Eisenhower opens Region 3 play tonight
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RUSSELL -- The Eisenhower Knights (0-1) will look to get their first win of the season tonight as they welcome Fairview (0-1) in their Region 3 football opener.
The Knights are hoping to rebound from last week's season-opening loss to Iroqouis 35-20, a game that was closer than the score indicated. The Knights were down 10-7 at the half, but could not keep pace with the Braves in the second half.
Knights head coach Jim Penley knows what his young team has to do.
"We have to be able to keep the big plays in check better than we did last week," he said. "Hopefully the experience we gained begins to show."
Eisenhower will be facing a Fairview team that also dropped its opener, falling to Fort LeBoeuf 49-14.
Fairview is a team led by 6-foot-4 junior quarterback Cullen O'Conner.
"He is a super athletic kid who throws the ball well and is not afraid to take off and run if he gets the opportunity," Penley said of O'Conner.
Fairview is far from a one-man team; they also return their leading rusher and receiver from last year's 3-7 team. Running back Caden Oldach rushed for 635 yards on 118 carries. Also carrying the ball for the Braves will be Joey O' Reilly, who rushed for 418 yards and nine touchdowns last year. Also returning for Fairview is the team's leading receiver from last season, Jarvis Nesbitt, who had 24 receptions for 322 yards.
Eisenhower will be led by senior quarterback Joe Gigliotti, who passed for 106 yards and rushed for 51 yards in last week’s loss. Also rushing for 96 yards was senior Nolan Gesing. Senior Ollie Boozer added 14 yards and a touchdown. As a team, the Knights rushed for 191 yards.
Penley will be facing a team that will be well prepared.
"They are a very athletic team that is very well coached," he said. "We have to be ready to play because they will be."
The Knights will need to limit turnovers -- they had four last week -- and eliminate mistakes if they hope to even up their record and move to 1-0 in Region 3.
Tonight's game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.