In a steady rain that at times blew sideways, a combined nine turnovers due to the wet conditions and a steady sea of penalties, it was the Knights who came out on top in their first region football game of the season, courtesy of quarterback Caleb Jakubczak’s 33-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run.

“Iroquois is a very old rival of ours,” Eisenhower coach Jim Penley said. “It almost always is a hard-fought game and tonight was no exception.”

The Knights started the game in a downpour, but junior running back Logan Penley took the opening kickoff 45 yards to give them good field position to start their first series.

A steady mix of Caleb Penley and Jakubczak running the ball gave Eisenhower a first and goal from the 6-yard line before a fumble ended the drive.

Times Observer photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Logan Penley looks for running room during Friday’s high school football game at Iroquois.

The Knights’ defense kept the Braves pinned inside the 5-yard line and nearly had a safety, but the official ruled the Braves running back got out of the end zone and they were forced to punt. Eisenhower nearly tackled the punter in the end zone, but he was able to get the punt off for only 19 yards and the knights took over, but another fumble ended the drive.

Both teams exchanged fumbles and punts for the remainder of the first half with neither team offering any substantial threat to score. The Braves did try a 20-yard field goal as time ran out in the half, but the kick was blocked by the interior of the Knights’ defensive line, and the first half ended with a 0-0 score.

Iroqouis received the second-half kickoff and was forced to punt.

Logan Penley started to find creases in the Braves’ defense and ripped off runs off 15 and 14 yards, but the drive stalled and the Braves took over. The third quarter ended 0-0 as the rain grew in intensity.

The rain began heavily as neither team could move the ball and the third quarter ended 0-0.

The Braves appeared to put the first points on the board on a run down the sideline, but a holding penalty brought the score back with 8:43 remaining in the game.

Eisenhower took over and after runs by Penley, it was Jakubczak who found the end zone on the 33-yard sneak up the middle of the Iroqouis defense with 5:14 remaining in the game. Junior Bryce Wilkins PAT kick was good and the Knights led 7-0.

Eisenhower’s defense came up big and for the second week in a row had a goal-line stand. The Braves moved the ball to the Knights’ 9 for a first and goal, but after two runs and a pass it was fourth and goal and the defense forced an incomplete pass.

The Knights took over and were faced with their own fourth down and 2. Coach Penley put the game in the hands of his offensive line, which proved to be successful as Eisenhower ran out the clock.