One year removed from a stellar 5-2 regular-season record and a fourth-place finish in the wildly competitive Keystone State Football League, the DC Knights’ varsity football team looks to field yet another strong entry in 2024 as Head Coach Lloyd Hill’s seasoned squad takes aim at capturing their first 8-man title in school history.
Under the tutelage of Hill and long-time Assistant Coach Chip Ridewood, the Knights will once again hang their hopes on senior quarterback sensation Sam Dixon, the KSFL 2023 Offensive Player of the Year. With Dixon at the trigger, the Knights produced massive offensive numbers last year, largely the result of the two-year starter hurling 14 scoring strikes to a bevy of capable targets while galloping through opposing defenses to the tune of twelve hundred-plus yards and an incredible 20 rushing touchdowns. “We had a phenomenal season last year,” remarked Coach Hill.
Despite the departure of the graduating tight-end tandem of Tommy Goneau and Jackson Lewis, the cupboard is hardly bare of complementary pieces on the offensive side of the ball. Multi-tool senior Caleb Videon and long-striding wideout Ian Pruessner are but two of a wealth of skill players who will offer Dixon multiple options as the Knights seek to replicate last year’s proclivity for offensive fireworks.
Along the offensive line, the Knights will no doubt miss the presence of stalwart center Liam McKinley but look to lean heavily on a group of underclassmen led by juniors Sam Sahle and Jesse Payson, as well as a pair of developing sophomores, Gabe DiGregorio and Paxton Ellis. Moreover, the Knights hope that the tight-end tandem of junior transfer Christian O’Donnell and sophomore Anders McKeaney will not only bolster the running game but will also fortify an already impressive passing arsenal.
On defense, the Knights will likely employ many of the offensive starters, save Dixon, in a 2-3-3 format, though coaches are extremely high on senior newcomer Reid Darnall and sophomore Nathan Burd–both of whom will be probable contributors in the secondary. In addition, senior linebacker/slotback Luke Fox, special teams guru Noah Dague, and sophomore wideout/defensive back Titus Mayo will likely see duty on both sides of the ball this fall.
“We have some key leadership guys returning,” noted Coach Hill. “I’m looking forward to that—guys that take charge, lead the team, and be positive role models for their teammates.”
Supporting Hill and Ridewood on the sidelines will be returning assistant coach Andy Krider and newcomer Malik Graves, both of whom will play key roles in providing valuable input for quarterback and secondary play, respectively. 
Possessed of a growing roster approximating 30 players, Head Coach Hill and Assistant Coach Ridewood anticipate a challenging home schedule as the Knights will open the season against the league’s 2023 runner-up, MODEL, on September 14 before playing host to the KSFL’s reigning back-to-back champions, Maryland School of the Deaf, on September 28. Sandwiched between away contests, the Knights will conclude their regular-season home slate with a Homecoming date against visiting Mercersburg Academy on October 12–a rematch of last year’s memorable 112-point combined outburst. 
Interspersed throughout the schedule will also be a trio of away dates at second-year program Coventry Christian, at always-tough Perkiomen School, and a season-ending contest at upstart Girard College. With the departure of Randolph-Macon Academy and Valley Forge Military from the KSFL, the league will return to a six-game round-robin schedule, though the Knights do plan to compete in an 11-man scrimmage versus Ridley High School’s junior varsity squad on October 5.           
“We expect the guys to go out and compete hard each and every week,” remarked Coach Ridewood, “and give ourselves a chance to capture our first KSFL championship.”