Fairfield preps for clash with Knoxville

Fairfield narrowly fell to Mediapolis in its homecoming game Friday. The Trojans (0-3) are hoping to get into the win column after a few shootout losses to start the season, and face a road matchup against Knoxville on Friday.

Kickoff between the Trojans and Panthers is set for 7:30 p.m. at Randy Wilson Track. Knoxville leads the series 5-4 in games played since 2014.

The Trojans offense has been efficient to start the season despite the close losses. They have scored 84 points through three games and racked up 853 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

Juniors Ethan Bisgard and Zandrik Allison have each eclipsed 200 rushing yards. Both players and the rest of Fairfield’s backfield will look to run on a Knoxville defense that gave up 280 yards on the ground to Albia in its last game.

When Fairfield has attacked through the air, quarterback Voss Richardson has been efficient. So far in his second season as the team’s starter, he’s completed 12 of 23 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Richardson is just one touchdown throw away from tying his total from last season.

The Panthers (0-3) have also lost to Centerville this season, along with defeats to Albia and Mount Pleasant. The Class 3A District 5 side is led by quarterback Roston McCarty. In the first two games of the Panthers’ season, McCarty completed 29 of 48 passes for 312 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He tossed 62 passes last season as a sophomore with 33 completions, including four touchdowns.

Eli Fuller had 12 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns in Knoxville’s first two games. The Panthers racked up 181 yards on the ground as team against Centerville and Mount Pleasant.

Junior Jackson Clarke has been Knoxville’s most productive defender. Clarke had 18 tackles in their first two games and led the team with 43.5 tackles, including two for loss and a sack in 2024.

A win in the books will be a boost to Fairfield before the start of Class 3A District 4 play. The Trojans start their district schedule against Solon, which is tied for No. 1 in the Class 3A rankings.