TORONTO – The Red Knights are on an early-season roll.

Toronto made it four wins in as many starts by downing invading Buckeye Local, 46-25, at Clark Hinkle Stadium Friday night in front of a nice-sized crowd.

Coach Josh Franke’s Knights made the most of a sparkling performance from sophomore quarterback Zeb Kinsey to turn back a spirited challenge from Coach Jim Hoover’s physical Panthers.

Kinsey rushed 21 times for 178 yards and four touchdowns while passing for a fifth score to go with147 additional stripes.

Kinsey’s impressive effort was sorely needed as the Red Knights lost star running Zane Kinsey, Zeb’s older brother, in the first quarter due to injury.

“Losing Zane in the first quarter was a big blow. He is our best player,” Franke said. “But we responded in a big way. I am proud of our kids.

“Zeb was tremendous tonight. This was his coming out party,” he added. “It’s a nice win. Buckeye is a good team, better than its record would indicate.”

Buckeye Local played a solid first half, leading much of it before falling behind 26-19 at intermission.

Toronto drew first blood via a 11-yard run by Zane Kinsey on the game’s initial possession. The Knights misfired on the two-point conversion.

Buckeye bounced back to punch in the next two TDs.

Quarterback Skyler Ebright rolled around right end to paydirt from 16 yards out. Wyatt Kalman put the Panthers on top, 7-6, with the PAT.

Buckeye senior tackle Isaac Chandler immediately put the Panthers back in business by covering a a fumble on the Red Knights’ ensuing possession. Eight snaps later, Buckeye All-Ohioan Trey Hoover bulled in for a one-yard TD with 2:48 still showing in the opening quarter. The PAT try misfired, leaving the Panthers holding a 13-6 lead.

Toronto answered with two successive scores.

Zeb Kinsey rolled in from the six before teaming with Aiden Filby on a 40-yard aerial connection. The latter score put the the Knights on top 18-13.

Midway through the second quarter a questionable penalty call against Buckeye helped Toronto stretch its lead to 26-13.

Facing a fourth-and-11 from its 31, a deep sideline pass sailed over the intended Red Knight receiver. However, the Panthers were flagged for pass interference. One snap later, Zeb Kinsey ran it in from the 10. He also added the two-point conversion run for a 26-13 lighting.

Buckeye scored in the waning moments of the half on a two-yard Hoover burst, making it a 26-19 issue at the break.

“That pass interference call really hurt us. We would have taken the lead into the half,” Coach over said. “It really changed the momentum of the game.”

The second half was all Toronto. The Red Knights scored three unanswered touchdowns to break the contest opener.

Zeb Kinsey scored on runs of one and 21 yards while Dominic Boucher tallied from the two.

Buckeye registered its only second half TD on the game’s final play. Junior Noah Kourim ran it in from six yards out.

“It feels pretty good to be 4-0. But we are not satisfied and we still need to keep improving,” Franke said. “We have some big tests coming up. We only have 28 players on our roster so we need to stay healthy.”

Toronto will welcome Oak Glen Friday.

Buckeye Local rushed for 189 stripes and Ebright tossed for 84 more, completing 9-of-22 throws.

Senior Dylan Palmer, who stepped into a starring role in a win over Shadyside last week, led the Panthers with 54 stripes while Hoover netted 52 stripes.

Buckeye dropped to a 1-3. However, all three setbacks have come at the hands of now 4-0 squads, Barnesville and Union Local being the other two. The Panthers will play host to Monroe Central Friday.

“The pass interference call hurt but will still shot ourselves in the foot too much,” Hoover said. “We also need to tackle better. That has been a problem all season.”

Toronto 46, Buckeye Local 25

Buckeye 13 6 0 6 – 25

Toronto 6 20 8 12 – 46

Toronto – Zane Kinsey 11 run. Pass failed.

Buckeye – Ebright 16 run. Kalman kick.

Buckeye – Hoover 1 run. Kick blocked

Toronto – Zeb Kinsey 6 run. Pass failed.

Toronto – Filby 40 pass from Zeb Kinsey. Pass failed.

Toronto – Zeb Kinsey 10 run.. Zeb Kinsey run.

Buckeye – Hoover 2 run. Run failed.

Toronto – Zeb Kinsey 1 run. Zeb Kinsey run.

Toronto – Bouscher 1 run. Pass failed.

Toronto – Zeb Kinsey 21 run. Run ailed.

Buckeye – Kourim 6 run. No extra point try as time expired.

RUSHING: Buckeye Local 33-189-4tds (Palmer 9-54, Hoover 11-52-2tds, Kourim 4-22-td, Ebright 5-21-td, Berry 5-40). Toronto 33-272-6tds (Zane Kinsey 4-66-td, Zeb Kinsey 21-178-4tds, Bouscher 3-8-td, Board 4-26, McEwen 2-7).

PASSING: Buckeye Local 9-22-84 yards-2int (All by Ebright) Toronto 8-17-147yards-1td-1int (All by Zeb Kinsey.

RECEIVING: Buckeye 9-84 yards ( Palmer 2-41, Hoover 3-15, Berry 2-15, McDiffit 2-13) Toronto 8-147 yards-td (Bouscher 4-64, Filby 3-48-td, Zane Kinsey 1-35).

FIRST DOPWNS: Buckeye Local 11, Toronto 13.

FUMBLES/LOST: Buckeye 0/0, Toronto 3/1.

PENALTIES: Buckeye Local 7-75; Toronto 9-72.