Flipping the page from their opening week loss to rivals, Anderson Trojans, the Knights not only scored their first touchdown of the season against week two opponent, Lehman, but scored three in a narrow 24-21 defeat. Coming back even stronger against their week three opponent, the Connally Cougars, the Knights rallied to score 24 second-half points to complete a comeback and notch their first victory of the season right in time for district games to start. 

The Connally game started off with explosive plays from both teams as both offenses scored within two minutes of receiving the ball. Knight running back Mitchell Butler ran in the first touchdown for the lead before the Cougars tied the game and punts ensued on the following drives for both teams.

Before the opening quarter ended though, Knight punter Miles McCollum converted a fourth down off a fake punt, carrying the ball to the 50-yard line. The Knights would have to punt to finish that drive and punts would characterize the second quarter as the offenses seemed to play hot potato with each other. The Cougars ended that game, however, with a minute left in the quarter after a rushing touchdown gave them their first lead of the night. The end to the half would get no better for the Knights either though as the offense coughed up the football, and the Cougars scooped it up and carried it in for a 20-7 lead at half after missing the point-after touchdown.

As this team proved the week before, they were not gonna give up because they were down. The defense stepped up big time forcing a quick punt right out of halftime. Quarterback David Houston quickly capitalized on the new possession by running in a touchdown of over 50 yards. Houston kept up his star performance with his second interception of the season on the following defensive drive and another 51-yard rushing touchdown to return the lead to the Knights at 21-20.

“We knew the defense needed to keep this momentum going,” linebacker Pedro Sanchez said. That’s exactly what happened when a deflected pass by a blitzing McCollum fell right into the hands of Sanchez who made his first interception of the season, but the Knights third defensive stop that quarter. “As soon as I caught the ball, the only thing on my mind was getting to the end zone,” Sanchez said. 

The Knights started off the fourth quarter extending their lead to 28-20 after Butler ran in his second touchdown of the night. The Cougars rebounded, taking six minutes off the clock and tying the game with a rushing touchdown of their own and a two-point conversion. After moving the ball into Cougar territory, Houston attempted a quarterback keeper on fourth and 2 but came up short, leaving just over two minutes for the Cougars to drive for the win. Once again the defense showed its muscle forcing a punt and giving the offense one more shot for their first victory. After a few runs from Butler and completions to receivers JD Jordan and Thurston Roberts, the offense got kicker Dash Levy in range for a 40-yard field goal to win it with two seconds on the clock.

“I told my holder Gus ‘we do this every day,’” Levy said. He felt no more nervous than any other kick he’d ever taken. “I feel like I’m just in practice because of how much I do it.” Levy nailed the kick with enough yards underneath it to have been good from at least 50-yards out. “The win definitely boosted our spirits and showed us what we can do,” Levy said. 

This win has been coming for the Knights as they’ve been building off every game and every week of practice to get where they are now. Two weeks ago the team came out hot but ran out of gas in the fourth quarter against Lehman. David Houston had his first star performance of the season in the game scoring two rushing touchdowns, one being a 51-yarder, and got a pick six to score all of the Knights points against the Lobos. 

The score was 24-21 with eight minutes left in the game, and the Knight defense had just forced a punt. The offense drove into the Lobos’ half but turned the ball over on downs on the 44-yard line, and the defense was unable to create a stop to get the ball back to the offense.

Unlike their week two shortcomings, however, the defense produced that last stop needed to win, and the offense and special teams rewarded them with closing out the victory.

“We’re determined to set the tone in our district tomorrow night,” Sanchez said,  “and I know my teammates and I are ready to show out.”

For more Knight football coverage

This year's Taco Shack made with new ingredients

Taco Shack 2022 offers a full range of emotions

Knights look to reverse course, avenge 2021 defeat