Norwin storms back to defeat Hempfield thanks to huge game from Jake Knight

By: Paul Schofield
Friday, October 3, 2025 | 11:38 PM

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Oh, what a Knight for the Norwin football team.

The Knights rallied from a 12-point third-quarter deficit, and senior Jake Knight was a big reason.

The senior intercepted two passes in the second half, caught a touchdown pass off a tipped pass and downed a punt at the Hempfield 2-yard line that led to a safety.

Oh yes, he was crowned homecoming king as No. 3 Norwin (5-2, 2-1) rallied to defeat No. 4 Hempfield, 33-26, in a WPIAL Class 6A Conference battle at Norwin Stadium.

The victory set up a first-place showdown 8 p.m. Thursday against No. 1 Central Catholic at Carnegie Mellon.

Norwin trailed Hempfield, 26-14, late in the third quarter when punter Evan Pfeifer drilled a 61-yard punt that the Hempfield returner let roll.

Knight hustled down the field and downed the kick before the ball rolled into the end zone.

One play later, Hempfield running Aidan Stinebiser was tackled in the end zone for a safety, switching the momentum.

“Our kid lost the ball in the lights and did not want to risk a fumble,” Hempfield coach Nick Keefer said. “He was hoping the ball would get into the end zone.

“It was a great game. Norwin just made more plays than we did. I was proud of our effort.”

Following a free kick, Norwin senior quarterback Tristyn Tavares scored on an 8-yard run to trim the score to 26-23.

Knight then made a diving interception and scored three plays later when Tavares’ pass tipped off a Hempfield defensive back’s fingers and into his hands for a 30-26 lead.

“I had this game circled since last year,” Knight said. “I really wanted to beat them. We just never quit.

“I love playing against them. It is aways a good time, always competitive.”

Norwin tacked on a 27-yard field goal by Tristan Josephic after a Zack Pawling interception.

“The credit goes to the players,” Norwin coach Mike Brown said. “They found a way to win.

“We needed a spark, and the punter gave us one. It is what we needed.”

It was a big night for Hempfield quarterback Dom Detruf, who broke two school records held by Justin Sliwoski: most career yards (4,004 yards) and career touchdowns (39).

Detruf completed 21 of 35 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions.

He now has 4,316 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Jack Kopas had 12 catches for 137 yards, and Henry Mutschler had six catches for 145 yards.

Hempfield took a 6-0 lead when Detruf connected with Lucas Simmons on a 13-yard pass.

Norwin responded behind the running of Giovanni Rothrauff, who scored on runs of 31 and 67 yards to give the Knights a 14-6 lead in the first quarter.

Hempfield cut the lead to 14-12 when Mutschler got behind the Norwin secondary for a 74-yard score.

Hempfield had a field goal blocked on the final play of the first half.

The Spartans got a 25-yard interception return by Anthony Carello and a 37-yard touchdown pass and run by Kopas for a 26-14 lead.

Then the punt and safety turned things around.

“Our defense did a great job in the fourth quarter,” Brown said. “We have a bunch of seniors who stepped up when the game was on the line.”

Tavares, playing through an ankle injury, rushed for 53 yards.

The Spartans (4-3, 1-3) play host to Seneca Valley next Friday.

Hempfield leads the all-time series 38-26-4.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Hempfield, Norwin