Near-misses have Knoch optimistic for 2nd year in Allegheny 6

By: Jerin Steele
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | 11:20 PM

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Last year, Knoch football had one win, but essentially was one point away from qualifying for the playoffs.

A 37-36 loss to Deer Lakes ultimately turned out to be the difference for missing out on a postseason berth, but that just scratches the surface of close calls the Knights had in 2022.

They lost in double overtime at Indiana in nonconference action, went down to the wire with Class 3A semifinalist Shady Side Academy before the Bulldogs pulled away and led against East Allegheny in the fourth quarter before that game slipped away.

On top of that, Knoch played all but one game on the road due to stadium renovations.

Entering Year 2 at the helm of the Knights, Tim Burchett is aiming to turn those narrow defeats into victories.

“We weren’t where we needed to be, especially on the defensive side of the ball last year, but we were really close,” Burchett said. “What keeps you up at night is how close we were. But to our kids’ credit they’ve come in and worked. We changed our strength and conditioning program and have had huge number jumps in our strength and conditioning. In my opinion we’ve done everything we need to do to take the next step. Now it just comes down to executing.”

Leading the way for the Knights is junior quarterback Codi Mullen.

Mullen broke the school’s single season record for passing yards in 2022, a record that stood for 35 years. He threw for 1,660 yards and 10 touchdowns and led the team in rushing with 428 yards.

“I’ve said before that Codi would be a Division I kid if he was two inches taller,” Burchett said. “He’s a freak athlete that could pick up a ball in any sport and be good at it. Thankfully he chose to pick up a football. We’re going to expect him to do even more this year in the passing game, run game and doing RPO’s and things like that. He’s taken to it. You tell him something one time and he can do it.”

Mullen’s top target last year, Jake Murphy, graduated and is now at Slippery Rock. He does have another top target back in Jackson Bauman, who compiled over 600 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a freshman a year ago.

The Knights also return three starters on the offensive line.

An improved running game is one of Burchett’s focuses for this fall. Burchett is a former offensive lineman and said that a scheme overhaul caused some growing pains. He’s already seen some major progress.

“It was like they were speaking German and I wanted them to speak French,” Burchett said. “We’re in the same world, but drastically different. We’re excited for our group up front.”

The Knights are in Class 3A’s Allegheny 6 Conference with Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Freeport, Shady Side Academy and Valley.

A year after grinding through road trips, the Knights will have a half dozen home games on their newly turfed field.

“Maybe I downplayed playing on the road a little too much, because it was a lot,” Burchett said. “Every week you’re getting ready and you never really have that good feeling coming in that you’re going to play a home game in front of your friends and parents. Now that it’s all done, I believe we have one of the best stadiums in the WPIAL.”

Knoch

Coach: Tim Burchett

2022 record: 1-9, 1-4 in Class 3A Allegheny 6 Conference

All-time record: 306-326-13

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25, Hampton, 7

9.1, Indiana, 7

9.8, at Beaver Falls, 7

9.15, Southmoreland, 7

9.22, at Elizabeth Forward, 7

9.29, Deer Lakes*, 7

10.7, at Shady Side Academy*, 2

10.13, at Freeport*, 7

10.20, East Allegheny*, 7

10.27, at Valley*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Codi Mullen

113-233, 1,660 yards, 10 TDs, 8 INTs

Rushing: Mullen

100-428 yards, 3 TDs

Receiving: Jake Murphy*

42-840 yards, 2 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Knoch has a difficult nonconference slate. Elizabeth Forward, Hampton, Beaver Falls and Southmoreland were all playoff teams in 2022.

• This will be Knoch’s first full season with a turf field. The Knights’ home field had been grass prior to the renovation project last year.

• Knoch’s last appearance in a WPIAL football championship was in 2011 when it lost to Montour in the Class 3A final. The Knights scored a thrilling win on a last-second field goal over Franklin Regional in the semifinals.

• Knoch has one WPIAL championship, which came in 1978.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

2, Jackson Bauman, WR/DB, 6-0/165, So.

3, Wyatt Fraser, WR/DB, 5-11/145, Jr.

4, Kaden Spencer, WR/DB, 6-0/185, Jr.

5, Codi Mullen, QB/DB, 5-9/170, Jr.

6, Logan Yesconis, WR/DB, 5-11/180, Sr.

7, Keaton Oprosky, WR/DB, 5-10/165, Jr.

8, Jacob Danner, WR/DB, 5-8/150, Sr.

9, Dylan Pinkerton, TE/LB, 5-11/195, Jr.

10, Brady Pflugh, RB/LB, 5-9/170, Sr.

11, Carter Worsley, WR/DB, 5-8/170, So.

12, Koen Sundie, WR/DB, 5-7/150, So.

13, Ethan Alwine, RB/LB, 6-2/210, Sr.

14, Brayden McGowan, WR/DB, 5-8/140, So.

15, Brody Bauman, QB/DB, 5-6/135, Fr.

16, Evan Fink, WR/DB, 5-7/135, Fr.

17, Aiden Jones, QB/DB, 6-2/180, Sr.

18, Vinnie DeFelice, WR/DB, 5-11/145, So.

19, Landon Harrison, WR/DB, 5-9/150, So.

20, Anthony Nicolazzo, RB/DB, 5-8/175, Sr.

21, Kannon Trofimuk, K, 5-8/175, Jr.

22, Sam Skurka, WR/DB, 5-8/165, Jr.

23, Roman DeFelice, WR/DB, 5-8/145, Fr.

24, Ethan Rouleau, RB/DB, 5-7/150, Fr.

25, Ben Allen, TE/LB, 5-10/150, So.

26, Kody Shubert, RB/LB, 5-10/170, Jr.

27, Anthony Jula, WR/DB, 5-10/130, Fr.

28, Brayden Jamen, WR/DB, 5-10/130, Fr.

29, Pierce Kniess, WR/DB, 5-5/135, Fr.

40, Kaeden Myers, TE/DL, 5-11/170, Fr.

42, Ethan Kaper, TE/LB, 5-8/155, Fr.

44, Owen Layhew, RB/LB, 5-8/150, So.

45, Jaden Shatlock, OL/LB, 5-7/170, Fr.

50, Camron Jakovac, OL/DL, 6-4/175, Sr.

54, Wyatt Foster, OL/DL, 6-1/225, Jr.

55, Bennett Shaw, OL/LB, 5-9/215, Sr.

56, James Shatlock, OL/LB, 5-7/185, Fr.

57, Parker Anderson, OL/DL, 6-1/260, Sr.

58, Cameron Lazor, OL/DL, 5-10/160, Fr.

59, Ben Martin, OL/DL, 6-0/185, Jr.

62, Parker Infante, OL/DL, 5-6/215, So.

70, Austin Adams, OL/DL, 5-10/170, Fr.

71, Lucas Rouleau, OL/DL, 6-0/215, Jr.

72, Zach Szebalskie, OL/DL, 5-11 /190, So.

73, Makai Noah-Born, OL/DL, 5-10/225, Fr.

76, Cooper Christopher, OL/DL, 6-0/195, Fr.

80, Carter Beres, WR/LB, 5-10/170, Fr.

88, Elijah Ruediger, WR/DB, 6-3/170, Sr.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Knoch