The Knights came out victorious on both fronts. Quarterback Owen Trumbull was effective, going 13-19 passing, despite heavy winds and Eisenhower rolled to a 44-6 win over the Panthers.

“During warmups, I didn’t think we were going to be passing much,” Trumbull said. “But it gave us an advantage because they weren’t expecting us to throw.”

The passing game was in rhythm from the start. Trumbull connected with Zane Alexander for 14 yards on the first play of the game, then hooked up with Cael Black on a screen pass. Black rumbled 48 yards to set the Knights (1-3 overall, 1-1 Region 2) up with a first-and-goal at the 9. On fourth down, Trumbull hit Dillon Benson in the flat for a 9-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.

“Everything we run is a play-action pass, a 5-10 yard pass, so (the wind) didn’t affect us much,” Eisenhower coach Jim Penley said.

Eisenhower quarterback Owen Trumbull looks to pass during the first half of Friday’s Region 2 game at the Pasture of Pain. Trumbull had a big night, throwing for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 44-6 Ike win.

Eisenhower went right back to work on its second possession.

Trumbull found Benson for a 21-yard gain, and two plays later connected with Caleb Robinault for a 14-yard TD pass to give the Knights a 14-0 lead.

“(Benson) and I have been working hard and executing the gameplan,” Trumbull said.

Jake Venman drilled a 33-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 17-0 early in the second quarter.

Neither team was able to get much going until the Knights got the ball back with just over three minutes to go in the half.

Eisenhower running back Zane Alexander looks to stiff arm a Saegertown defender during the first half of Friday’s game. Alexander ran wild, totaling 142 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Eisenhower marched down the field and Alexander capped the 9-play drive with a 3-yard run to make it 23-0 at the half.

Alexander found paydirt again on Eisenhower’s opening possession of the second half. He set up the scoring play with a 26-yard scamper from midfield, then ended the drive with a 9-yard run to push the lead to 30-0.

Both teams played sloppily through the rest of the quarter as drives were stalled by penalties.

The Knights were forced to punt early in the fourth. Saegertown (0-4, 0-2) took the short kick and returned it to the 2. Jacob Reisinger ran in on the next play to put the Panthers on the board.

After trading punts, Eisenhower got the ball on its own 37. Alexander took a second down handoff and sprinted down the left sideline for a 63-yard touchdown.

Trumbull’s 1-yard run two minutes later ended the scoring for the night.

Benson finished with 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air, plus a rushing score. Benson led the receivers with 112 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.

“Owen did a great job,” Penley said. “Benson made a couple of disgusting catches tonight.”

“I have to give a shout out to Dillon,” Trumbull added. “We’ve really been hitting it.”

Alexander led the way on the ground with 142 yards and three scores on 11 carries. He also had two receptions for 35 yards. Black had 43 yards on 10 carries with a pair of catches for 49 yards.

“With a young offensive line, you can’t expect them to go toe-to-toe,” Penley said. “Our athletes are helping with the young line because the whole group understands that.”

Defensively, the Knights limited the Panthers to just 86 total yards.

“When we do our jobs, we’re pretty darn good,” Penley said.

Eisenhower hosts Northwestern next week.

Score by quarters

Saegertown 0 0 0 6–6

Eisenhower 14 9 7 14–44

First Quarter

E–Dillon Benson 9 pass from Owen Trumbull (Jake Venman kick), 8:18

E-Caleb Robinault 14 pass from Trumbull (Venman kick), 4:19

Second Quarter

E–Venman 33 FG, 10:19

E–Zane Alexander 3 run (conversion failed), 0:44

Third Quarter

E–Alexander 9 run (Venman kick), 8:57

Fourth Quarter

S–Jacob Reisinger 2 run (Tariq Barnes pass failed), 10:51

E–Alexander 63 run (Venman kick), 6:57

E–Trumbull 1 run (Venman kick), 4:36

——

S E

First downs 4 12

Total Net Yards 86 438

Rushes-yards 35-55 36-212

Passing 31 226

Comp-Att-Int 2-7-1 13-19-0

Fumbles-Lost 3-2 1-1

Penalties-Yards 7-50 5-36

——

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Saegertown, Alexander Kightlinger 8-35, Reisinger 8-26-1, Ethan Hayes 7-16, Barnes 12-(-22). Eisenhower, Alexander 12-142-3, Cael Black 10-43, Benson 4-20, Trumbull 9-7-1, Garrett Jenson 1-0.

PASSING–Saegertown, Barnes 2-7-31-0-1. Eisenhower, Trumbull 13-19-226-2-0.

RECEIVING–Saegertown, Reisinger 1-31, Robbie Brown 1-0. Eisenhower Benson 7-112-1, Black 2-49,

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