Eisenhower’s Caleb Jakubczak runs for a 31-yard touchdown during Friday’s 41-13 win over Franklin in Russell. Times Observer photo by Steve Younger

RUSSELL — Eisenhower quarterback and free safety Caleb Jakubczak made sure that his team would not have a letdown after last week, scoring two rushing touchdowns and intercepting a pair of passes — returning on 63 yards for a score — as the Knights beat Franklin 42-13 for a homecoming victory Friday.

Franklin’s defense stopped the Knights and forced a punt on the first drive of the game. It took all of one play for Caden Mincer to take a pitch and run 48 yards to give Franklin the 7-0 lead after a successful point-after kick.

The Knights would drive down the field to answer with a 3-yard touchdown run by senior Logan Penley. Bryceton Wilkins made the first of six PAT kicks to tie the score at 7-7.

Jakubczak would return his first interception for a score on the ensuing drive and after the kick it was 14-7 in favor of Eisenhower.

The Knights never looked back.

Jakubczak would add a slicing 67-yard touchdown run to increase the Knights’ lead to 21-7.

Eisenhower would add another touchdown at the end of the second quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gavin Lindemuth, who ran over a Franklin defender at the goal line to make it 28-7 at the half.

“It was important to us to jump on them early, we didn’t want them hanging around,” Eisenhower head coach Jim Penley said. “I was proud of how we took charge after they scored.”

Jakubczak would add a 31-yard touchdown run set up by a Logan Penley interception to make it 35-7 after another Wilkins kick. Jakubczak would finish the night with 160 yards rushing. He also threw for a score.

Penley would close out the scoring for Eisenhower on a 15-yard touchdown run.

Franklin would get another Mincer touchdown run, this time a 5-yarder.

“I thought Jakubczak had a great game, both he and Logan ran well and our line opened up some holes for all of our backs,” Coach Penley said. “I also thought Joe Gigliotti had a heck of a game in his first start at fullback. Our defense did a nice job of stopping the run. Ollie Boozer had a nice game in his first start at linebacker.”

The Knights head to Mercyhurst Prep next week for a big Region 3 game. Friday kickoff is set for 7 p.m.