Access Denied: Knoch shuts down Scotties’ rushing attack in 27-0 win
JEFFERSON TWP — In the first three games of the season, Southmoreland running back Da’sjon Craggette had knocked opposing defenses onto their heels with 574 yards rushing and an incredible 13 yards per carry.
Friday night, however, all of the frustration belonged to Craggette and his offensive teammates. He was met with a wall of blue nearly every time he carried the ball as Knoch held the WPIAL’s second-leading rusher to just 11 yards on 20 carries.
The defensive effort paved the way to a 27-0 home victory over the previously unbeaten Scotties. Meanwhile, Knoch remained perfect at 4-0.
“It was scheme, attitude, relentlessness ... I think he may have had one open hole all night,” said Knoch coach Tim Burchett.
Nine of Craggette’s 20 carries went for zero or negative yardage. Wyatt Foster and Bennett Shaw were two Knights he saw a lot of during the game.
Knoch defensive back Codi Mullen saw his teammates dominate the line of scrimmage.
“We heard that he (Craggette) was a stud transfer (from Greensburg Central Catholic), but we knew we could stop him,” Mullen said. “Our defensive line played a great game.”
As for Knoch’s offense, the Knights took advantage of superb field position on their first drive, which began at Southmoreland’s 33 following a poor punt from the Scotties’ end zone. Seven plays later, Tony Nicolazzo scored on a 2-yard run.
With its ground game non-existent, Southmoreland’s hopes were placed on the right arm of quarterback Kadin Keefer.
On his team’s second drive, Keefer completed five passes as the Scotties drove 56 yards to Knoch’s 22. But back-to-back sacks by Ethan Alwine turned the ball over on downs.
Alwine tallied three of Knoch’s six sacks.
“It all came down to physicality,” said Scotties coach Tim Bukowski. “The running game, you aren’t gaining yards when there’s nowhere to run. But it was on both sides of the ball. They dominated us.”
Mullen accounted for three touchdowns. He scored on a 44-yard run that put the Knights up 14-0 with 2:19 left in the first half. The Scotties (3-1) were unable to pick up a first down, due in large part to a sack by Lucas Rouleau, and Mullen found Kaden Spencer for a 26-yard scoring pass before halftime.
Mullen added a 51-yard rushing touchdown on Knoch’s first possession of the third quarter. Knoch had scored three times in the span of three minutes, 54 seconds.
Mullen finished with 102 yards on the ground and 99 passing. He was intercepted twice, the second time by Ty Keffer on a deflected pass that resulted in the Scotties taking over at Knoch’s 18-yard line with under five minutes to play. Once again, however, the Knights denied Southmoreland the end zone.
“He puts us in the right position on offense ... He’s the heart and soul of the team and that’s not just coach-speak,” Burchett said of Mullen.
The Knights visit Elizabeth Forward next Friday.
To purchase photos from this game visit photos.butlereagle.com.
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Knoch’s Marching Knights march in front of the home stands before the game between Knoch and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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On military appreciation night, the Knoch student section gets U.S. Air Force towels before the game between the Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch’s Tony Nicolazzo (20) finds the end-zone during the first quarter of the game between the Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Codi Mullen (5) passes during the first quarter of the game between the Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Codi Mullen (5) passes during the first quarter of the game between the Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Pittsburgh Steeler mascot Steely McBeam signs autographs for fans as part of the Steelers High School Football Game of the Week featuring Knoch and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Ethan Alwine (13) follows the ball as Southmoreland's Kadin Keeper (6) takes the snap during the first quarter of the game between the Knights and the Scotties on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Zachary Szebalskie (72) provides pass protection during the second quarter of the game between the Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Codi Mullen (5) makes a long touchdown run between the Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023 in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Members of the Slippery Rock University Army ROTC Color Guard present the flags for the national anthem on military appreciation night during the game Knoch and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Wyatt Foster and the rest of the Knights take the field for their game against Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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In honor of 9/11 and military appreciation night, a moment of silence took place during the game between Knoch and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Bennett Shaw (55) attempts a punt block in the second quarter in the game between the Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Wyatt Foster (54) celebrates a tackle during the first quarter of the game between the Knoch Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Major Eric Burkett, USMC, right, is honored during the military appreciation night game between Knoch and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Jackson Bauman (2) and Southmoreland's Cameron Lee (23) contest a 50/50 ball in the first quarter of the game between the Knights and the Scotties on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Bennett Shaw (55) and Braden Pflugh (10) team up on a tackle in the first quarter of the game between the Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's head football coach Tim Burchett (center) looks at the scoreboard during the second quarter of the game between the Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
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Knoch's Lucas Rouleau (71) gets a tackle during the second quarter between the Knoch Knights and Southmoreland on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023, in Saxonburg, Pa. Knoch won 27-0. Jared Todhunter/Special to the Eagle
Southmoreland 0 0 0 0 — 0
Knoch 7 13 7 0 — 27
First Quarter
K — Tony Nicolazzo 2 run (Kannon Trofimuk kick), 8:16
Second Quarter
K — Codi Mullen 44 run (Trofimuk kick), 2:19
K — Kaden Spencer 26 pass from Mullen (kick failed), 1:12
Third Quarter
K — Mullen 51 run (Trofimuk kick), 10:25
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Southmoreland, Da’sjon Craggette 20-11, Kadin Keefer 12-(-27), Austin Mough 2-3, Wyatt Richter 1-4, Caden Matthews 1-(-12), Jake Van Arsdale 1-0. Knoch, Jackson Bauman 1-1, Tony Nicolazzo 7-18, Codi Mullen 7-102, Owen Layhew 2-(-4).
Passing: Southmoreland, Kadin Keefer 16-27-142-0, Caden Matthews 0-3-0-0. Knoch, Codi Mullen 11-19-99-2.
Receiving: Southmoreland, Ty Keffer 9-87, Gabe Kubasky 4-30, Da’sjon Craggette 0-3, Cody Bateman 2-10, Ethan Shawley 1-12. Knoch, Jackson Bauman 6-49, Kaden Spencer 1-26, Tony Niccolazzo 1-0, Dylan Pinkerton 1-17, Brady Pflugh 1-3, Ethan Alwine 1-4.
