It came down to mistakes and penalties that cost Knoxville the most in its week one loss to Fairfield 15-7 on Friday night as heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The Panthers were flagged 13 times for 80 yards and suffered costly mental breakdowns that allowed Fairfield’s offense to stay on the field for long stretches. Freshman Noah Keefer started the game in place of an injured Kieren Nichols. Keefer was good all game completing 11/27 for 156 yards and one interception. Coach Eric Kellar told KRLS Sports while his guys played hard in the not so ideal weather conditions, the bottom line was Knoxville gave Fairfield way too many gifts.

Kellar:
“We had guys fighting through injuries and playing through this humidity, we played as hard as we could, but we killed ourselves, and I know I sound like I’m not giving the other team credit, they beat us and they deserved to win but we just gave them a lot. Hopefully we’ll get back to the drawing board and improve net week.”

Keegan Cox got the only Knoxville score, a one yard touchdown run in the second quarter to tie the game at seven after Fairfield scored early in the first. Another Trojan score just before halftime seemed to turn momentum Fairfield’s way. Tristan DeJong led Knoxville on the ground with 45 yards on nine carries. Knoxville is now 0-1 and will host Keokuk in the Panthers home opener next Friday.