Eisenhower head coach Jim Penley speaks to his captains prior to a game. Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger

The 8-0 Eisenhower Knights are on the road tonight as they travel to Iroqouis to take on the winless Braves in their final Region 2 game of the season.

On season records alone, this game would seem a mismatch in favor of the Knights, but Eisenhower’s head football coach Jim Penley is fully aware of what his team is facing.

“Iroqouis has historically been a great rival over the years that right now is in the middle of a tough rebuilding of their program,” Penley said. “I’ve been there and it can be difficult week to week.”

While the Braves are searching for their first win, the Knights season continues to improve game by game. Eisenhower’s offense is one of the top in District 10 and has players in the top 15 individual performance categories. Senior tailback Benji Bauer is fourth in the district with 1,446 yards rushing yards on 178 carries for an 8.2-yard average and 17 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Shawn Pascuzzi is 15th in the district at 46 of 85 for 810 yards passing with six touchdowns and only one interception.

As a team, the Knights are led by Bauer, but his fullback, junior Tucker Lindell, has proven himself to be a punishing runner with 59 carries for 460 yards, good for 7.8 yards per carry and four touchdowns. Senior slotback Keegan Eckstrom’s speed has proven difficult to defend against as he is a threat every time he touches the ball. He has added 307 yards on 39 carries for a 7.9-yard average and two touchdowns. While Pascuzzi has been very efficient passing the football, he is just as dangerous as a runner by adding 250 yards on 37 carries for a 6.8-yard average and has scored eight touchdowns.

Pascuzzi has been protected well by his linemen: seniors Caleb Penley, Mike Vanatta and Conner Younger, junior JJ Darr and sophomore Jayden Chase, along with Lindell and junior tight end Kris Bunk. He has been sacked only once in eight games.

Pascuzzi has had the luxury of time to throw in the backfield and that has allowed him to set up and throw to an outstanding group of receivers, led by senior Wyatt Lookenhouse with 18 receptions for 292 yards and a 16.2-yard average with two touchdowns. Bunk is having a nice season at the tight end spot by catching 12 passes for 242 yards for a 20.0-yard average and a touchdown. Eckstrom has four receptions for 92 yards and two scores. Bauer has 10 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown.

The Braves are searching for consistency with their offense and it shows in some of their game scores.

“Offensively they have shown a lot of different formations and the tendencies are hard to prepare for as they are trying to find the best system to go with the talent they have,” Penley said. “They’ve got some speed like a typical Iroqouis team and they certainly have some good-sized players, but they just haven’t been able to mesh just yet.”

Defensively for the Knights, they have shown they have the potential to shut down their opponents run game as the defensive line has been stout all season. Seniors Mike Beaver and Jeremyah Aiken both have three sacks. The linebackers, Penley, Lindell and Bauer, continue to shut down the running lanes, making the Knights a tough team to run on.

Defensively, Iroqouis will run an odd front on the defensive line putting their linebackers and defensive backs in man to man coverage.

“They have the talent defensively to make it difficult for us by just have not been able to put it all together for a complete game yet,” Penley said.

The Knights cannot take this team lightly as there have been some close games over the years with this region opponent.

“The one thing we have to remember is, at this point we will get every team’s best game and we can make one team’s season by not respecting their ability to beat us,” Penley said. “By us not doing our jobs we potentially could make a team’s season by allowing them to beat us, and trust me, we are very aware of that.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at John L. Post Memorial Stadium, 4301 Main St., Erie, PA 16511.