SOUTH PORTLAND — Noble senior quarterback Jamier Rose is well known for his offensive prowess, but Friday night against South Portland at Martin Memorial Field, his defense helped the Knights continue to emerge as one of the state’s best football teams.

Rose, who threw two touchdown passes and was equally dangerous running the ball, twice intercepted passes in the fourth quarter to help the Knights secure a 21-13 victory and a 6-1 record.

“I take a lot of pride in our (resurgence) because when my brothers were in the program, we were really bad,” said Rose. “When I was a kid, I loved going to games, but I also hated going to games because we always lost, so I told my brothers, ‘When I get up there, I’m going to make something happen.’ Now it’s here.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Noble struck early in the second, as Rose (8 of 12, 114 yards) connected with Logan Duquette on a 17-yard scoring pass.

South Portland (4-3) needed just four plays to answer, when Easton Healy fired a 58-yard strike down the right sideline to speedy wide receiver Alex Horton.

The Red Riots drove to the Knights’ 4 late in the half but couldn’t score, keeping the game tied at 7-7.

Noble then went in front to stay with 8:08 to go in the third quarter, Rose finding Aidan Keefe for a 23-yard catch and score.

Again South Portland answered. Healy hit Connor Gerard for a 10-yard touchdown, but the extra point hit the crossbar, keeping the Knights in front by one.

When Tommy Gagnon (17 carries, 75 yards) added a 26-yard touchdown scamper with 9:19 to play, Noble had a 21-13 advantage. Rose and Noble’s defense made sure that was enough.

After an interception at the goal line, Rose intercepted another Healy pass, this time off a deflection from teammate Taivian Brown.

“I take a lot of pride on defense,” said Rose. “I feel like I can help the team in a lot of different ways, and defense is one of them.”

“Jamier is the best player I’ve ever coached, and having him on the field is like having a coach on the field on both sides of the ball,” added Noble Coach Keenon Blindow. “He loves to compete and comes up clutch. He’s a Fitzpatrick (Trophy) favorite this year because he can do it all.”

The Red Riots had one final chance and drove to the 14, but on the game’s final play, Healy’s pass toward the end zone was batted down.

“Our defense is very resilient,” said Blindow. “They love to hit and tackle, and they buy in.”

Healy threw for 272 yards and two TDs on 18-of-33 passing. Horton caught six passes for 130 yards, and Darius Johnson had eight receptions for 96 yards, but South Portland committed 11 penalties.

“We’ve definitely played cleaner games,” said Red Riots Coach Aaron Filieo. “That was a major part of the game. At this stage of the season, you hope you’re not doing that. The kids played hard but that didn’t help us.

“I told the guys afterward that there’s definitely stuff we can take from this game and bring forward. We can be competitive. We just have to clean it up.”