Fairfield sneaks past Knoxville

KNOXVILLE — The Knoxville Panthers didn’t make it easy on the Fairfield football team in Friday night’s non-conference game, but in the end, the Trojans had just enough to pull out their second win of the season.

A fourth quarter Fairfield score and a missed Knoxville two-point conversion led to the Trojans’ 29-28 win, a far cry from Fairfield’s 20-point pounding of the Panthers last season.

Fairfield jumped on Knoxville early, scoring two touchdowns in the first 10 minutes of the game, but the Panthers became a thorn in the Trojans’ side from that point forward.

Knoxville scored 22 points in the second quarter, a stunning turn for a Trojan defense that had given up a maximum of 22 points per game in the first three games of the season. At the half, the Trojans found themselves trailing 22-21.

After a scoreless third, Fairfield took back the lead with a touchdown and two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. That gave the Trojans a 29-22 lead.

Knoxville scored later in the fourth but failed to convert on a two-point conversion that would have put the Panthers back up one. The Trojans held till the final buzzer and ended non-conference play on a high note.

It was a big night for quarterback Tate Allen. The senior gunslinger threw for 251 yards and one touchdown, and also rushed for 106 yards and a pair of scores.

Allen’s favorite receiver was once again tight end Max Weaton, who caught nine passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Tallon Bates caught two passes for 71 yards, and Bode Hoskins’ only catch of the night went for 43.

Miles McEntee ran the ball 12 times in the win. He went for 31 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run.

Fairfield takes a 2-2 record into district play next week. The Trojans will be on the road again, this time in Keokuk (2-2).