Even though the record isn’t what it could be at this point, Eisenhower football has learned an awful lot about itself in the last month. Friday night’s lesson against Northwestern? The Knights can hang with big, physical opponents.

While Preston Rusner’s 28-yard field goal in double overtime may have sent the Wildcats (4-1) home with the 37-34 win, the fact the Knights (1-4) were able to go toe-to-toe with a tough 2A team gives them plenty to build on as they enter the heart of their region schedule.

“I hope games like this will pay dividends in our region schedule,” Eisenhower coach Jim Penley said. “We’ve been in some all-out brawls, but we want to be in those types of games. The effort is awesome.”

Eisenhower took it to their hosts early as the Knights marched 65 yards in 11 plays to open the game. Ethan Chambers capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run to put Eisenhower up 7-0. The drive chewed nearly five minutes off the clock and 10 of the 11 plays-all runs-went for positive yards.

Northwestern's Jeremy Dohanic picks up yardage on Friday against Eisenhower.

“This is a big, athletic defensive front and we were concerned about running the ball,” Penley said.

It looked like Eisenhower would hold Northwestern to a three-and-out on its first possession, but the Wildcats opted to go for it on fourth-and-two from their own 44 and the gamble worked as quarterback Ryan Tewell found Jeremy Dohanic for a 20-yard pickup to keep the drive alive.

Jeff Bish broke through the middle on the next play and rumbled 36 yards to paydirt.

The Knights showed they were capable of breaking the big play on their next possession when Riley West found the edge and raced down the left side for a 48-yard score.

“It was good to see Riley West break out tonight,” Penley said.

Another 65-yard Eisenhower drive, this one needing just eight plays, saw Chambers pick up his second touchdown of the game on a 1-yard plunge. He had ripped off a 41-yard run earlier in the drive.

After a three-and-out, Eisenhower took the ball into Northwestern territory again with a chance to seemingly put the game out of reach. A pair of false starts put the Knights in third-and-long and Aaron Winkelman broke through to sack Owen Trumbull and force a punt.

“You can see the youth and inexperience (in the mistakes),” Penley said. “But that’s on me. I’ve got to get the guys to the point where that doesn’t happen.”

The mistakes proved costly as Dohanic burst through the middle and raced 46 yards to make it a one score game with 2:36 to go in the half.

“He’s a kid that worked so hard in the weight room,” Northwestern coach Mark Brooks said. “That hard work is paying off.”

After forcing the Wildcats to go three-and-out to start the second half, the Knights needed just three plays to add to their lead. Chambers showed his big play ability again taking it 59 yards for his third rushing touchdown of the game.

“Ethan’s just on a roll,” Penley said.

Not to be outdone, Dohanic took the second play from scrimmage 40 yards for his second score of the game to cut the Eisenhower lead to 26-21.

The Wildcats forced the Knights to go three-and-out and Dawson Fiesler wove through the coverage and sprinted 77 yards down the right sideline to give Northwestern its first lead of the game, 28-26.

On second down during the ensuing possession, Trumbull tried to pitch to Nate Holt. The ball was a bit behind Holt, went off his right shoulder and Tony Dibello scooped it up for Northwestern.

A facemask penalty on the play put the ball all the way down at the Eisenhower 5 and Dohanic needed just one play to put the ball in the endzone.

“A couple mistakes culminated in (losing the lead),” Penley said.

Northwestern had a 34-26 lead and the ball to start the fourth quarter and the Wildcats drove down to the Eisenhower 25. Tewell tried to run around the edge on third down, but a big hit dislodged the ball and Cael Black picked it up and raced 52 yards to set the Knights up in Wildcat territory.

Chambers punched in his fourth score of the night from two yards out, then ran in the 2-point conversion attempt to knot the game at 34-34.

Both teams had the ball in their opponent’s territory late in the quarter, but the defenses held and the game moved to overtime.

Northwestern had possession to start the first extra session and after Dohanic was stopped for a loss on third down, the Wilcats elected to try a field goal. The snap was bobbled and the delay allowed the Knights to break through and block Rusner’s kick.

Chambers got the edge on Eisenhower’s first play and dove into the endzone, but a holding penalty negated the play and the Knights were held scoreless.

Eisenhower had fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the second overtime and there was little doubt who would be getting the ball. Chambers tried to go straight up the gut, but the Wildcats swarmed to him and kept him just inches away from the goalline.

After a negative running play and incomplete pass, Brooks elected to try the field goal on third down. The snap and hold were clean, and Rusner put it through the uprights for the win.

Chambers finished with 237 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries. Dohanic had 135 total yards and three scores.

The Knights now turn their attention to the Region 2 race as they welcome Cambridge Springs (1-4, 1-1 Region 2) to the Pasture of Pain for Homecoming.

“We’ve got to find a way to make more plays to get the win,” Penley said. “We could easily be 4-1 right now. This was a solid game. I hope this will get them rolling.”