KNOCH LEANS ON CAPTAINS
by JERIN STEELE
Long before Knoch’s first summer
workout, the team knew it
likelywould be downthree starters
for the entire season because of
injuries outside of football.
But second-year coach Frank
Whalenwasn’t going to let injuries
to Tanner Grassi, Savon Mosby
and Joey Wojiechowski set the
tone.
Instead, he altered his offseason
approach, naming his captains
early rather than waiting until the
end of training camp.
He chose Jarrett Bricker, Chase
Mullen, Emmett Fry and Noah
Cetnar and asked them to help get
themomentumrolling in a positive
direction.
He likes what he’s seen.
“Losing those threewasdifficult,
so we kind of had to do things differently
early on,” Whalen said.
“We actually named one extra captain,
and they have done a tremendous
job of making sure that the
team worked hard in the summer.
“These kids have proven themselves,
and they have the confidence
of the rest of the team.
For me, it was really a no-brainer
to choose those four to be our
captains.”
Grassi suffered a knee injury
playing lacrosse, and Mosby had
a knee injury during wrestling
season. Grassi was a first-team
all-conference defensive lineman
last year. Mosby started on the
defensive line and projected as
a member of the backfield. Wojciechowski
played wide receiver
and was going to have his role
expanded to corner.
Whalen said Wojciechowski has
a chance to return late in the year,
but the other two are out.
To counteract those losses, the
quartet of captains pushed the
team during workouts in the summer,
taking a hands-on approach
toward putting the team in a better
position entering training camp.
“We needed stability,” Bricker
said. “All four captains have shown
up every day in the weight room,
and we’ve been going around
boosting everyone’s morale. I think
it was a good choice by them to
name us early.”
Bricker and Fry are the only two
returning linemen. Mullen moves
from wingback to quarterback,
replacing Jake Herrit, who graduated.
Cetnar will slide into his
vacated spot at wingback.
Whalen installed the triple-option
offense last year upon arrival,
and after a season of adjusting to
the system, the comfort level has
increased.
Bricker admittedhehadtowatch
YouTube videos last year just to get
a feel for the offense, but now he’s
alongside Fry as a mentor for the
younger linemen.
“The first year it was all new. It
would’ve probably been better if
I had never played football before
and came into it with a blank slate,
but this year I have it down pat,”
Bricker said. “It’s in my mind and
Emmett’s mind. We’re the only
two returning starters, so we’re
helping the younger guys out and
getting them ready for the season.
“Coach (Whalen) has been with
us all summer, and he’s devoted
so much time with us. All of
our coaches have. We appreciate
them.”
The Knights lost last season’s
leading rusher, Ivan Stapchuck,
to graduation, and junior Matt
Goodlin is slated to take his spot
in the backfield. Goodlin is the
younger brother of Andrew
Rumburg-Goodlin, the standout
running backwho led Knoch to the
2011WPIAL ClassAAAtitle game.
“Matt is looking tremendous,”
Whalen said. “He’s extremely
explosive and extremely strong.
We’re looking for him to pick up
where Ivan Stapchuck left off.
He has a similar running style to
what Andrew had. If you watch
him run you can tell that they are
brothers.”
Knoch lost rival Mars, which
moved to Class 5A, and Indiana
from the Northwest 8 Conference
and added Beaver.The Northwest 8
figures to be a grinding slate again
with the likes of South Fayette,
Montour, New Castle and Highlands
among others looming on
the schedule.
Bricker is weary of the challenges
ahead, but is optimistic Knoch
can improve on its 4-5 record from
last year and fight its way into
the postseason for the first time
since 2014.
“To me it’s the toughest conference
in the WPIAL, and it’s very
hard to make a playoff run in,”
Bricker said. “That’s something
we’ve struggled with in the past,
but we’re going to do it this year.
We’re going to make playoffs. I’m
pretty excited for the season.”
12 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • TRIBUNE-REVIEW
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SCHEDULE
Coach: Frank Whalen
2017 record: 4-5, 4-4
All-time record: 292-293-13
Date Opponent Time
8.24 at Hampton 7
8.31 at Blackhawk* 7
9.7 at Beaver* 7:30
9.14 Highlands* 7
9.21 Ambridge* 7
9.28 at Montour* 7
10.5 South Fayette* 7
10.12 at New Castle* 7
10.19 Trinity 7
10.26 Freeport 7
*CLASS 4A NORTHWEST 8 CONFERENCE
GAME
No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
3 Scott Fraser WR/FS 6-1/165 Jr.
4 Kam Grassi RB/CB 5-10/155 Jr.
5 Matt Goodlin RB/LB 5-9/180 Jr.
11 Noah Cetnar RB/LB 5-8/165 Sr.
12 Chase Mullen QB/CB 5-10/160 Sr.
15 Jared Schrecengost WR/CB 6-1/185 Jr.
17 Keagan Fraser WR/FS 5-9/155 Fr.
20 Jim Johnston RB/LB 5-11/160 Jr.
21 E.J. Simms RB/LB 5-11/205 Sr.
23 Saavon Mosby RB/DT 5-11/225 Sr.
29 Keith Washington QB/FS 5-5/120 So.
32 Tyler Buterbaugh WR/LB 5-9/150 So.
33 Brayden Crawford RB/LB 5-7/145 Jr.
35 Hunter Cascio WR/CB 5-6/132 Sr.
39 Zane Inklovich WR/CB 5-8/145 So.
40 Josh Goldscheitter K/P 5-11/155 Sr.
44 Gavin McGowan RB/LB 5-8/165 Fr.
45 J.J. Szebalskie WR/CB 5-9/155 Fr.
50 Tanner Grassi OT/DE 6-0/200 Sr.
52 Brandon Bastin OT/LB 6-0/210 Sr.
53 Hunter Roenigk OT/DE 5-11/220 So.
54 Braden Tristani OT/LB 6-0/195 Jr.
55 Clark Fraser C/DE 6-1/205 Jr.
56 Luke Goodlin OG/DE 5-9/195 Fr.
59 Jarrett Bricker C/LB 5-10/205 Sr.
61 Maison Frank C/LB 6-0/190 Jr.
62 Logan Klemm OG/DT 6-1/205 Fr.
63 Dalton Reed OT/DT 5-11/210 So.
65 Michael Venesky OT/DE 5-10/195 Fr.
70 Alex Cotton OG/DT 5-11/200 Fr.
71 Logan Harrison OT/LB 5-9/185 So.
72 Carter Scully OG/DT 5-10/175 Fr.
73 J.P. Trubic OG/DT 5-10/215 Sr.
74 Dustin Schlagel OG/DT 5-10/205 So.
75 Emmett Fry OG/DT 6-2/255 Sr.
77 Cole Lassinger OG/DE 6-3/255 Jr.
79 Eli Reese OG/DT 5-10/195 So.
80 Caleb Miller WR/CB 5-8/145 So.
81 Earnie Zilka WR/DE 5-10/175 Jr.
82 Joey Wojciechowski WR/LB 6-0/155 Jr.
83 Owen Huff WR/CB 5-8/145 Fr.
85 Kyle Lauster WR/LB 5-8/165 So.
88 Chris Young WR/DE 6-1/190 Jr.
ROSTER
MATT GOODLIN
NORTHWEST EIGHT
NOAH CETNAR