OSKALOOSA — It’s never easy to put an end to any high school sports season.

Especially after a season that began with so much promise is winding down to an anticlimactic finish.

Oskaloosa holds its annual Senior Night Friday against Class 3A, District 8 foe Knoxville at Lacey Complex Stadium.

The Indians (1-7, 1-4 district) will have football players Patrick Flaherty, Jordan Lowry, Austin Redlich, Hector Mendes, Jordan Lamb, Tyce Sarver, Drew Richmond, Keoki Gibson, Logan Ridenour, Brandon Strasser, Zach Mich, Colton Mitterer, Jake Wills, Dane Jones, Jonah Renter, cheerleaders Amanda Anderson, Josie Beecher, Daniela Diaz, Cayla Dickerson, Whitney Newman, Samantha Robertson, Casandra Williams, dancers Rachel Farner, Hannah Grahek, Aubrey Netten, Emily Peters, Paige Smith and band members Ashley Nimtz, Renae Witt, Adam Hammes. Adam Genskow, Jakob Hartl, Josh McDanel, Sam Nunnikhoven, John Siebens, Daniela Diaz, Josie Beecher, Ben Akers, Hannah Grahek, Matt Strong, Kathy Saunders, Liz Stam, Sarah Minter and Paige Smith making their final appearance in front of the home fans.

While the season has not gone the way Oskaloosa coach Mark Schilb and the team’s fans had wanted, he said it has been a little tougher to get the team motivated for the season finale than for other games.

“It’s been a little tougher (for motivation),” he said. “Up to this point, the kids have been practicing hard. Our games have been reflective that we are improving. It’s hard to see when you don’t win.”

This is not the first time the teams have met on the gridiron.

The Indians and Panthers have knocked each other around 82 times coming into Friday night’s encounter — although not since the 2001 season. Oskaloosa owns a 49-23-10 edge in the long-standing series that dates back to 1898. Oskaloosa has won the last six meetings with Knoxville’s last win coming in 1995.

The Indians are catching the Panthers (4-4, 2-3) at a bad time. Knoxville, which stands fifth in the district and has an outside chance at making the playoffs, has won its last two games, including a stunning 15-12 upset of No. 9 Norwalk on Saturday.

The Panthers had just 202 yards in offense against the Warriors with junior quarterback Gerrit Davis passing for 138 of those yards and a touchdown. For the season, Davis has passed for 934 yards and eight touchdowns. he’s also been picked off eight times.

Big plays were the reason the Panthers shocked the Warriors.

Davis hooked up with sophomore Tanner Dunkin for a 69-yard TD pass and senior Ryan Douglas returned a kickoff 88 yards for the other Knoxville touchdown.

“They had a big win. I was able to go over and watch it,” Schilb said. “We get three tapes each week, but to see them in person definitely helps out.

“Their defense is very sound and have two  kids who are very fast (Dunkin and Colton Spaur). I saw those guys in track last year and they’re the fastest kids around.”

Spaur is among the district leaders in rushing at 809 yards with 10 touchdowns for the Panthers while Dunkin has caught 16 passes for 285 yards.

The Panthers have been ball hawks this season with seven interceptions, led by Derek Glover’s three, and have recovered seven fumbles.

Aaron Crossett has been in 111 tackles — second best in the district — while Douglas has made 72 tackles.

Schilb may hope Knoxville makes a lot of tackles because that would mean Oskaloosa had maintain control of the football.

The Indians, since they implemented a wishbone offense two weeks ago, have held the ball 57 minutes in the games against Winterset and Pella, but has only 14 points showing for it.

Jared Pace still leads the team in rushing with 630 yards on the ground and has scored three touchdowns. Nate Van Veldhuizen has visited the end zone six times and has picked up 411 yards.

Redlich has thrown for 231 yards this season and has been intercepted three times. he has not thrown a TD pass so far.

Sarver has grabbed 15 passes for 243 yards and two scores to lead the Oskaloosa receiving corps.

Strasser is fifth in the district in tackles with 78 while Mason Wisse has been in on 71 tackles with 5.5 tackles being for loss. He’s also intercepted a pass as Redlich tops the team with two interceptions.