No. 4 Knoch thumps Colonials
Albert Gallatin's Branden Dice (32) hauls in a kickoff during Friday night's contest with Knoch.
Albert Gallatin's Brandon Dice (32) is tackled by Knoch's Jason Abel (55) while running for a short gain Friday night.
Albert Gallatin's Collin Smith (28) finds an opening and looks for more running room, while he is pursued by Knoch's Jason Abel Friday.
Albert Gallatin punter Shawn Varano (24) runs with the ball after scooping up a bad snap Friday night, as his is pursued by Knoch's Luke Kroneberger.
Albert Gallatin quarterback Marty Dodson (16) stiff-arms a Knoch defender as he is followed out of the backfield by Branden Dice (32).
Matt Walters (15) runs the ball for Albert Gallatin Friday night.
Albert Gallatin's Donald Myers (57) closes in on Knoch's Andrew Rumbaugh-Goodlin (5) during Friday night's game at York Run.
YORK RUN — Albert Gallatin played Friday night’s game against fourth-ranked Knoch shorthanded.
Knoch didn’t give the Colonials a break, as the Knights rolled to a 56-8 win.
“We had 18 kids miss practice last week,” AG coach Jeff Rush said. “They just didn’t come, so I dressed them, but didn’t play them. They stood there and watched.”
Pretty harsh punishment, as Knoch scored on the game’s third play on a 35-yard interception return by Alexander Strezeski on its way to a 28-0 lead before the first quarter ended. Strange as it might sound, AG ran 18 plays to Knoch’s five in the first 12 minutes, but Knoch scored once on defense and twice on one-play drives. Quarterback Kyler Kenyon ran for two of the touchdowns and passed to Strezeski for the other.
Offensively, the Colonials played without its starting quarterback, Richie Ohler (injured in practice and missed a practice) and lost backup Marty Dodson during the game. “Marty seems OK now,” Rush said.
Senior Cameron Angel took over at quarterback and helped produce the Colonials’ only points with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Robby Shea 3:43 before halftime. The score was set up by a 61-yard run by sophomore Branden Dice.
“When you block a play the way it’s drawn up, that’s what happens,” Rush said of Dice’s long run. “I can’t wait to show them that play on film so they can see that good things can happen when you do it right.”
By that time, however, Knoch had stretched its lead to 42-0 and AG’s score made it 42-8 at halftime. Knoch added a pair of third quarter touchdowns before the mercy rule ended the game quickly.
“They are a very good team,” Rush said of Knoch. “I think they have about 12 or 14 kids back from anundefeated team, so we knew they were good. Coach (Mike) King is a good coach and a class act. We are really, really, really young and it’s hard to compete against quality teams like that with 20 or 21 sophomores and freshmen playing. But our kids didn’t quit and I give them credit for that.”
Time and the coach’s eye will tell if his discipline had an effect on the players who missed Friday’s game. “If they come to practice and show that they are ready to go, then they will play next week,” Rush said. “I can lose 56-8 with them or without them.”
The Colonials travel to Franklin Regional next Friday to open Keystone Conference play.
Dice led AG (0-2) in rushing with 75 yards on nine carries. For Knoch (2-0), Kenyon completed all five of his passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 70 yards and three scores on three carries.
Non-Conference
Knoch 56, Albert Gallatin 8
First Quarter
K: Alexander Strezeski, 35 interception return (Kory Wood kick), 9:54 (7-0)
K: Kyler Kenyon, 15 run (Wood kick, 5:51 (14-0)
K: Strezeski, 6 pass from Kenyon (Wood kick), 3:235 (21-0)
K: Kenyon, 2 run (Wood kick), 1:25 (28-0)
Second Quarter
K: Mac Megahan, 43 run (Wood kick), 8:24 (35-0)
K: Kenyon, 53 run (Wood kick), 6:18 (42-0)
AG: Robby Shea, 23 pass from Cameron Angel (Shea, pass from Angel), 3:42 (42-8)
Third Quarter
K: Michael Cunningham, 1 pass from Kenyon (Wood kick), 10:14 (49-8)
K: Benjamin Tackett, 14 run (Wood kick), 5:10 (56-8)