Eight points in :52, that was how close the Knoxville Football Squad was from a 6-3 season and potentially having the week nine game against State Power Harlan mean a little more than just a season ending game last year. But the fact remains, the Panthers lost four games last season by a combined eight points, starting with the first two which may have been the most gut wrenching, one point losses to Boone and Clarke, which was in overtime. Coach Matt Dunkin has often thought about how to change those games from loses to wins this season. He says first and foremost, his team must be sound in everything, especially special teams, where there were a lot of breakdowns. The positive is, he knows his team can be in most games this season with a chance to win.

Dunkin: “I think a big thing was seeing these games, we were in them. When we get into these games and make it a heavy-weight boxing match and get the job done.”

Knoxville’s first two opponents will be two of the team the Panthers felt they should have beat. Week one will be against Boone and week two will be against Clarke. Listen to all Knoxville games this season on the radio home of the Panthers 95.3 KNIA.

Photo from Ryan Northcote