Ryan Kircher
The Record

TROY - The Lansingburgh Knights opened up defense of their 2007 Section II Class A title at home in authoritative fashion on Friday night.
It just took them a little more than 24 minutes to do it.
After trailing 13-10 to Glens Falls at the end of the first half , the Knights offense began to click in a 28-point third quarter en route to a 45-26 season opening win.
"It's always good to get off to a good start and get the first win," Lansingburgh head coach Pete Porcelli said.
The Knights put on an offensive show in the third quarter and Marcus Hepp was the star.
The 5-foot-6 185-pound senior run
ning back showed his elusive and explosive speed in a 274 yard, five touchdown performance.
Hepp looked more than ready to step out of the shadow of graduated Lansingburgh backs Kenny Youngs and NyQuan McGirt.
"Close game in the first half," Hepp said, "We came out a little flat in the first half but we all got together in the locker room at halftime. We went over our mistakes and talked about how we're going to make them better."
Hepp found the end zone three times in the third quarter to help the Knights pull away for good with nine, four and 54-yard touchdown runs."I can't do it without my lineman they did all the hard work," Hepp said. "I'm just doing what my coach expects of me but the line did a great job we have to keep it going for 12 more games."
Hepp said the Lansingburgh tradition of winning has been passed down from the former standouts to him and his teammates.
"Stars graduate," Hepp said, "tradition never graduates."
With the game close at the half the two teams came out of the locker room trading blows.
Lansingburgh took the kick off and promptly went on a five play, 80 yard drive to put them back on top 17-13. Hepp set up the scoring drive with a 48 yard run and finished it with a run from

nine yards out. Lansingburgh running back Marcus Hepp (21) breaks away for a long gain. (Tom Killips — The Record).

Glens Falls had some big plays of its own though and early in the third they were able to trade punches with the defending champs. On the fourth play of the ensuing drive Indians quarterback Kyle Kelly went up the middle on a keeper emerged from a pile of Knights defenders unscathed and scampered his way to a 43 yard touchdown. It looked like the two teams would continue to take turns scoring from there on out but the Lansingburgh defense started to take control of the line of scrimmage, limiting the Indians big play capability.
With the defense keeping Glens Falls in check, forcing back-to-back three and outs, Lansingburgh put together three unanswered scoring drives.
The Indians got on the board late in the third after a strange series of consecutive turnovers.
Kyle Kelly connected with Andy Burgess on a big 61 yard pass play to give Glens Falls first and goal at the two. Kelly and running back Dan Morrison muffed a handoff on the next possession
though Lansingburgh recovered.T.J. McLaughlin then returned the favor mishandling the snap on the following play dropping the ball in the end zone. Glens Falls Matt Rowell fell on the
ball for the touchdown cutting the Lansingburgh lead to 38-26.
That would be the only mistake the Knights would make in the second half.
McLaughlin managed the game efficiently in the final 12 minutes playing a game of ball control until Hepp ran for one final score.
The Lansingburgh defense which did not return a single a starter from last years team that made it to the Carrier Dome, tossed a shut out in the fourth quarter.
"Remember, we're returning no starters on defense," Porcelli said. "They made their mistakes. We're still a work in progress. Next week's another test we'll see where we stand next week."
McLaughlin played the role of a double wing quarterback nicely in his first start. The 6-foot-1 195 pound play caller put the Knights on the board with a 25 yard field goal in the first and ran for a four yard score in the fourth.
Porcelli was pleased with the way his team matured while picking up its
first win.
"We grew up quick tonight, we really became a team tonight," Porcelli said. "There were a lot of question marks and there still are some question marks but in that second half they really became varsity players, those JV guys became varsity players."