Ike seeking first win tonight vs. Girard
Trending
RUSSELL -- The Eisenhower football team is hoping that a change in routine will help get it its first win of the season tonight when it welcomes Girard for a Region 3 game.
Due to the lack of football officials in District 10, a call went out asking for teams that might be willing to play on a Thursday night, and the Knights volunteered. They will play next Thursday night as well.
Girard enters tonight's game with a 3-3 overall record and is 2-2 in the region, while Eisenhower is 0-6 and is hungry for a win.
"Girard is a very well coached team," Knights head coach Jim Penley said. “They are similar to us in roster size, but they're physically one of the largest teams we've played this year, and have some tremendous athletes."
Leading Girard is quarterback Ryan St. Julien, who Penley describes as "just a tremendous athlete who can run and throw very well."
The senior has passed for 724 yards and eight touchdowns, and has been intercepted three times. St. Julien has also scored four rushing touchdowns.
Girard brings in a solid stable of receivers who are excellent runners after the catch. Leading the way is junior Levi Porter (11 receptions, 215 yards, two TDs). A trio of seniors add experience and big-play ability as well. They are Nathan Dovichow (8-175-1), River Rogers, (9-158-3 and Zaiden Markham (11-133-1).
Eisenhower has moved the ball well in recent games, but turnovers and penalties have slowed down the learning curve.
"Our focus has to be on being the best team we can be, to protect the football, and to not make the repeated mental errors that we continue to make," Penley said.
The Knights continue to be led by quarterback Joe Gigliotti and Nolan Gesing. Gigliotti has proven to be a very capable runner and passer, rushing for 356 yards and passing for 327. While Gesing is the team's leading rusher (96-538-4), he is also a talented receiver with 10 catches for 141 yards.
Penley said the outcome will come down to playing a "clean" game.
"If we protect the ball, we put ourselves in position to be competitive and it allows us to perform better than the previous two games."
Opening kickoff is 7 p.m.