Times Observer photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Jaydon Chase drags a Reynolds defender during Friday’s 15-0 loss in Russell.

RUSSELL — The Eisenhower Knights dropped their season opener to the Reynolds Raiders on Friday night 15-0.

The Knights began the game with an impressive 55-yard drive only to fumble inside the Reynolds 20-yard line. The fumble would be one of four turnovers on the night for the Knights.

The Eisenhower defense rose to the occasion and stopped the Raiders’ first possession on an interception by Caleb Jakubczak on the Knights’ 16-yard line. A nice return of 31 yards gave the Knights the ball on the Raiders’ 45-yard line.

Eisenhower was stopped on downs and forced to punt. The Knights defense then forced a fumble that was recovered by Ryan Chambers.

Eisenhower would turn the ball over on another fumble, but the defense held the Raiders to return the ball back to the Knights. Time ran out on the first half with the teams locked in a scoreless tie.

The Raiders received the second-half kickoff, but their drive would end after an 8-yard sack shared by Eisenhower’s Aiden Huebach and Gavin Lindemuth.

The Knights took over and after two plays another fumble was recovered by the Raiders at their 49-yard line.

Reynolds’ Gabe Minjarez would carry the ball down to the 13-yard line before he scored on a 13-yard touchdown run. The Raiders would call on Minjarez again for the 2-point conversion to make the score 8-0 midway through the third quarter.

The Knights were unable to generate a drive and were forced to turn the ball over on downs.

The score would remain 8-0 to start the fourth quarter.

Eisenhower’s defense held the raiders on successive series, but a Raiders punt was downed on the 5-yard line where the Knights took over with 5:37 remaining.

Another turnover by the Knights gave Reynolds a first down on the Knights’ 10-yard line. The Raiders’ Parker Nay would score on a 10-yard run and the PAT kick was good by Maddox Snyder to make the final score of 15-0.

“I’m proud of the team tonight,” Eisenhower head coach Jim Penley said. “We just had too many mental mistakes and that falls on me. We have to improve and get ready for next week.”

Junior Logan Penley led the Knights with 70 yards rushing and caught two passes for 22 yards.

Minjarez ran for 79 yards for the Knights.