Times Observer photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s defense gave up 60 points a week ago in a loss to Reynolds.

The Eisenhower Knights will look to get into the win column tonight when they travel to Saegertown to take on the Panthers, who dropped their opener a week ago to Seneca 42-20.

Eisenhower enters tonight’s game 0-1 after dropping its opener to Reynolds last week.

The Knights will look to 6-foot-3 senior quarterback Caleb Jakubczak to continue to put up big numbers. He rushed for 128 yards on just nine carries and added a touchdown to lead the Knights against Reynolds. As a team, the Knights rushed for nearly 300 yards with junior Nolan Gesinq rushing for 82 yards and a score, and senior Logan Penley, who added 46 yards and a score.

“We had nearly 400 yards of offense last week,” Eisenhower head coach Jim Penley said. “But we have to do a better job of finishing plays to get to where we need to be.”

The Knights were within one score of Reynolds with a minute remaining in the third quarter, but an interception turned into a long touchdown drive and turned the momentum in the Raiders’ favor.

“We need to do a better job of finishing games and drives,” added Penley.

Eisenhower will be facing a Saegertown team that hung tough with Seneca last week.

“They definitely have the ability to strike quickly and had success running the ball last week,” Penley said. “We have to be ready.”

The Panthers are led by running back Will Burchill. The junior had 84 yards on 16 carries with three touchdowns last week. Senior quarterback Will Shaffer added 53 yards passing on four completions.

The Knights will need to shut down Burchill and continue to play aggressively to be in a position to win. Penley knows that this is a different Saegertown team than in the past.

“They are very athletic and play an aggressive style of defense. We have to take away their ability to break off long runs. We can’t afford to take them lightly,” he said. “They are a good football team that, like us, had trouble finishing drives. We have to be ready on every play for them or they will make us pay.”

Today’s game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Saegertown High School.