Return to playoffs satisfying for Knoch football team

After seeing its four-season WPIAL football playoff streak end last year, Knoch made it a goal to return in 2014.

The Knights did it the hard way, but they accomplished just that. A 44-0 victory over Yough last week, coupled with some fortuitous results elsewhere, enabled Knoch (4-5) to qualify for the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs as the wild-card team from Class AAA.

“We're reborn again,” senior running back/defensive back Cody Milsom said. “This could have been our last week. Every week's a gift from here on out.”

Knoch drew the No. 14 seed in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs and a first-round matchup with No. 3 West Allegheny (8-1), the two-time defending WPIAL champion.

“We've played all these teams before,” Knoch coach Mike King said. “We've played (Thomas Jefferson), we've played West Allegheny. We'll be ready. Our kids will be fired up. We like that kind of challenge.”

Knoch qualifying for the playoffs seemed unlikely during the season. The Knights began the year 2-0, but a four-game losing streak that included a last-second loss to Gateway and a four-point defeat at Hollidaysburg put their postseason hopes in jeopardy.

A 14-7 upset of Mars in Week 7 reignited the Knights' chances, but they still needed to win and get some help elsewhere in Week 9 to make the playoffs. Indiana's victory over Hollidaysburg helped Knoch finish in sixth place in the Greater Allegheny Conference, and Ringgold's win over Trinity gave the Knights the edge in the wild-card race.

Not that Knoch was scoreboard-watching during the game against Yough.

“Our kids had the opportunity to play one last game on this field,” King said. “One thing we know for sure is there's not going to be a home playoff game here. It means a lot to a high school kid, playing their last game on this field.”

Knoch's defense had its best performance of the year against Yough. The Knights recorded four sacks, three interceptions and stopped Yough on fourth down three times. They also scored the first points of the game via a first-quarter safety.

That type of performance was nothing new for the Knights' defense. They gave up 13.8 points per game during the regular season, holding five of nine opponents below 10 points.

The offense struggled throughout the first two-thirds of the season, but a move to junior Cole Shinsky at quarterback in Week 7 helped stabilize the unit. Shinsky, a converted wide receiver, helped the offense score 83 points in its final three games, including a season-high 44 against Yough.

“We had our troubles offensively,” said Milsom, who rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns against Yough. “Defensively, we've always been strong. But it's nice to see us come out here and score some points.”

Whatever the result against West Allegheny, King said the team was “thrilled” to be back in the playoffs.

“We're happy to be here,” he said. “Our kids worked hard for it.”

Doug Gulasy is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.