The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 

Eisenhower Routes Cochranton in Season Opener

Tagged under: District 10, Gameday Hub, News

| August 27, 2022

There was preseason talk around District 10 that Eisenhower could be headed for a big season. After all, the Knights were returning a significant amount of starters, including Benji Bauer, Keegan Eckstrom, Tucker Lindell, and almost the entire offensive line. And in tonight’s 41-0 rout of Cochranton, Eisenhower absolutely had the look of an experienced team. 

We were sharp,” head coach James Penley said of his team. “We weren’t perfect, but we were pretty sharp.”

The defense was undoubtedly sharp. The Knights only gave up three first downs the entire game and held Cochranton to negative yardage in the first half.

Eisenhower’s Benji Bauer had a huge game on both sides of the ball and logged over 150 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. In fact, it was Bauer that began the onslaught with a 63-yard touchdown run on the Knight’s first play on offense, showing off his athleticism by muscling through defenders before showing off his break-away speed.

“Benji is a hard-nosed ballplayer,” Coach Penley said. “On defense, he fills like a maniac from the linebacker spot, and on offense, he is tough to bring down while running the ball. The offensive line loves blocking for him.” 

On the next possession, Eisenhower forced a Cardinals three-and-out, and on the punt, Keegan Eckstrom took it 70-yards for the touchdown, putting the Knights up 13-0 just minutes into the first quarter. 

The Cochranton young offensive line struggled as it was pushed back by Eisenhower’s front four all night. After graduating several star starters from last year’s District 10 runner-up team, the Cardinals showed their youth, not so much in terms of procedural penalties, which they had none, but in the size and strength of its players. The more experienced Knights were just bigger, stronger, and faster. 

Bauer picked up where he left off in the second quarter, showing off his athleticism by picking off an errant Cochranton pass and returning it for a 33-yard touchdown untouched. Seconds before the first half ended, Bauer scored again with a goal-line touchdown run, ballooning the score to 27-0 going into the half.

Eisenhower’s dominance continued minutes into the second half, this time scoring through the air on a beautiful 20-yard throw from Pascuzzi to Longstreet. After recovering an onside kick and an ensuing drive, fullback Tucker Lindell punched in a 1-yard touchdown, putting the Knights up 41-0.

With the mercy rule running clock in effect, the clock marched quickly toward the final horn. Eisenhower starts its season 1-0, while the Cardinals fall to 0-1. 

 

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x