Expanded role for Hillsdale's Knox Lewis proves sizable in another state run for Falcons

JEROMESVILLE — If one thinks about the 2024 football version of the Hillsdale Falcons, what likely flows through their minds first is the number of high-end skill players on offense.

Names like Kael Lewis, Owen Sloan, Brock Bower, Holland Young and Hayden McFadden will come up. One name that you wouldn't here much was tight end Knox Lewis.

Fast-forward to 2025, and you're hearing plenty about him, as the junior has settled in as one of the Falcons' main offensive targets, as Hillsdale finds themselves in their second consecutive Division VII state semifinal.

More: Well-earned! Hillsdale hold off Danville, heading back to the Div. VII state Final Four

After losing the team's second-leading receiver in Young (66 catches, 981 receiving yards, 9 touchdown catches), Lewis knew there were some gaps that needed to be filled.

"We lost a couple of seniors, so we had to have some guys step up," said Lewis, after Hillsdale's 25-20 regional final victory over Danville on Friday. "Not just me. A few other guys stepped into that role. Kyle Turk as well. We prepared in the offseason."

Last season, Hillsdale didn't utilize the tight end position much in the passing game and in many ways, they really didn't have to given how productive they were at the other offensive positions.

This season, Lewis is well-involved in the passing game. A big red zone figure and someone who will bounce off a few defensive players here and there with the ball, he has 30 receptions, 352 receiving yards and is second on the team with six touchdown catches, which is a far jump from last year's totals of four catches for 39 receiving yards and zero touchdowns.

"It's a lot of fun. We have a full-team of skill players. We have receivers and slot receivers that are really talented," Lewis said, elaborating on seeing more passes coming his way this season. "When teams get too focused on the running back or wide receiver, then other guys will open up. Sometimes I'm that guy and sometimes it's someone else. When we open up the offense more, they can't guard six guys at once. It makes it pretty easy."

As tight ends across all levels of football have become increasingly more a part of offenses over the last 15-20 years, one aspect of the position that doesn't get lost on Lewis and Hillsdale head coach Trevor Cline is run-blocking.

"Knox has worked extremely hard and made a jump this season," said Cline. "Along with being involved in the offense, he's been very important as a blocker. We run a lot to his side in the run game. He's been crucial in that area. He may not always get a lot of attention but he's been a key player for us on offense."

"I would say run-blocking is a huge part," said Lewis, when asked what area the coaches wanted him to focus on the most coming into the season. "A lot of tight ends want to catch passes but they don't realize that they have to do the dirty work sometimes. If you're not getting all the glory, that's OK because you're being a team player. Those hard down blocks on the defensive ends and linebackers are not always fun but if I have a good running back that's going to succeed off of it, then I'm happy."

In getting more looks in the offense, that means receiving more passes by quarterback and brother Kael, as the quarterback-to-tight end combo has only progressed week-to-week for the Falcons.

"It's been a great chemistry for 17 years. It's going to translate up," said Lewis, who was named as a Division VII Northeast Inland District Honorable Mention selection this year. "Any chance we get to go down to the field or get a workout in, we're going to do it because we know it's required. Especially when we're playing late into the playoffs like this. We're going to have to do things by ourselves to get better. Iron sharpens iron and it really helps when you're in the same household."

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This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Expanded role for Hillsdale's Knox Lewis