Good Knights

Eisenhower’s defense gang-tackles a Union City ball carrier during Friday night’s football game in Russell.
Times Observer Photo by Steve Younger

RUSSELL — Eisenhower needed all of two plays and 42 seconds to put their first points on the board in a 34-7 region football win Friday night over Union City.

The Knights’ defense took care of the rest.

A nice opening kickoff return by Tanner Lookenhouse to the Eisenhower 44-yard line gave the hosts great field position to start the game. Eisenhower came right back to Lookenhouse on the first play when quarterback Caleb Jakubczak (7 of 11, 103 yards) found Lookenhouse open down the sideline for a 27-yard pass reception. That set the stage for sophomore Joe Gigliotti (two carries, 64 yards) who took a handoff, made a nice cut to the outside and outraced the defense for a 31-yard touchdown run. Bryce Wilkins, who would connect on four PAT kicks in the game, made his first one count to give Eisenhower a 7-0 lead.

The Knights were driving toward a possible score when Union City recovered a fumble on its 19-yard line and needed two plays before Bears’ running back Austin Brown (17 carries, 101 yards) took a handoff and raced down the sideline for an 81-yard touchdown run. Abdullah Fikiri’s PAT kick was good and the score was tied with 4:32 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Knights got a 50-yard kickoff return by Ryan Chambers to start their next drive in Union City territory, but it was for naught as another Eisenhower fumble was recovered by Union City.

The Knights’ defense forced a turnover on downs and then used the legs of Jakubczak and tailback Logan Penley — aided by a pass interference call — to drive to the 4-yard line when Jakubczak ran it up the middle for a touchdown. Wilkins’ kick made it 14-7.

“I thought our offensive line played well tonight,” Eisenhower head coach Jim Penley said. “They opened up some huge holes, and as the game went on gave Caleb time to set up and throw and he was able to complete some passes.”

The Knights forced a Union City punt with 1:21 left, but a bad snap forced Fikiri to run with the ball. Eisenhower’s Chambers caught him before he could reach the line to gain and the Knights took over with 1:21 remaining in the half.

A 22-yard run by Jakubczak and runs by Penley, along with a big third-down catch of 15 yards by Lindemuth set the Knights up with a first and goal from the 5-yard line.

See KNIGHTS / B2

With 18 seconds on the clock, Jakubczak took the shotgun snap and threw between two Union City defenders to Lookenhouse, who caught the pass for a touchdown. Wilkins’ kick was good and it was 21-7 knights with 24 seconds remaining in the first half. Jakubczak ended the half with an interception.

Eisenhower’s defense bent but never broke in the second half, as it forced five punts.

The Knights put together a 10-play, 60-yard drive in the final period behind long runs by Penley (15 carries, 98 yards), who remained in the game after an eye injury.

“I thought he ran really hard tonight, once I knew he was OK,” Coach Penley said. “It was good to see him get some tough yards for us when we needed them.”

Jakubczak (eight carries, 74 yards, two TDs) scored Eisenhower’s last TD of the night on a 14-yard run. A bad snap on the PAT attempt forced Jakubczak to attempt a pass, which was incomplete.

“I thought our quarterback played well tonight,” Coach Penley said. “t was good to see him get some time to throw the ball, and I thought Ryan Chambers had a nice game at linebacker for us.”