Eisenhower quarterback Caleb Jakubczak looks for room to run during Friday’s nonregion game at Saegertown. Times Observer photo by Steve Younger

SAEGERTOWN — Eisenhower’s Caleb Jakubczak had a career game Friday night in the Knights’ 34-28 nonregion victory over Saegertown.

Jakubczak ran 17 yards for the winning touchdown with 31 seconds remaining as Eisenhower evened its record at 1-1 on the season.

“For a young team that is just starting to lean on each other, I may not have liked that we let them back into the game,” Eisenhower coach Jim Penley said, “but it was awesome to see them rally together for one last drive and the defensive stop to win it was certainly impressive to watch.”

The 6-foot-3 senior quarterback rushed for 148 yards with four touchdowns and also passed for 93 yards in the win.

Eisenhower won the coin toss and Jakubczak needed two plays to score when he took to the outside and ran 71 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. Bryceton Wilkins connected on the first of his four point-after kicks to make it 7-0 with 10:53 showing on the clock.

The Panthers’ Will Shaffer scored on a 51-yard run with 8:46 left in the quarter, but the point-after kick failed as Eisenhower maintained a 7-6 lead.

Eisenhower’s Logan Penley would add to the Knights’ lead, crossing the goal line as the first quarter ended on a 5-yard run. Wilkins’ kick made it 14-7.

Jakubczak would add a pair of touchdown runs in the second quarter to extend the Knights’ lead. The Panthers would add a late score to stay within reach at the half as Eisenhower led 28-13.

“I’m just unbelievably proud of Jakubczak,” Penley said. “He came out of last week’s game a little banged up and came out tonight and gave an amazing, gutsy performance.”

The Knights defense held the Panthers in check until 3:01 remained in the third quarter when Shaffer scored his second touchdown on a 15-yard run. The point-after kick was good to make it 28-20 at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter saw the momentum switch to Saegertown as Burchill scored his second touchdown of the game on a 20-yard run to make it 28-26. The Panthers elected to go for 2 points and on a close play Shaffer just made it over the goal line to tie the game with 6:10 showing on the clock.

It was the Knights offense that took over and moved the ball down to the 39-yard line, facing a fourth-and-7 with 3:31 remaining in the game. Eisenhower lined up in punt formation, but snapped the ball to Joe Gigliotti, who then pitched the ball to Jakubczak, who went around the right side for a gain of 9 yards for a first down. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Panthers moved the ball down to the 17-yard line.

Eisenhower called Jakubczak’s number once again and he took it to the corner and crossed right in front of the pylon to give the Knights a 34-28 lead with 31 seconds showing on the clock.

“I’m super happy for a lot of these guys who got to taste their first win in a long time tonight,” Penley said. “Hopefully we can build on this and continue to improve.”

NOTES: Jakubczak finished 6 of 11 through the air. … Penley ran for 89 yards and a touchdown, Gigliotti ran for 21 yards and Nolan Gesing ran for 37 yards. … Gesing caught two passes for 15 yards, Gavin Lindemuth caught a pass for 26 yards, Penley caught two passes for 22 yards and Gigliotti caught a pass for 30 yards.