East Allegheny blocks extra-point attempt in OT, edges Knoch to clinch conference title

By: Jerin Steele
Friday, October 20, 2023 | 10:47 PM

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East Allegheny football coach Dom Pecora admitted he wasn’t sure it would ever happen.

But after 11 long years and a blocked kick in overtime, he and his Wildcats can say they are conference champions.

Brandon Penn blocked Knoch’s extra-point attempt in overtime to secure a 14-13 victory and the Class 3A Allegheny 6 Conference title Friday night in Saxonburg.

The win, coupled with Deer Lakes’ win over Shady Side, means the Wildcats (7-2, 4-0) will be outright champs of a conference for the first time since 2000. Knoch (7-2, 3-1) was seeking its first conference title since 2014.

“After 11 years, this is a moment I wasn’t sure was ever possible,” an emotional Pecora said. “You just figure that stuff happens to other people. I’m just so proud of our kids. I can’t really explain what this means. Outside of my kids being born, this is one of the greatest nights of my life.”

The score was tied 7-7 at the end of regulation. East Allegheny had the first possession in overtime and was faced with fourth down on the 8-yard line but decided to go for it. Wildcats quarterback Michael Cahill lofted a ball to Brennan Rutledge, who caught it in the end zone. Ryan Rupert added the extra point, which turned out to be important.

“We never thought about kicking a field goal,” Pecora said. “We’re a go-for-it type of team. A field goal never crossed my mind.”

Codi Mullen scored on a 10-yard run on the first play of Knoch’s possession. Kannon Trofimuk lined up for the extra point, but his kick never had a chance as the Wildcats line busted through and the ball never made it past the line of scrimmage.

“I did think about going for two at first, but I thought if we got another possession on defense we’d stop them,” Knoch coach Tim Burchett said. “I liked what our defense was doing. That was our first kick that was blocked all year.”

East Allegheny led 7-0 at halftime after getting a late score that followed a turnover.

With under a minute remaining in the second quarter, Mullen had a pass deflected at the line of scrimmage and it was intercepted by East Allegheny’s Raemar Simms at the Knights’ 19.

Two plays later, Cahill rolled to his left and found Rutledge in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.

“I told them after the game we made too many mistakes on offense,” Burchett said. “Our defense played their hearts out. We gave up seven points (in regulation) to a team that can score from the 1 to the 1. There were just too many mistakes on offense by us in this game.”

Knoch turned the ball over on downs twice in the first half inside East Allegheny territory.

The Knights’ lone touchdown came in the third quarter when Mullen threw a pass to Jackson Bauman, who caught it at the 2 and wrestled his way into the end zone for a 11-yard touchdown.

East Allegheny drove from their own 2-yard line to the Knights’ 23 in the final two minutes of regulation to set up a potential game-winning 40-yard field goal, but Knoch blocked it as time expired.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: East Allegheny, Knoch