over Hampton in a mutual season opener at Knoch Stadium. The Talbots had blanked Knoch on the scoreboard in each of the past three seasons.
The Knights were up 35-17 in the third quarter before Hampton recovered a pair of onsides kicjks and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score late in the fourth in mounting a furious comeback.
“I told Steve (Hampton coach Sciullo) after the game that he took 15 years off my life tonight,” Knoch coach Tim Burchett said. “I thought our defense played pretty well. Those mistakes on kickoffs didn’t help our cause any, but we’ll take this win. But we certainly have work to do.
“A lot of people have been considering us a ‘trap’ game. Maybe we’re not a ‘trap’ game anymore.”
Knoch quarterback Codi Mullen threw for 395 yards — misfiring on only four passes all night — and Kaden Spencer caught nine passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns. He appeared to have a third score — which would have put the Knights up by three touchdowns with four minutes to play — but he was caught from behind at the 5-yard line on a 57-yard catch and run.
“I was cramping up while I was running down the field on that play,” Spencer said. “I just couldn’t get there.”
The Talbots, playing without starting quarterback Adrian Midgley — on crutches and out of uniform on the sidelines before the game — tried climbing back into the contest. After a Kannon Trifomuk field goal gave Knoch a 45-28 lead with 3:58 left, Josh Carr returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a score.
The Talbots recovered an onsides kick and Jack Shaunnessey — Hampton’s third quarterback on the deopth chart — tossed a 29-yard TD pass to Brock Borgo to pull Hampton within 45-38 with 3:04 still to play.
Hampton never threaten again, however.
“Our guys have a lot of dog in them and we kept on fighting,” Sciullo said. “I wish he hadn’t given up all those points earlier to put us in this situation.
“Knoch played well. They got us tonight. Their quarterback is a great player and their scheme fits him perfectly. They are going to be a tough team to stop.”
Hampton quarterbacks Porter Kelly and Shaunnessey combined to throw for 259 yards. But their total was easily surpassed by Mullen, who also threw touchdown passes to Jackson Bauman and Sam Skurka. Bajuman had four receptions for 106 yards.
“We have plenty of weapons in the passing game,” Mullen said. “Kaden is a big part of that. We have a lot of trick-type plays designed for him and they wotked tonight. He was getting pretty open down the field.”
Borgo rushed 27 times for 90 yards and caught eight oasses for 92 more.
“He’s a big, physical back and for the most part, we held him in check,” Burchett said. “That was a gutsy effort by our defense.”
The Knights had four takeaways in the contest. Mullen had an interception and Bauman, Spencer and Brady Pflugh recovered fumbles.
Knoch strays at home next Friday, hosting Indiana.
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Knoch’s Kaden Spencer (4) catches a pass during the fourth quarter of the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Brady Pflugh (10) celebrates with the student section after the Knights defeated Hampton 45-38 on Friday night, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch’s Kannon Trofimuk (21) oconverts on an extra point attempt in the fourth quarter during the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch’s Codi Mullen (5) attempts a pass in the second quarter during the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Ben Martin (59) and Camron Jakovac (50) watch a play unfold along the sideline during the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Wyatt Foster (54) and fellow defensive linemen charge the Hampton offensive line in the second quarter during the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch’s Jackson Bauman (2) looks for an opening during the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Anthony Nicolazzo (20) finds space in the first quarter during the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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The Knoch student section celebrates a tackle in the opening kickoff during the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Dylan Pinkerton (9) leads a pack of Knights in a tackle of Hampton's Brock Borgo (22) in the first quarter during the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Members of the Knoch Marching Band enter the stadium in preparation for the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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The Knoch Knights take the field for the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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The student sections erupts after the Knoch Knights score a touchdown in the first quarter during the first game of the season against Hampton on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in Saxonburg. Knoch won 45-38. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Members of the Knoch Marching Band performs during halftime Friday night in Saxonburg, Pa. Jared Todhunter / Special to the Butler Eagle. 08/25/2023
Hampton 7 3 7 21 — 38
Knoch 14 7 14 10 — 45
First Quarter
K — Tony Nicolazzo 1 run (Kannon Trofimuk kick), 2:17
H — Brock Borgo 10 run (Luke Fiscus kick), 1:33
K — Kaden Spencer 77 pass from Codi Mullen (Trofimuk kick), 1:15
Second Quarter
H — Fiscus 25 field goal, 3:49
K — Sam Skurka 11 pass from Mullen (Trofimuk kick), :28
Third Quarter
K — Jackson Bauman 22 pass from Mullen (Trofimuk kick), 8:46
H — Ray Kirsopp 20 pass from Porter Kelly (Fiscus kick), 5:41
K — Nicolazzo 10 run (Trofimuk kick), 3:31
Fourth Quarter
H — Kirsopp 28 pass from Jack Shaunnessey (Borgho pass from Shaunnessey), 7:23
K — Spencer 39 pass from Mullen (Trofimuk kick), 7:06
K — Trofimuk 21 field goal, 3:58
H — Josh Carr 75 kick return (kick failed), 3:44
H — Borgo 29 pass from Shaunnessey (Fiscus kick), 3:04
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Hampton, Brock Borgo 27-90, Ray Kirsopp 1-4, Josh Carr 1-0, Carson Potter 3-8, TEAM 1-)-1), Jack Shaunnessey 1-(-11). Knoch, Codi Mullen 14-50, Tony Nicolazzo 9-41, Aiden Jones 1-5, Ethan Alwine 2-11, TEAM 1-(-2).
Passing: Hampton, Porter Kelly 13-18-105-0, Jack Shaunnessery 10-19-154-1. Knoch, Codi Mullen 15-19-395-0, Aiden Jones 1-1-14-0.
Receiving: Hampton, Brock Borgo 8-92, Willy Haselrig 5-42, Ray Kirsopp 5-66, Josh Carr 2-24, Porter Kelly 3-35. Knoch, Jackson Bauman 4-106, Kaden Spencer 9-258, Sam Skurka 3-45.
