The new football districts for the 2021/2022 seasons were announced recently, and several of our schools will be playing different teams for the next two seasons. Knoxville will see three teams from western Iowa that the Panthers either have not seen in decades or at all. Knoxville was put in class 3A District six with Saydel, ADM, Creston, Harlan ,and Atlantic. Coach Eric Kellar tells KNIA/KRLS Sports this district, with the longer road trips probably made the most sense for the Panthers.

Kellar:
“We could have gone a couple different ways, but that may have not worked out for a team east or west of us. It’s a lot of long trips and really good teams, but we’ll fight and compete like I know we will every game.”

Of the district teams, Knoxville has played all but Atlantic at least once in its history. The last time Knoxville played Creston was in 1995 with the other Panthers holding a 2-0 series advantage. Harlan and Knoxville have matched up twice, in 1971, and the most recent and famous of the two meetings in the 1990 class 3A quarterfinals, with both games going to the Cyclones. ADM and Knoxville have matched up eight times with the last time being in 2011, won by the Tigers 36-0. Knoxville has dominated the series with Saydel and won the last meeting 56-0 in 2019. The non-district games will be announced later by the Iowa High School Athletic Association.