Trojans host Knoxville in opener

FAIRFIELD - Last season started with a contest in Knoxville for the Fairfield football team and it was a classic high school game between the visiting Trojans and the Panthers.

The Trojans trailed 16-9 after the Panthers scored a touchdown with 2 minutes, 1 second remaining in the game. An extra point would ensure at least a tie for the Panthers, but Trojans Payton Cline and Drew Martin broke through the line and Martin went airborne to block the kick.

Three completions, a run and a penalty moved the ball downfield for Fairfield. Landen Schafer snagged a fourth-down pass for a first down at the Panthers 14, but an interception ended the drive.

'We gave ourselves an opportunity,” Fairfield head coach Nate Weaton said at the time.

How different the season might have gone for the Trojans had they scored and built confidence for the next games. Confidence is everything in sports and Fairfield has a chance to start this season off with a win.

Fairfield would like to avenge that loss Friday when Knoxville comes to town as the 2020 season starts at Pearl Smith Field in Fairfield.

Knoxville used that initial victory to propel the Panthers to a four-game win streak to start the season. Knoxville finished with a 6-3 mark. The Trojans went 0-9 last season.

'I say you learn a lot more about yourself and your team and about your program going 0-9 than you ever will going 9-0,” Fairfield head coach Nate Weaton said.

Both the Trojans (44-20) and the Panthers lost to Oskaloosa (30-14) in 2019.

Kieren Nichols returns at quarterback for Knoxville. He was 47-of-95 last year for 539 yards and ran 136 times for 670 yards. Last year's leading receiver Mike Hudson (23 catches for 273 yards) also returns to the Pathers lineup.

Fairfield lost quarterback Carter Ferrel and leading rusher Leone Gichure to graduation. The Trojans return Landen Schafer and Max Weaton who combined for 19 catches and 277 yards. Isaac Harris looks to be the favorite to step in at starting quarterback for the Trojans. He saw time last year as a freshman, enough to throw 41 passes. He completed 14 for 140 yards.

'I think the season will be a success if everybody is playing together and being a team,” Schafer said.

Payton Cline is the leading returning tackler for the Trojans. He had 38 stops last year including 21 solo. Schafer had two interceptions and the Trojans' only fumble recovery last season.

'I want to get five or more interceptions this yea,” Schafer said. 'I want to challenge myself.”

Fairfield could benefit from an experienced offensive line. The Trojans return three starters; Kyle Goodwin, Brad Smithburg and Aiden Pohren, along with two other letterwinners; Nick Kaska and Nate Smithburg.

'Being an offensive lineman, you know how things are and we are not here to get our names in the paper or get noticed,” Smithburg said. 'We are just here to do our part for the team. I think each one of us on the line take that with us in every practice and every game. I think that drives us a little bit.”