Eisenhower's Spencer Head finds some running room against Northwestern last week. Head and the Knights host Cambridge Springs on homecoming.

What could have been?

As a relatively young Eisenhower squad prepares for the second half of the season, they must put behind them any questions about how the first half could have gone and focus on a chance for playoff positioning.

The Knights enter tonight’s clash with Region 2 foe Cambridge Springs with a 1-4 overall record and 1-1 Region 2 record. Those numbers could easily be 4-1 and 2-0 but for three heartbreaking defeats-two in overtime.

After running into a tough West Middlesex team to open the season, Eisenhower took Union City to the limit in Week 2. The Knights and Bears battled into overtime, but Eisenhower had first possession and failed to convert a 2-point conversion try. Union City was able to punch in the conversion for a 46-44 win.

Eisenhower surrendered a fourth quarter lead against Mercer the following week, but still had a chance to win late. The Mustangs intercepted an Owen Trumbull pass with 25 seconds to play to keep the Knights winless on the year.

The winless streak ended in Week 4 with a 52-6 thumping of Saegertown. The Knights were hoping to ride the momentum from that win into a second victory at Northwestern.

Eisenhower gave the Wildcats all they could handle early in the game, but Northwestern came back to take the lead in the third quarter. The Knights tied it in the fourth to force overtime. Neither team was able to score in the first extra session and Ethan Chambers was stopped just shy of the goalline in the second overtime. The Wildcats turned to Preston Rusner for a 28-yard field goal. Rusner drilled the kick and Northwestern celebrated a homecoming win.

“The effort is awesome,” Eisenhower coach Jim Penley said after the Northwestern game. “We’re trying to find a way to make more plays to get the win.”

It’s the Knights turn to host homecoming this week, and the opponent is a bit of a question mark itself.

The Blue Devils were one of the preseason favorites to win the Region 2 crown. They opened with a surprising 10-6 loss to Girard, then defeated Saegertown to move to 1-1. Three straight lopsided losses give CS a 1-4 record, but the teams the Blue Devils lost to make it difficult to guage just how good, or bad, this team is. The streak started with a 48-0 loss to Western Reserve out of Akron. That team is 5-0 on the year and has steamrolled through all its opponents to date.

A 36-0 loss to Maplewood followed. The Tigers are currently 4-1 with their lone defeat at the hands of West Middlesex. CS then had the privilege of traveling to Falconi Field for a matchup with Farrell. The undefeated and top-ranked Steelers did what they do and handed the Blue Devils a 63-0 loss.

Due to the nature of the games they’ve played, against the teams they’ve played, the Blue Devils don’t have any statistical standouts. As a team, they’ve gained less than 500 total yards through five games. Chase Schultz (42 carries, 200 yards) and Jared Taylor (18-177) are the team’s leading rushers. Quarterback Ty Turner is 14-33 for 127 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Trent Wheeler (six catches, 54 yards) and Tristin Findlay (4-51) are Turner’s favorite targets.

The losses notwithstanding, Eisenhower has been getting explosive plays out of its offense. Chambers has been phenomenal of late, rushing for 415 yards and six touchdowns in the last two games.

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

Trumbull has been solid under center. The sophomore is 36-71 for 499 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Chambers (14 receptions, 178 yards and a score) and Garrett Head (11-174-3) are the leading receivers, with Zane Alexander (8-132-1) right behind.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with homecoming king and queen to be crowned at halftime.