Photo by Richard Sayer
Pa. all-time rushing list
Top 20
1. 9,078, Rushel Shell, Hopewell, 2012
2. 9,027, Jeremiah Young, Steel-High, 2008
3. 8,595, Ryan Brumfield, Owen J. Roberts, 2010
4. 8,432, James Mungro, East Stroudsburg South, 1996
5. 8,394, Dominick Bragalone, South Williamsport, 2014
6. 8,325, Zack Barket, Schuylkill Haven, 2008
7. 8,246, Gaige Garcia, Southern Columbia, 2019
8. 7,870, Ethen Knox, Oil City, 2023
9. 7,749, Terrin Ash, Honesdale, 1994
10. 7,646, Mike Vernillo, Ft. Cherry, 1999
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11. 7,413, Curtis Brinkley, Philly West Catholic, 2003
12. 7,217, Gavin Garcia, Southern Columbia, 2021
13. 7,165, Henry Hynoski, Southern Columbia, 2006
14. 7,103, Jonathan Veach, Mount Carmel, 2000
15. 7,083, Ben Jackson, West Greene, 2019
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16. 7,079 -- Lamont Wade, Clairton (2016)
17. 7,075 -- Jerry Marks, Southern Columbia (1987)
18. 7,027 -- Journey Brown, Meadville (2016)
19. 6,902 -- Jesse Jones, Tyrone (1999)
20. 6,847 -- Chuck Carr, Hickory (2016)
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Ethen Knox ran wild for Oil City from 2021-23, rushing for 7,870 yards, despite playing only 29 games (Covid was partly the culprit his sophomore season in 2021.)
He began receiving out-of-town recognition when he was credited with 492 yards against Franklin in 2021.
More people began to take notice in 2022 when he collected six more 400-yard rushing games (four in a row) and broke a national record held by NFL star Derrick Henry. He was named a MaxPreps small town All-America.
​​​A look at his legendary career:
Game by Game
D-10 all-time rushing list
7870 Ethen Knox, Oil City
7027 Journey Brown, Meadville
6847 Chuck Carr, Hickory
6548 Blake Reddick, Lakeview
6241TJ Phillips, Sharon
5752 Zach Helsley, Mercyhurst
5404 Anthony Stallworth, Farrell
5348 Jalen Wagner, Reynolds
5197 Joe Korcinsky (Greenville)
5136 Mike Archie, Sharon
5128 Garrett Owens, North East
5109 Khalon Simmons, Meadville
5070 Christian Cole, Oil City
5024 Jordan Wilson, Sharon
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D-10 500-point scorers
718 Journey Brown, Meadville
666 Chuck Carr, Hickory
640 ETHEN KNOX, Oil City
574 Hunter Merritt, Conneaut
552 Justin Napotnik, Sharpsville
546 Joe Korcinsky, Greenville
518 Zach Stafford, Cambridge Springs
504 T.J. Phillips, Sharon
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Keeping a promise
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Record-breaking running back Ethen Knox (left) finally came through on a promise of donuts for his blockers during the 2022 season. From left (beside Knox): Tim Walentoski, Tanner Kightlinger, Cam Crocker, Jacob Van Wormer, Henry Milford (cleverly hidden), Hayden Wilson and (inset) Brayden McFetridge. MIA: Kevin Pearsall, Logan Suttle and the injured James O'Dell. (Twitter)
Knox's sensational junior season in 2022:
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Max Preps Small Town All-American (along with LB Philip LaVerde of Kirtland, Ohio, son of former Oiler and Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde
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All-USA Today Offensive team (25 players, all of whom nominated for Player of Year, which will be announced this summer
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Mr. Pa Football Tremendous 25 (1A-3A)
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Coaches Select 3A Player of the Year
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Coaches Select 3A first team all-state
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Pa. Football Writers 3A first team all-state
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PennLive second team all-state (all classes)
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Jim Kelly YDL sports network District 10 Player of the Year
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Jim Kelly YDL sports network All-D-10
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Erie Times News small school All-D-10
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D-10 Offensive POY nominee by ETN
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All-Region 4 first team RB/DB
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Five-time Jim Kelly YDL Player of Week
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Two national records with 3,705 yards rushing in a 10-game season and six 400-yard rushing games
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OCHS single-season, career rushing records
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42 touchdowns, 294 points, 63 tackles, 6 INTs
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No. 100 in Prep RedZone Pennsylvania rankings for Class of 2024. Also No. 6 RB and No. 3 in District 10.
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MVP for RBs at an Elite 11 regional camp in May.
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First offer from Mercyhurst (he's keeping that info close to vest, if you read Mike Kilroy's story), but he's taken "road trips" with his dad to Lehigh and Penn this summer, according to "X" (formerly known as Twitter)
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Second offer from West Liberty on Aug. 9
Oil City football not only has a player with a national record (Ethen Knox with his 5 400-yard rushing games), but another with a state mark. (Mo Hadley's seven TD receptions in 2015 tied the record set in 2014 by New Oxford's Ryan Hubley.) And both Knox and Hadley wore 2. Hadley also threw a TD pass in that game (to Cade Cochran). Jackson McFall threw eight scoring passes, the other to Chris Dragotta and scored a TD on a fumble return.
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National recognition
from Max Preps
Ethen Knox was in the running during the offseason for small school (Class 1A-3A) Mr. Pa. Football. He advanced to the final six, and was invited to a banquet in Harrisburg. Alex Erby of Steel-High, a Naval Academy recruit, won the award, but all six finalists received a plaque. Highlights of all the finalists were shown at the fete. Banquet was streamed here. (File photo by Richard Sayer)
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And that's a wrap on Knox's
legendary high school career
(And Knox said he's still as running back as for now. "They are planning on me playing running back right now but things could change at any time and I could be switched but that’s what they are bringing me on as," Knox when he announced for Mercyhurst.)
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Mercyhurst announced on April 4, 2024, that it is moving from Division II to Division I. The Lakers formerly played out out of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Now they will be members of the Northeast Conference (NEC).
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Knox reported to Mercyhurst of July 15, 2024, but not before being named District 10 Athlete of the Year for the second straight time.
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Knox scores TD in college debut,
helps 'Hurst set scoring record
The college debut of Ethen Knox was certainly something to write home about.
Knox, freshman from Oil City, scored a touchdown on a 29-yard run to help Mercyhurst set a single game scoring record.
And it was not routine. He headed up the middle, made a cut, and shed a few defenders en route to the end zone.
The TD came late in the fourth quarter of the Lakerts' 66-0 victory over the Lincoln Oaklanders, a Division III team from California.
Knox turned out to be the Lakers' leading rusher, finishing with 76 yards on seven carries.
Mercyhurst, which moved to Division I last spring, is 3-7, with two wins against Division III teams which they have outscored 121-0. They had seven interceptions against Lincoln.
Adam Urnea tossed six TD passes, giving him 29 for the season. Mercyhurst began the day as the Northeast Conference's best passing offense, but the worst in rushing.
Knox didn't see action in the Lakers' finale Nov. 23, a 21-20 victory over St. Francis. It was their first win against a Division I team.