Trojans head to Knoxville for opener

FAIRFIELD - The high school football season gets underway Friday for the Trojans but Fairfield fans will have to travel to see the 2019 version under new head coach Nate Weaton.

The Trojans play at Ken Locke Stadium in Knoxville with the freshmen game starting at 4:45 p.m. and the varsity scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

Fairfield prepared for Friday with a scrimmage last week.

'Our staff felt really good about the ‘Meet The Trojans' scrimmage, and we were proud of the kids,” Weaton said. 'It was great to have the Pekin staff and team be a part of the event, we wish them all the best with their season, and we look forward to doing it again next year. Most importantly, we came away from the night with no injuries and an understanding of exactly what we need to do this week to prepare for Friday night.”

The scrimmage was not the only thing the Trojans and Pekin Panthers did last week. A combined visit to a local nursing home preceded the scrimmage.

'Our visit to the Parkview Care Center was great for our kids, our program and for our community,” Weaton said. 'It is always a good thing when we are able to put student-athletes in a position to positively promote our schools. We were fortunate to be able to do it alongside the Pekin Football Program, and the Pekin Community.”

While it didn't help either team with knowing plays, it did help with camaraderie.

'I think all of the kids found it to be an incredible experience, and we are all thankful to Sarah Flattery for spearheading the effort,” Weaton said. 'It seems as though this could become an annual tradition.”

Tradition should be on the Trojans side Friday as they won last year's game in Fairfield over the Knoxville Panthers, 28-6.

The Panther quarterback has graduated, but Keegan Cox had 94 yards rushing and a touchdown last year as a sophomore. Mike Hudson caught three passes for 40 yards last year as a sohomore and intercepted a pass. The Panthers' leading returning tacklers from that game were juniors Carter Bailey and Blaise Hubler.

Fairfield also lost its quarterback from last year in Carson Crile and running back Tristin Waugh, but Leone Gichure had 126 yards rushing last season against Knoxville on just 14 carries. Receivers Landon Kooiker and Drew Martin caught passes as juniors. Martin had 11 tackles, including five for loss. Gichure had an interception.

Knoxville ended the season with a 3-6 record. Fairfield was 4-5 last season.

The Trojans play at home the next two weeks.