Sometimes teams have years that defy expectations, sometimes they underwhelm and sometimes they are what you thought they would be (RIP Dennis Green).

Then there are those years that just leave people scratching their heads and wondering, what happened?

Such is the case so far for Eisenhower football. The Knights are 1-5 overall and 1-2 in Region 2. They have those records despite outscoring their opponents 151-149. Conversely, Northwestern-who defeated Eisenhower 37-34 in double overtime two weeks ago-is 5-1 and is even with its opponents, 153-153.

Dissecting the Knights season through six games shows just how close they are to having a 5-1 record instead of a 1-5 record. Eisenhower has lost four of those five games by a touchdown or less. The Knights held a second half lead in three, lost a pair in overtime and another when holding the opponent to 50 yards of offense.

“It’s penalties and little mistakes . . . and that’s on me,” Eisenhower coach Jim Penley said following last week’s 14-8 setback to Cambridge Springs.

Penley added that his players want to win so bad that they’re pressing, which is leading to those mistakes.

The Knights will have to find a way to limit those mistakes if they want to pick up their second win of the season this week. Eisenhower welcomes Region 1 foe Reynolds to the Pasture of Pain tonight.

The Raiders are 3-3 on the year (1-1 in Region 1) with wins over Union City (44-28), Saegertown (40-7) and Mercer (20-7). They have dropped decisions to Slippery Rock (24-6), Maplewood (27-8) and West Middlesex (42-6).

To say Reynolds is a run-heavy team would be an understatement. The Raiders have attempted just 43 passes through 6 games, and completed 20 for 325 yards. Sean O’Hara has thrown most of those passes.

He’s 19-39 for 315 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Cole Toy and Chance Westover are tied for the team lead in receptions with five each. Toy has 43 yards and a score while Westover has 110 yards and two touchdowns.

The Raiders have been supremely effective on the ground. O’Hara leads the team in carries (76) with 346 yards and a score. Jordan DeCarmen and Tyrese Baker have been a lethal combination out of the backfield, each averaging better than eight yards per carry.

DeCarmen (70-603-7) leads the duo in carries, but Baker (54-441-4) has been just as effective when he gets the ball.

Ethan Chambers has had a coming out party in recent weeks for the Knights. The senior running back has gained 522 of his 628 rushing yards and seven of his eight rushing touchdowns in the last three games. He’s also got 16 receptions on the year for 205 yards and a score.

“Ethan’s a horse,” Penley said. “He’s no frills and plays hard.”

Sophomore quarterback Owen Trumbull has been up and down in his first year at the helm. He’s 42-89 passing for 557 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions.

“He’s a young player who’s trying to find things he can be successful with,” Penley said.

In addition to Chambers, Trumbull often looks in the direction of senior Garrett Head (11-173-3) and sophomore Zane Alexander (9-128-1).

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.