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Knights drop close battle to Northwestern in Region 3 opener

Eisenhower running back Jonah Samuelson breaks into the open field during Friday’s Region 3 game at Northwestern.

ALBION – Killian Cooper will be running – and throwing – all over the place in the dreams of the Eisenhower Knights.

Cooper threw for over 250 yards and ran it in three times to lead his Northwestern Wildcats to a 27-19 win over Eisenhower on Friday night.

Eisenhower attempted an onside squib kick to start the game.

It backfired.

Northwestern recovered the kick and a 27-yard catch by Mike Wolf set the state for Cooper’s first rushing score, this time from three yards out.

Eisenhower quickly responded to the first blow.

Chunk plays from Jaydon Hayes and Jonah Samuelson took the Knights into the red zone and Hayes punched it in from 10 yards out to tie it up.

The Wildcats appeared to pull away, scoring twice in the second quarter – a two yard run from Cooper and a 21-yard scamper by Kyle Williams – to take a 19-7 lead with four minutes left for the half.

The Knights returned that punch, as well.

Northwestern attempted an onside kick which failed, setting the Knights up in good position. Samuelson and Hayes once again pushed Eisenhower into the red zone, which culminated in a 2-yard run by Hayes with less than two minutes left in the half.

After the teams traded possessions for most of the third quarter, Spencer Head converted a fourth-and-one from the Northwestern ten, ultimately setting up Hayes’ third touchdown, a five yard run.

A failed two-point attempt left the contest tied into the fourth.

Cooper struck again, plowing through a would-be tackler and sprinting to the corner for a 25-yard touchdown.

Samuelson took the ensuing kickoff into Northwestern territory and Head hooked up with Hayes, giving the Knights first-and-goal at the seven.

But the Knights fumbled it away on third-and-two from the two with less than two minutes remaining.

The Knights defense held Cooper to a one-yard loss, pinning the Wildcats at the one but committed one of 14 penalties – a false start – to give Northwestern breathing room.

And they paid dearly for it.

Cooper connected with Aaron Hull for a 13-yard completion that sealed the win for the Wildcats.

Hayes paced the Knights with 207 yards rushing and 41 yards receiving.

Cooper ran for 94 and threw for 265 in the win.

The Knights fall to 0-1 in Region 3 – and 0-3 overall. They host North East next Friday night.

– – –

By Quarters

Eisenhower 7 6 6 0 – 19

Northwestern 7 12 0 8 – 27

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

N – Killian Cooper 3 run, Matt Lauscher kick, 9:13

E – Jydon Hayes 10 run, Ross Venman kick, 4:54

Second Quarter

N – Cooper 2 run, kick failed, 10:30

N – Kyle Williams, two point fail, 3:56

E – Hayes 2 run, kick blocked, 1:53

Third Quarter

E – Hayes 5 run, two point fail, 2:49

Fourth Quarter

N – Cooper 25 run, two point successful, 4:55

Team Statistics

E N

First Downs 11 19

Rushes-Yards 47-328 39-159

Comp-Att.-INT 2-2-0 14-25-0

Passing Yards 61 265

Total Yards 389 424

Penalties-Yards 14-78 4-37

Fumbles-Lost 6-3 2-0

Individual Statistics

Rushing

Eisenhower: Jonah Samuelson 10-90, Spencer Head 8-10, Jaydon Hayes 22-207 3 TD, Ethan Chambers 6-23, Garrett Head 1-(-2). Northwestern: Cooper 22-94 3 TD, Aaron Hull 11-33, Collin Gillett 1-3, Kyle Williams 1-21 TD, Logan Scott 4-8.

Passing

Eisenhower: Head 2-for-2, 61 yards; North East: Cooper 14-25, 265 yards.

Receiving

Eisenhower: Hayes 1-49, Chambers 1-12. Northwester: Mike Wolf 4-71, Hull 5-111, Tristan Oliveria 1-24, Matt Lauscher 2-18, Dylan Braden 2-41.

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