It will be a battle of the Knights tonight as the Class 4A Franklin Knights travel to Class 1A Eisenhower’s home field for a non-region game.

The Eisenhower Knights are coming off a win last Friday at Union City while Franklin hopes to rebound from a defeat to Fairview.

In Eisenhower’s win last week, the Knights were up 34-6 at the half before Coach Jim Penley began to substitute his starters. The Knights rushed for 299 yards with both junior running backs going over 100 yards behind the blocking of Mike Vanatta, Caleb Penley, Conner Younger, Gannon Jaquay, Drake Vanderhoof and tight end Mike Jones.

“Those guys are doing a great job up front,” Penley said, “and we will need that tonight as well.”

While Eisenhower’s offense has rushed for 600 yards in its first two games, Franklin has struggled to find consistency in both of its losses.

“They are a young team full of an awful lot of talent. They are undersized but get off the ball very well,” Penley said. “They have a number of guys who are capable of breaking away. The fullback is a very physical runner. The quarterback is only a sophomore, but is a good thrower and a threat to run whenever he gets the chance.”

Eisenhower’s defense has done a good job in its first two games and — make no mistake — the players love playing physical football.

“Our guys have to control the line of scrimmage and continue to get penetration and disrupt plays,” Penley said. “This game will test our defensive ends. They run the option very well. We have to be ready for them.”

Tonight’s game could come down to conditioning and which team has more depth. Franklin is a young football team and has nine players playing on both sides of the ball. Eisenhower is committed to a rotation of players on defense providing rest to their defensive line starters and getting valuable game experience to its younger players.

“The key for us is to control the line of scrimmage,” Penley said, “and establish our running game which would allow our play-action passing game.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Russell.