While the record may not show it, there was significant progress with the Knoxville Football Squad on the defensive side of the ball. In 2022 the Panthers gave up 420 yards per game. 230 on the ground and 189 through the air. This season, Knoxville lowered that average by 120 yards totally as the Panthers gave up just over 300 yards to opposing offenses. One of the biggest improvements was only allowing 140 yards of rushing, which was 90 yards less than 2022. Coach Matt Dunkin tells KNIA/KRLS Sports the credit goes to Defensive Coordinator Jeremy Cole and the players.

Dunkin: “Coach Cole does a great job of getting our players coached up and getting them to do what they need to do. As far as stopping that run on the inside, I feel we did a good job this season.”

Offensively, Knoxville raised its total yardage from 193 in 2022 to 248 per game this season and the Panthers doubled their points scored per game from nearly 11 in 2022 to nearly 21 this season. Knoxville was 2-7, but had four games this season that were decided by three points or less.