Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC) will host its annual KOC Kick-Off Classic for Knox County high school football teams and fans to get a glimpse of the competition before the regular season begins.

Venue Update:

The KOC Kick-Off Classic scheduled for Thursday, August 14, will now be held at Central High School located at 5321 Jacksboro Pike. All schedules will remain the same and previously purchased tickets will be honored.

The two-day event takes place Thursday, Aug. 14, at Central High School and Friday, Aug. 15, at Farragut High School with games beginning at 7 p.m. Participating high schools include Austin-East, Bearden, Carter, Central, Farragut, Fulton, Gibbs, Grace Christian, Halls, Hardin Valley, Karns, Powell, South-Doyle and West.

“This is a great opportunity to emphasize safety and injury prevention for these student-athletes right from the start,” said Dr. Andrew Holt, KOC sports medicine physician. “It’s exciting for us to see these players in action after working with them in training rooms and practice. It’s also a good chance for teams to build morale and ensure players start their season feeling healthy and supported.”

KOC performed 800 low-cost preparticipation physical evaluations in May to help prepare youth athletes from across East Tennessee for summer conditioning, practice and the season ahead. It’s part of the organization’s commitment to supporting youth athletes, schools and the broader community.

As the official sports medicine provider for Knox County Schools, KOC places certified athletic trainers at 13 Knox County high schools as well as schools in numerous surrounding counties to provide sports medicine coverage at practice, in training rooms and on the sidelines at games. These are healthcare professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries. They work closely with KOC physicians and physical therapists to make sure any injured athletes get the best care possible to get back to their sport.

For your first glimpse at this year’s teams, mark you calendar for August 14-15, at Halls and Farragut High Schools.

To determine jersey colors, refer to the schedule below. Teams in light-colored jerseys sit on the Press Box side of the field.

KOC Kick-Off Classic

Central High School

Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Farragut High School

Friday, August, 15, 2025 at 7 p.m.

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In addition to athletic trainers who work with individual teams, KOC physicians and other healthcare providers are routinely on the sidelines at games to provide immediate assessment, treatment and support for student-athletes.