Team History and Awards
Karns High School, established in 1913 and located at 2710 Byington-Solway Rd in Knoxville, Tennessee, fields athletic teams known as the Beavers, sporting blue and gold colors. The school was named after Professor T.C. Karns, the first Superintendent of Public Instruction in Knox County. With a current enrollment of approximately 1,400 students, Karns serves the western Knox County community.
The Beavers’ varsity football program has a rich tradition of competitiveness, having made seven appearances in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) state playoffs in 1996, 1998, 2004, 2011, 2021, 2022, and 2024. While the program has not yet captured a state championship, holding a 1-7 record in playoff appearances, the Beavers have consistently competed at a high level in TSSAA Division I Class 5A, Region 2. The program’s commitment to excellence and development continues under the leadership of Head Coach Lee Warren, who is entering his third season.
Team Highlights and Notable Players
Playoff Tradition: Karns has made seven playoff appearances (1996, 1998, 2004, 2011, 2021, 2022, 2024), demonstrating sustained competitiveness in East Tennessee high school football. The program continues to build toward capturing its first state championship.
Recent Mr. Football Winner: The Beavers have produced elite talent, most notably DeSean Bishop, a running back who earned the prestigious Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Award in both 2021 and 2022, making him a two-time state player of the year.
2025 Season Leadership: Head Coach Lee Warren enters his third season leading the Beavers. Warren emphasizes building good teammates, developing skilled players, and creating a positive team culture as the foundation for success. Under his leadership, the program held its second annual midnight practice on July 28th, 2025, to officially kick off the season—a tradition that energizes the team and community.
Returning Key Player: Austin Slover (#9, Sr., QB/WR) enters his second season as the starting quarterback, providing experienced leadership to the Beavers’ offense.
Program Philosophy: Coach Warren’s approach focuses on continuous improvement, building from the previous season’s foundation while cultivating the character and work ethic necessary for championship-level football. The emphasis on team culture aims to create sustainable success for the Karns football program.
Meet the Team – 2025 Roster Snapshot
Head Coach: Lee Warren
Assistant Coaches: Al Feldblum, Michael McMahan
Offense
- Austin Slover (#9, Sr., QB/WR) – 6’1″, 160 lbs
- Hudson Bridges (#16, So., QB/FS)
- Cameron George (#20, So., HB)
- Demarcus Jones (#21, Jr., HB)
- Ayden Woods (#32, So., RB/WR)
- Pj Mundanda (#33, So., ILB/RB)
- Zephy Davis (#39, Fr., HB)
- Weston Ritter (#0, Sr., WR/OLB) – 6’1″, 190 lbs
- Chris Boyce (#2, Sr., WR/CB) – 5’8″, 160 lbs
- Tre Ndayishimiye (#4, Sr., WR)
- Simon Tutu (#5, Sr., CB/WR) – 6’1″, 175 lbs
- Jonas Zimmerman (#6, Jr., WR/FS) – 6’3″, 190 lbs
- Jamayne Rutherford (#7, Sr., CB/WR) – 5’10”, 170 lbs
- Truvon Elsberry (#10, Sr., WR/FS) – 5’11”, 169 lbs
- Tymir Parker (#13, Sr., WR/CB)
- Jason Bourne (#24, Jr., CB/WR) – 5’4″
- Auston Fann (#27, Sr., OLB/WR) – 6’0″, 193 lbs
- Ryan Irwin (#36, Jr., FS/WR)
- Tyson Ritter (#80, Fr., ATH)
Offensive Line
- Jaykob Smith (#50, Sr., T) – 6’0″
- Keegan Teffetteller (#55, Sr., G/T) – 5’11”
- Hunter Jenkins (#65, Sr.)
- Gabe Tavenner (#70, Jr., DE/OL) – 6’4″, 220 lbs
- Tyler Reyes (#74, Jr., G/NG) – 6’1″
- Jesse McGaha (#99, Sr., NG/T) – 6’4″
Defense
- Landen Powell (#3, Sr., MLB/OLB) – 5’8″, 180 lbs
- Ben Styles (#18, Jr.) – 6’0″, 155 lbs
- Qwentyn Bowman (#17, So., CB)
- Grady Marlow (#22, Jr., ATH)
- Eric Doty (#23, Jr., MLB/LS) – 5’8″, 175 lbs
- Jake Doty (#28, Jr., ATH)
- Ariel Taylor (#29, Jr., ATH)
- Thompson Gardner (#31, Sr., ATH)
- Eli Haugstad (#35, So., LB)
- Trevan Gray (#42, So., ILB)
- Tyrell Hayward (#77, Sr., DL)
- Christian Cobb (#84, Jr., CB/SS) – 5’2″, 105 lbs
- DK Smith (#90, So., DL)
- Eric Doty (#91, Jr., ILB)
2025 Season Schedule
(District games marked with *)
- Aug 23 – @ Hardin Valley Academy (Away), 7:00 PM
- Aug 29 – vs South-Doyle (Home), 7:00 PM
- Sep 5 – vs Campbell County* (Home), 7:00 PM
- Sep 12 – @ Clinton* (Away), 7:00 PM
- Sep 19 – vs Powell* (Home), 7:00 PM
- Sep 26 – @ William Blount* (Away), 7:00 PM
- Oct 3 – @ Halls* (Away), 7:00 PM
- Oct 10 – vs Morristown-Hamblen East (Home), 7:00 PM
- Oct 24 – @ West* (Away), TBA
- Oct 31 – @ Knoxville Central* (Away), TBA
