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Thursday, November 29, 2001

By Mike White, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

SCHOOL: Perry Traditional Academy.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore quarterback for the Commodores.

LAST WEEK: Knapp completed 6 of 13 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns as the Commodores beat Bradford, 41-7, in a PIAA Class AAA quarterfinal game.

SEASON: Knapp has completed 58 of 116 passes for 1,182 yards. He also is the team's kicker and punter and has helped Perry to a 13-0 record. The Commodores are the City League champions and play West Allegheny in a PIAA semifinal Saturday afternoon.

GOOD DECISIONS: For a sophomore, Knapp doesn't seem to make many bad decisions throwing the ball. He has been intercepted only four times.

WATCH HIM IMPROVE: Knapp wasn't a bad quarterback the first half of the season, but he seems to have been much better in the second. In the first six games, he completed only 23 of 59 (39 percent) for 477 yards. In the past seven, he completed 35 of 57 (61 percent) for 705 yards. He is one of the main reasons Perry is averaging 42 points a game.

"We didn't want to throw everything at him in the beginning of the year," said Bill Gallagher, Perry's first-year coach. "He's been growing with us. It's been a real pleasure to see him do that."

COACH KNEW: Knapp has opened many eyes with his play this season, but Gallagher hasn't been surprised. Although Gallagher is in his first season, he knew plenty about Knapp.

"I saw him play basketball against my son [John] when they were younger," Gallagher said. "I knew he was a good athlete. I hoped he would play this way this year. I think he's really proven himself."

THE OTHER SPORT: Knapp also is a talented baseball player. A third baseman, Knapp made the all-City League team as a freshman. "He's a heckuva baseball player," Gallagher said. "But I believe he's leaning toward football in the future."

With his size and athletic ability, Knapp seems to have a bright future in football. He could be a Division I college prospect.

"I believe so," Gallagher said. "He's got a world of potential and he's a real hard worker, too. I know he's not done growing yet, either."