Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower enters tonight’s District 10 playoff game with a perfect 7-0 record.

RUSSELL — The Eisenhower Knights will host the first-ever playoff game held at the “Pasture of Pain” tonight when they take on the West Middlesex Big Reds.

West Middlesex comes into the game with a 4-2 record with both losses coming against fellow south team Reynolds. The Knights bring an unblemished record of 7-0 into the game.

Tonight’s game will be a typical north vs. south contest. The south teams have the reputation of playing a more physical brand of football, according to Knights head coach Jim Penley.

“There is just a tougher mentality in the south, those teams play in a meat grinder, meaning they are playing tough teams every week, they just don’t get that week off during the season,” he said. ” … It’s part of the reason that only a handful of north teams have won a District 10 title in the last 25 years. The south has just been dominant.”

The Knights have earned their own reputation this season and will bring their multi-dimensional spread offense and a ball-hawking defense that is only giving up an average of 4 points per game to opponents this season.

The Big Reds are led by 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior quarterback Ty Tate, who has completed 51-of-91 passes for 605 yards and four touchdowns to go along with three interceptions. Tate is a gifted runner who is not afraid to take off in the open field as evidenced by his 69 carries for 252 yards and seven touchdowns.

“Their quarterback is a tremendous athlete, both as a passer and also a very dangerous runner.” Penley said. “They are an excellent running team. Ian Smith is just a stud at running back for them.”

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Tate’s main target when throwing is 6-foot-2 senior wide receiver Chris Smith, who has 16 catches for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

While the offense of the Big Reds leans to the run a bit more, the Knights bring a more balanced offense into the game. 6-foot-4 senior quarterback Owen Trumbull has completed 64-of-96 passes for 1,174 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions. The bulk of the ball carrying falls to 6-foot, 200-pound junior Cael Black, who has carried 79 times for 809 yards and 15 touchdowns. Sophomore Benji Bauer has been a nice surprise for the Knights in relief of Black with 28 carries for 308 yards and three touchdowns.

Six-foot, 180-pound senior Dillon Benson has been stellar for the Knights with 28 catches for 584 yards and six touchdowns. If teams concentrate on Benson, seniors Caleb Robinault (10 catches, 222 yards, six TDs) and Zane Alexander (13 catches, 180 yards, four TDs) have the speed to score whenever they touch the football.

When the Big Reds are on defense they are led by 5-foot-10 junor linebacker Ian Smith and 5-foot-11, 220-pound senior defensive tackle Kaleb Turcotte.

The Knights defense has proven to be an old-school, ball-hawking unit by creating 18 turnovers through seven games. They are led by senior Jared Beers and Black.

“They are tremendously athletic and are coached very well,” Penley said. “This game will come down to who wins the line of scrimmage. We have to own it and continue to play physical while giving Owen time.”

Tonight’s kickoff is set for 7 at Eisenhower High School. The game is sold out. No tickets are available to purchase at the gate. The game will once agin be live-streamed and can be found at d9and10sports.com.