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Reynolds’ RB rushes for five TDs in Raiders’ victory

Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower running back Keegan Eckstrom avoids a tackle by a Reynolds defender during Friday’s District 10 semifinal playoff game at Titusville High School.

TITUSVILLE — The District 10 semifinal football game Friday night between Eisenhower and Reynolds was played at a neutral site, Carter Field at Titusville High School.

The Raiders’ Jaylen Wagner felt right at home anyway.

The junior running back rushed for 342 yards and five touchdowns to lift Reynolds to a 56-27 victory over the Knights.

“I’m so proud of this team,” Eisenhower head coach Jim Penley said. “They fought to the very end against a tremendous Reynolds team. We just made too many mistakes.”

There was little mistaking Wagner’s talents.

Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger The Knights’ Jeremiah Aiken takes down the Raiders’ quarterback.

Highlighting his TD runs were bursts of 86, 51 and 63 yards, helping the Raiders, score 19 unanswered points in the second half to put the game out of reach and knock off the Knights in the playoffs for the second straight season.

“When I think back to how many seniors we graduated last year and to be playing in the semifinals, I’m just so proud of this year’s seniors and the leadership they provided,” Penley said.

Eisenhower, which trailed 17-6 at halftime, scored touchdowns on Shawn Pascuzzi’s 4-yard run, his 18-yard pass to Wyatt Lookenhouse, his 49-yard pass on a tipped ball to Derek Childs; and Benji Bauer’s 4-yard burst on the game’s final play. Bauer had a two-point conversion run and Jake Venman booted a successful point-after try.

“I give a lot of credit to this year’s underclassmen who stepped up big,” Penley said. “My hope is that it will pay off next year when we have so many players return.”

Bauer led Eisenhower with 146 yards on 29 carries and a TD, while Keegan Eckstrom added 43 yards on six trips; Pascuzzi passed for 146 yards and his two TDs; and Lookenhouse caught six passes for 119 yards and one TD.

The Knights, who fell to Reynolds, 27-0, in last year’s District 10 championship game, finish the season 7-3.

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