After five weeks of losing by lopsided scores, the Knoxville Football Squad has a chance to redeem itself against Saydel. The Eagles, like the Panthers, are struggling this season at 0-5. But unlike many of the past confrontations, where Knoxville is the heavy favorite, the Panthers are just a slight favorite in tonight’s game. Coach Eric Kellar has been cautioning his players and anyone else he talks to that this is not going to be a name-your-score type of game for the Panthers.

Kellar: “With our injuries and our size we have, I mean the people who say ‘oh it’s Saydel’ need to know that they have a good quarterback and throws it really well, so we’re not assuming victory at all Friday.”

Saydel does throw the ball a lot, in fact the Eagles are 6th in class 3A in passing attempts at 111, which is a little over 22 per game, and are 13th in competitions with 54, but are near the bottom in touchdowns with just three. Kellar hopes to do a reversal of sorts and force the Eagles to run the ball, where they only average 46 yards per game on the ground. Knoxville should also have two very important players back, who got their games cut short last week in the loss to Creston. Quarterback Noah Keefer, while not a 100%, should play and full back Gavin Montalvo, while questionable, was practicing this week. You can hear the action on 95.3 KNIA starting with the pregame show at 6:30, and a reminder that tonight is an earlier kick off at 7:00.