Mike Cunningham does his homework. Then, he studies — game film, for hours.
His DVD player gets a workout.
"I watch film constantly," said Cunningham, Knoch's feisty junior linebacker. "In study halls, after I do my school work, I head down and watch more film. I take discs home, and after I finish my homework, I study our next opponent.
"I see it as an opportunity to get up on the next team."
Cunningham, who had three sacks in last week's 31-9 win over Thomas Jefferson to push his team-leading sack total to 11, has provided a defensive spark for third-seeded Knoch (11-0), which faces No. 2 Franklin Regional (11-0) in Friday's semifinals ay Valley.
A ball of energy, Cunningham wills his way to opposing ball-carriers.
"Mike Cunningham, pound for pound, he is the toughest kid in the WPIAL," Knoch coach Mike King said. "He's a Jack Lambert-type. He has this demeanor about him. Let's just say he's not happy a lot of times."
Cunningham seemed to be a step ahead of the offense last week, ready to deliver bone-jarring hits.
"I love to hit people," the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Cunningham said. "That's the way I like it. Whoever has the ball, I want to go at them."
Cunningham's aggressive style of play has earned him the respect of his coaches.
"Coach King calls me 'Mad Mike,' " Cunningham said. "My friends call me 'The Hammer.' "
Knoch's defense has allowed only 91 points all season, including just two games where it surrendered double figures. Indiana scored 31 against the Knights.
Cunningham's speed and that of the Knights' other linebackers allows Knoch to attack teams out of its base 3-5 defense.
"This kid attended every workout we have had (in the offseason)," King said. "He is the poster child for doing things the right way. He buys into everything.
"This (defense) scraps, flies around and gets after it. It's a scrappy defense. Our kids get the most out of what they have."
Like teammates and coaches, Cunningham references last year's quarterfinal loss to Central Valley as the start of this dominating run to the Class AAA final four.
"It all started last year," Cunningham said. "We had a tough loss to Central Valley. We were all in the weight room lifting (the day) after that game, and you could see the heartbreak. That's where we're coming from."
