CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Friday night’s matchup between Kenwood and Northwest was a must-win for both teams in the region 7-5A playoff picture. The Knights picked up a timely 27-6 victory over the Vikings, improving them to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the region.

Kenwood made the playoffs last season with a 6-5 record. Kenwood head coach Jarhett Snead said the 2026 Knights want to build on that accomplishment.

“If improving is the goal, you have to make sure that your work ethic matches your goal,” Snead told Clarksville Now. “These guys have said they want to be better than last year’s team. Okay, cool; if that’s your goal, then how does your work ethic match your goal.”

There certainly doesn’t appear to be much of a drop-off in talent, as Friday night displayed. Good defense has always been part of the Knights’ game plan, but their offensive playmakers are starting to shine as well. Elijah King had the hot hand against the Vikings, rushing for two touchdowns and consistently flipping the field with his legs.

The Knights fought through adversity, including some they brought upon themselves. Kenwood racked up more than 100 penalty yards throughout the game, something King wanted to make sure his teammates didn’t let derail them. “That was a lot of penalties. I just told them … keep your head up. I just had to keep it pushing,” King said.

Kenwood was able to overcome the penalties thanks in large part to the explosive plays it found on offense, but the issue remained a concern for Snead.

“If you want to be a great team, you can’t have those types of penalties,” he said. “We want to be a great team. You’ve got to limit penalties. But a lot of the good thing about the penalties is they can be fixed.”

It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it proved the Knights are capable of pushing through tough situations. That will be put to the test again in the coming weeks, including a massive Oct. 8 matchup against Northeast.

Getting that first region win was essential for Kenwood in a game that was as close to a must-win as it gets. The Knights will look to continue pushing toward their goal of building on last season’s success, and a more disciplined performance could go a long way toward getting there.

| MORE: Northeast falls to Mt. Juliet, turns focus to region play | PHOTOS

It’s a tough backstretch to the season with games against teams like Northeast, Henry County and Dickson County, but Snead isn’t backing down from any opponent on the schedule.

“If you want to be a great team, you have to beat great teams.”

“We want to get to that point. And the only way you get to that point is you’ve got to play people like that. You’ve got to play teams like that.”

Scoring Summary

  • First Quarter
    • K – Elijah King 1-yard touchdown run (6:00). Franklin Morales XP.
  • Second Quarter
    • K – Brian Howard 3-yard touchdown run (9:40). Morales XP.
    • K – Javion Williamson 50-yard touchdown run (7:25). Morales XP.
  • Third Quarter
    • K – Elijah King 5-yard touchdown run (5:27). XP no good.
  • Fourth Quarter
    • N – Ronald Weeks to Garrett Garton 32-yard touchdown pass (8:22). 2-point conversion no good.

| SPORTS REPORT: Sign up for the new weekly Clarksville sports newsletter