Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Benji Bauer attempts looks for room to run Friday against Northwestern in Russell.

RUSSELL — The Eisenhower Knights fell to Class 2A power Northwestern Friday night by a final score of 48-7.

The Knights entered the game with only one loss on the season while the Wildcats from Northwestern left with their undefeated record intact and moved to 5-0, while the Knights dropped to 4-2 on the season with two regular season games remaining.

The Knights received the opening kickoff and began their drive with good field position thanks to a nice return by junior Keegan Eckstrom. After a nice off-tackle run by junior Benji Bauer gained 6 yards, Knights sophomore quarterback Shane Pascuzzi was picked off on his first pass attempt. The Wildcats were in business on the Knights 36-yard line. On first down, Wildcats senior quarterback Ryan Tewell broke loose for a 30-yard run, giving his team a first-and-goal from the 6-yard line. Two plays later, Tewell would score on a run up the middle. The successful PAT kick made it 7-0 in favor of the Wildcats.

After exchanging punts, the Knights would put together a six-minute drive down to the Wildcats’ 18-yard line. The key to the drive was a 27-yard pass completion from Pascuzzi to sophomore Camron Jakubczack. The Knights would be stopped just short on a fourth-and-3 play.

The Wildcats took over and a nice tackle in the backfield by senior Drake Vanderhoof put the Wildcats in a second-and-13. But Cameron Perkins would haul in a pass from Tewell and race for a 60-yard score. The kick was no good making the score 13-0.

The Knights’ Eckstrom nearly broke loose on the ensuing kickoff, and his return to the 36-yard line gave the Knights good field position. Starting the drive with 5:17 left in the half, Bauer gained 21 yards on the drive but an interception by Perkins put the ball at the 45-yard line.

It would take only four plays for the visitors to score on a 14-yard run by senior Jordan Tohanic. The PAT kick was good making the score 20-0 at the half.

The Wildcats would score on a three-minute drive to start the third quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass to senior Eric Steiner. The 2-point conversion play made it 28-0 with nine minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter.

The Knights moved the ball down to the Wildcats’ 13-yard line only to be stopped short on a fourth-and-2.

Steiner would score two more touchdowns for the Wildcats putting them in front 41-0 — one a 7-yard run and another on a 58-yard run.

Bauer had his best game of the season for the Knights. The junior was the workhorse for the offense, carrying the ball 27 times rushing for 149 yards. He scored the Knights’ only touchdown on a 32-yard run up the middle of the Wildcats defense in the fourth quarter. Senior Jake Venman would add the successful PAT kick.