“What a great game. I’m super proud of our kids,” Eisenhower head coach Jim Penley said. “That was playoff-atmosphere football. They never gave up. Our young guys grew up a lot tonight.”

On a muddy field where good footing was hard to come by, the first quarter was a battle of field position and, after four punts, the teams left the quarter scoreless.

The only first-quarter highlight for the Knights was an interception by junior Wyatt Lookenhouse that ended the Tigers’ first drive.

In the second quarter, the Knights began a drive behind runs by junior Benji Bauer. The drive stalled at the 17-yard line of the Tigers, but Penley called on senior Jake Venman to attempt a 34-yard field goal, which sailed through the uprights putting the Knights up 3-0.

Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Caleb Penley takes down a Maplewood runner during Friday’s game in Russell.

After a kickoff by the Knights gave the Tigers good field position, runs by quarterback Jake Kinney took the ball down to the 10-yard line. After three stops by the Knights’ defense on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Tigers fullback Ben Delberto took it around the end for the score. The PAT kick was good making it 7-3 in favor of the Tigers.

After exchanging punts to start the second half, the Knights drove down to the Tigers’ 26-yard line before Lookenhouse threw a perfect touchdown pass to sophomore Camron Jakubczack on a perfectly executed fake field goal, The PAT attempt was no good, putting the score 9-7 in favor of the Knights with 1:35 left in the quarter.

It was a battle of field position to start the fourth quarter and the Knights took advantage, starting their drive at the 50-yard line when Bauer and senior Steven Reilly took turns running downfield before Bauer took it into the end zone from the 2-yard line. The PAT kick was no good leaving it a one-possession game.

The Tigers took over and on third down, Knights junior Cole Kellogg would intercept an errant Tigers pass with 1:59 left in the game.

The Knights were then able to run out the clock.

In a game that featured 13 combined punts, Penley had high praise for his defense.

“The linebackers just played a terrific game” he said. “(Gannon) Jaquay, (Caleb) Penley and (Tucker) Lindell, each had a great game. Our secondary, without a senior back there, really played big tonight.”

The Knights will wait for District 10 to announce who their opponent will be in the opening round of the playoffs, but for now the Knights head coach added “that was one of the proudest wins we’ve had in a long time.”

NOTES: Bauer finished with 19 carries for 78 yards rushing.