[RunItUpTheGut]

I'm not originally from Knox but have lived here 12 years. Not sure we have played Whitley much in that span.

My best memory involving Whitley was taking our 8th grade team over there when Whitley had not lost an 8th grade game in many years. They dressed over 100 players including a full 8th and a full 7th. We unloaded our 30 combined 7th and 8th graders and edged them out in a close battle. The next week they brought 3 busses to Knox and when they stretched it took up so much of the field I our team was intimidated. But thanks to players like J. Canady and J. Barger who would go on to be a big part of KC success - they defended the home field.

Whitley will be a tough opponent for sure as they always have a solid team. And history may well be on their side. But the kids wearing the Panther uniforms these days have no memory of losing records and winless seasons. All they have done since they were in Jr ball is win. That pride will carry them through the toughest schedule in the mountains by far.

Over the last twelve years that two have only played twice, which is the 03 and 04 seasons.
I think they may have played every year in the 90's, im not sure.
Either way, I just like looking at the history of teams we havent played in a while.

Whitley middle schools number have always been good. Its hard getting that to translate over into the high school game. Theres been a lot of GREAT teams come through that middle school. I remember several years under Coach Fox that the middle school, both grades, didnt lose a single game. Back before all this middle school association stuff, Whitley was in a conference with Bell, Mboro (who always had great middle school teams), Harlan, North Knox, South Knox, among others.

There is some great middle school football programs in this state that doesnt always translate to high school.
For example, the Pulaski schools, Whitley schools, Clay County, Bell County schools etc, have always been very good at middle school football especially in the 90's and early to mid 00's.

I remember when i was in eighth grade (a very long time ago nicker we dressed nearly 60 eighth graders and didnt lose a game in middle school, both 7th and 8th, however, by the time our senior year rolled around, that number had dropped to 17.