Back-to-back victories
Eisenhower beats Northwestern 49-34 in Region 3
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ALBION -- The Eisenhower Knights had three backs combine for 386 yards and seven touchdowns, and never trailed, as they won back-to-back games for the first time this season in defeating Northwestern 49-34 in Region 3 football Thursday.
Eisenhower took the opening kickoff and struck paydirt when quarterback Joe Gigliotti scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 25-yard run. Chase Card made the first of his seven point-after kicks to put the Knights on the board with three minutes gone in the first quarter.
Eisenhower answered a Wildcats touchdown on a Colin Havers 2-yard plunge to take a 14-6 lead at the end of the quarter.
The second quarter saw the Knights get touchdowns from Gigliotti and Havers on short touchdown runs.
The Wildcats intercepted Gigliotti with 25 seconds remaining in the first half and scored on a long touchdown pass with 2 seconds remaining to cut the Knights' lead to 28-20 at the break.
Eisenhower extended its lead on a pair of touchdowns by Nolan Gesing, who rushed for 165 yards on 27 carries on the night. The first score was a 3-yard run and the second was a 2-yard run.
The Wildcats got a 49-yard run by quarterback Ryland Copeland to stay within reach of the Knights, who led 42-26 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Knights defense forced turnovers on downs on back-to-back Wildcats drives and Eisenhower got a 13-yard touchdown run by Gigliotti, who rushed for 143 yards on 14 carries and scored three touchdowns in the game, to take a 49-26 lead with 8:30 remaining.
Northwestern scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass and was successful on the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 49-34 with five minutes remaining. The Wildcats onside kick attempt was recovered by the Knights, who were able to run the clock out and get the win.
"I am so unbelievably proud of the young men tonight," Eisenhower head coach Jim Penley said. "That Northwestern team was never going to quit, but we were able to control the line of scrimmage the whole game, which was the key to winning the game. I thought Nolan (Gesing), Joe (Gigliotti) and (Colin) Havers all ran really hard, and our offensive line had a great game. It's been great to see the progress of our young guys who made some big plays tonight."
Eisenhower will host Warren next Friday at 7 p.m.