By FRANK CASH

Herald-Whig Sports Writer

EDINA, Mo. -- The objective was pretty simple for the Knox County football team.

Beat Schuyler County Friday night and the Eagles would win its district for the first time since 1995. Lose and the season would be over.

Knox County got to work early by making the most of its offensive weapons in a 46-6 Tri-Rivers Conference and Class 1 District 12 victory at Ella Campbell Field.

"(The title) was right there for us to win and the players knew it," said Eagles coach Steve Ramer, who is leading his team to its second straight postseason appearance and fourth in school history. "We have a lot of different weapons we can go to and we used them all tonight."

Knox County (6-4, 4-3) will host Princeton in Wednesday night's regional game at 7 p.m. The Tigers, who beat the Eagles in last year's playoff opener, fell to Marceline 20-0 in Friday night's Class 11 title game.

Schuyler County (2-8, 2-5) showed a willingness to key on the Eagles' primary rushers -- Andy Greenley and Keenan Gillaspy -- early in the game. So Knox County turned to Cameron Kirmse, who responded with a career night.

Kirmse, who entered the game with only 350 rushing yards, finished with 211 yards and two touchdowns on only nine carries against the Rams. His longest runs were scores of 88 and 45 yards, both in the first half.

"Cameron stepped in and had a great game," Ramer said. "We knew he was capable of doing something like that, but he really turned it on tonight."

Kirmse, one of Knox County's 13 senior players, was quick to credit his offensive line.

"I don't remember getting touched hardly at all," Kirmse said. "They did everything for me to get those yards. We have a lot of players we can turn to. It was my time to step in."

It didn't take long for the Eagles to show their diversity. On the third play of Knox County's first drive, halfback Tristan Lonberger took a flea-flicker and fired a 52-yard touchdown pass to Leighton McCabe.

Both Lonberger and McCabe caught touchdown passes from Gillaspy late in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

"We got everyone involved tonight," Gillaspy said. "Cameron hadn't had a breakout game in a while so we knew it was time for him to get going. He wasn't the only one. We had other guys step up too."

Knox County carries a four-game win streak into the playoffs. Prior to that streak, the Eagles dropped three straight to Brookfield, Clark County and Putnam County -- a stretch when they were outscored 102-22 while averaging five turnovers a game.

"Not making turnovers has been the key," Gillaspy said. "And our defense has made a difference too. We're executing really well on both sides of the ball.

"Last year, we went up to Princeton in the playoffs, didn't play well and came home. This year, we have a good idea of what we need to do to win."

-- sports@whig.com/221-3365