Owen Trumbull and Eisenhower host Seneca.

A frustratingly tough luck season for Eisenhower will come to a close at home tonight when the Knights host Seneca for Senior Night.

While Eisenhower currently sits with a record of 1-8, the Knights know they are a cumulative five yards from potentially being 4-5 (they were stopped inches short of the goal line in overtime losses to Union City and Northwestern and had a potential touchdown pass intercepted inside the five against Mercer) and 23 points separates them from 1-8 being 6-3. Those 23 points are the difference between hosting the Bobcats tonight and being a playoff team.

Still, as strange as this season has been for Eisenhower, it’s easy for outsiders to simply shrug and say, “that’s football.”

It’s not so easy to shrug off what has ailed Seneca this year. None of the Bobcats, 0-8 on the season, have been particularly close-save a 5-point setback to Lakeview. Unfortunately, Seneca has had two games-against Harbor Creek Aug. 31 and at Greenville Oct. 5 ended early due to a lack of healthy players. The Bobcats were also forced to cancel their Sept. 7 matchup with Sharpsville because of injury.

Wyatt Shaffer has stepped into the do-it-all quarterback role vacated by Joe Scarabino (transfer to Erie Cathedral Prep). Shaffer has only attempted 68 passes on the year, completing 17 for 223 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions. Zack Mong is the team’s leading receiver with six receptions for 104 yards and touchdown.

Shaffer is the Bobcats’ leading rusher with 140 carries for 785 yards and 10 touchdowns. Xander Pring (33-106-3.2), Nick Cole (23-144-6.3-1) and Dominic D’Antonio (23-109-4.7) have also carried the ball well for Seneca.

Workhorse Eisenhower running back Ethan Chambers went over 1,000 yards on the season with his 234-yard effort at Cochranton last week. He’s now up to 1,020 rushing yards on the year with 13 touchdowns. Chambers is also the Knights’ leading receiver with 20 catches for 253 yards and a score.

Quarterback Owen Trumbull is now 61-144 passing on the season. The sophomore has 775 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Garrett Head (18-250-13.89-3) and Zane Alexander (13-162-12.46-1) are second and third on the team in receiving. Head (52-187-3.6-1) and Nate Holt (22-133-6.0-2) round out the top three in rushing, though freshman Cael Black (21-107-5.1-1) has seen his workload out of the backfield steadily increase as the season wears on.

Kickoff at Riley Memorial Field is set for 7 p.m.