Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger Benji Bauer and the Eisenhower Knights will take on the Reynolds Raiders in the PIAA District 10 Class 1A championship game this afternoon at Titusville.

Today at 1 p.m., the 11-0 Eisenhower Knights will face off against the 10-1 Reynolds Raiders to determine who will be the District 10 Class 1A champion and move into the state playoffs.

Today’s game was scheduled to be at Edinboro University’s Sox Harrison Stadium, but due to snow removal problems at the stadium, the game was moved to Titusville.

The Knights are coming off a thrilling come-from-behind 25-20 win last week against Cambridge Springs, while the Raiders beat Maplewood 44-6.

On paper, the game is an even matchup as both teams feature strong running games with a featured running back. The Raiders have senior tailback Jaylen Wagner, who has carried 200 times for 2,275 yards with 32 touchdowns. The Knights counter with senior tailback Benji Bauer, who has carried 231 times for 1,961 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The quarterbacks are close statistically as well with a slight edge to the Knights’ Shawn Pascuzzi. The Raiders start senior Brayden McCloskey, who has completed 55-of-105 passes for 1,259 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he has thrown nine interceptions. Pascuzzi, the Knights junior signal caller, has completed 62-of-114 passes for 1,011 yards and eight touchdowns to only two interceptions..

“Reynolds is the reigning back-to-back district champions for a reason as they are the model program in Class 1A,” Eisenhower head coach Jim Penley said. “Coach Josh Mull does an amazing job with his players. They are a disciplined and fine-tuned program.”

The skill players for the Raiders are Wagner, McCloskey and Gabriel Mijnarez. The three backs have accounted for 2,700 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns.

The Knights counter with Bauer, Pascuzzi, senior Keegan Eckstrom and junior fullback Tucker Lindell, who have combined for 3,100 yards with 41 touchdowns. Each averages more than 7 yards per carry.

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“They obviously have two very good players in Wagner and McCloskey, but what gets missed is the play of their line,” Penley said. “They are a very athletic group who get good downfield push while creating seams for their running back. They have good size and are a formidable match for our guys.”

The wideouts for the Raiders like to run with the football after the catch. Haydin McLaughlin has only 16 catches, but has gained an impressive 685 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Timothy Gentile has 18 receptions for 288 yards and a pair of scores.

The Knights counter with senior Kris Bunk, who has 17 receptions for 298 yards and a pair of scores, and senior Keegan Eckstrom, who has six catches for 161 yards and three touchdowns.

The Raiders’ defense is solid and it, too, has impressed the Knights’ coach.

“Their defense can be intimidating as their athleticism allows them to play a lot of man coverage and therefore frees them up to concentrate on the run game,” Penley said. “Their defensive line and linebackers are as good as they come anywhere, with both size and athleticism.”

The Knights’ defense has been a takeaway machine, forcing 22 turnovers, including 15 interceptions and seven fumbles to go along with two blocked punts.

“We will need our linebackers to continue their strong play and our line must continue to get pressure,” Penley said.

Reynolds has ended the Knightss season the last three years in the playoffs. Penley and his players would like nothing more than to end that run.

“For us to be successful we’re going to have to do what we’ve done the entire year and that is to control the line of scrimmage and to stay true to who we are which is a physical run team,” Penley said. “If we can keep the game close, as we did last week against Cambridge Springs in the second half, we will give ourselves an opportunity for the win.

“We know that when you get to this point in the season there are no easy contests,” Penley added. “Having an opportunity to play the champion is what every competitor dreams of, and we look forward to giving it our best shot.”