[panther nation]

August-21 Bryan Station @ Madison Central Roy Kidd Bowl

August-28 Louisville Central @ Corbin Pigskin Classic

September-5 Southwestern Pulaski @ Clay County Appalachian Bowl

September-11 Harlan County (away)

September-18 Henry Clay (home)

September-25 Russell County (away)

October-2 Clay County (home)

October-9 Wayne County (away)

October-16 open

October-23 Rockcastle County (home)

October-30 Corbin (away)

[panther nation]

Looks like Scotty has really stepped ot up this year.

Good scheduling or crazy?? Thoughts

[HADDIXHOUNDS]

Knox must have a great team coming back to tackle that schedule!

[insideinfo]

Knox Central should have one of there better teams next year. The problem with there schedule is no local schools will play them except Bell, Corbin and Harlan Co. and they need to skip a few years with Bell to let the bad blood settle down. Whitley would not resign there contract, And neither Laurel schools will sign contracts.

[64SUR]

August-21 Bryan Station @ Madison Central Roy Kidd Bowl

August-28 Louisville Central @ Corbin Pigskin Classic

September-5 Southwestern Pulaski @ Clay County Appalachian Bowl

September-11 Harlan County (away)

September-18 Henry Clay (home)

September-25 Russell County (away)

October-2 Clay County (home )

October-9 Wayne County (away)

October-16 open

October-23 Rockcastle County (home)

October-30 Corbin (away)

WOW......I will get to see Knox play 3 times this year. WOW. What a schedule.....Lousiville Central, Southwestern and Corbin love these bowl games. :Cheerlead

[Craze JACKET man]

Great schedule..

[panther nation]

Knox Central should have one of there better teams next year. The problem with there schedule is no local schools will play them except Bell, Corbin and Harlan Co. and they need to skip a few years with Bell to let the bad blood settle down. Whitley would not resign there contract, And neither Laurel schools will sign contracts.

Other than North Laurel none of the other area schools will help Knox get ready for a playoff run. I also agree there is no need in playing bell til mills is gone just to much drama in those games.

[kcfan#1]

that schedule will get this team ready for playoffs

[bac2369]

Hazard would play them probably if they had an opening.

[Craze JACKET man]

Hazard would play them probably ?
North and South is not going to play no one...

[panther nation]

Playing South is about like playing Lynn Camp nothing to gain from it.. north on the other hand would be a good game. But Knox's nonconferance schedule is prwtty dang tough this year.

[Single Wing 77]

Wow this is a great schedule! It could really get knox ready come playoff time. With the new alignment in 4a, knox could really have a chance to compete for a state title. Just gotta get past Johnson central.

[insideinfo]

Other than North Laurel none of the other area schools will help Knox get ready for a playoff run. I also agree there is no need in playing bell til mills is gone just to much drama in those games.

Three home games and a ridiculous schedule, could make for a long year. They have got to get some these local schools to start playing home and home just to balance the schedule. Make to much since to drive 30 minutes. North got beat last year 7-6 and the Whitley game was close but neither will even talk about scheduling.

[former]

According to khsaa North does play some pretty good teams.

south laurel
harrison co
mason co
west jessamine
lincoln co
harlan co
whitley co
perry co
letcher co
montgomery co

sometimes a team doesnt have same open dates and sometimes a game gets dropped and a team already has a game scheduled. maybe if the bell co game wasnt dropped another closer team would have picked it up but it was late when that happened so its kcs fault
i still feel its knox and rock for dist title, wayne will be a challenge though

[Craze JACKET man]

North non-district games are terrible!!

[Cardfan1]

Trying to familiarize myself with Knox as we come into the district. What playmakers do the Panthers have back on offense and defense?

To comment on what Former said With Rock, Knox and Wayne it's plausible we could be looking at a three way tie at seasons end. Out of district wins will really come into play.

[Pantherfan59]

My evaluation of Knox:
O-Line: Knox loses 3 starters at this spot: Center, and then the other two played anywhere from left tackle to right tackle. Wherever they were needed. This is the biggest question mark for them. Depth and inexperience could become an issue.

Backfield: Knox has a stable of running backs. Not sure if Mills will play this year, but if he doesn't, Knox will be fine. The QB will be same as last year, and should be much improved with the offense under his belt. Also, they'll have the same full back and power back.

Receivers: this spot gets tricky. 2 starting receivers are gone, leaving holes. I feel as if they will be fine, but no one will know for sure until football camp. (Anyone can do good at 7on7).

Overall prediction for offense: this group will struggle with the pass, but will be able to run. I expect the passing to pick up during district. Hopefully it can be balanced. Knox is always way too predictable.

Defense

DLine: this will be a very strong spot for the panthers. No starters are leaving.

linebackers: this group loses no starters either. all will be seniors next year.

Secondary: yikes. Jermel Carton was an excellent addition to the team as a freshman, and will help a lot, but losing Barger was a major blow to the secondary. Teams can throw on Knox, this is no secret. This will be the only weak spot for the panthers on defense.

Overall prediction for defense: this group will definitely carry the load for the panthers all year. Highly doubt anyone will be able to run the ball on them, because last year Knox had one of the better run defenses in the state. Teams will beat Knox by throwing the ball.


Schedule prediction: 6-4 or 7-3. Losses to Louisville central, southwest Pulaski, Henry clay and Corbin. Pulaski is the game that decides the 6-4 or 7-3.


This post was way too long.


With this schedule, Knox could very well go 6-4 or even 5-5 and compete for a state title. I applaud Scott Russell for scheduling the big boys. teams around here just won't cut it anymore. (Besides maybe hazard if you wanna call that "around here" and of course Harlan county and Corbin).

[kcfan#1]

The offense will come around as the season goes Carton will be the new go to player for Knox with barger graduating you will likely see him line up in the back and run routes at receiver like barger this past season.

The defense will be better than last years with almost everyone returning.. The DBs will be the deciding factor of how well this defense will be against teams.

[Wildcat18]

I can see Knox taking about 5 losses this season and making a DEEP run in the playoffs. Watch out for this group. They're my dark horse pick for 4A.

[Bobcats 9108]

I don't see them beating Wayne Co.

[Wildcat18]

I don't see them beating Wayne Co.

I do and I don't think it will be that close. I hope I'm wrong, I kind of like Wayne.

[goBIGblue82]

I do and I don't think it will be that close. I hope I'm wrong, I kind of like Wayne.

Knox should have more talent on the field than Wayne, but Knox has to find a way to utilize their athletes. I see knox losing 4-5 in the regular season, but playing for a region championship.

[former]

I don't see them beating Wayne Co.

Or rockcastle

[Bobcats 9108]

I do and I don't think it will be that close. I hope I'm wrong, I kind of like Wayne.

You all don't know what you are getting into with Wayne Co. They are returning just about everyone. Coach Thompson will have his team ready.

[64SUR]

You all don't know what you are getting into with Wayne Co. They are returning just about everyone. Coach Thompson will have his team ready.

This is the same team williamsburg put a running clock on last year. Wayne will be a year older..knox will be ready to make a run in 4A....64SUR :poker face:

[Bobcats 9108]

This is the same team williamsburg put a running clock on last year. Wayne will be a year older..knox will be ready to make a run in 4A....64SUR :poker face:

That was early in the season. They were playing a lot better later in the season I know Corbin beat them bad in the playoffs but they improved because they changed their offense. Knox had their team last year I don't think they will be as good as last season.

[Cardfan1]

This is the same team williamsburg put a running clock on last year. Wayne will be a year older..knox will be ready to make a run in 4A....64SUR :poker face:

Gotta remember Wayne kicked the clock in on Williamsburg the year before.:Thumbs:

A year--heck a couple of weeks--can make huge difference look at Paintsville and Pikeville this past season.

That looks to be about week 8 and it's way too early to see who would be the favorite.

Thanks for the info Panther59. I can see this being one heck of a series over the next alignment

[insideinfo]

That was early in the season. They were playing a lot better later in the season I know Corbin beat them bad in the playoffs but they improved because they changed their offense. Knox had their team last year I don't think they will be as good as last season.

Knox will be much better this year. They lost there top playmaker and center that will hurt. But they return one of the best Freshmen running backs in the mountains in Doolittle and they have a bunch of good receivers that played in the shadows of Barger. The Carton kid who is already a better athlete than Barger who only played defense last year is going to be special,and we may even see some of the Freshman Quarterback Renfro who is going to be a Stud.I believe this is going to be one of the best teams they have had since Coach Russell took over if there schedule don't come back to bite them.

[E's Army]

Panthers schedule is a beast. North's is terrible. If they don't go 8-2 they have underachieved.

[pjdoug]

You all don't know what you are getting into with Wayne Co. They are returning just about everyone. Coach Thompson will have his team ready.

Wayne Will beat both Knox and Rockcastle. it wont take them long to get back to the form of a couple years ago.they have built an excellent program from top to bottom and have quality coaching.