Andy Close
RUSSELL, Pa. – In a game broadcast on D9and10sports.com, Eisenhower turned in a dominant defensive effort, limiting Union City to 35 yards of total offense in a 47-0 victory.
“We know that these guys run the veer option and they’re going to do an amazing job doing it,” Eisenhower coach Jim Penley said. “Late last year, I believed that we were a comparable team, but they made us look foolish because we didn’t stop the run. That was the focus this year. We had to shut down that option. And I felt like for the most part we did. We had a couple plays that we gave up here and there. That was a little bit frustrating but all and all we did a really good job.”
Offensively, the Knights showed off their vast array of weapons, as the offensive line paved the way for Zane Alexander, Cael Black, Owen Trumbull, Dillon Benson and others.
“I think for us one big thing is, we were able to get back in during the summer we conditioned hard. We do a lot of really intense core conditioning,” Penley said. “The other thing too is the mentality of the guys. The guys that we have out there, a number of them have been playing for two or three years. Like I told them, some of the championship years that I’ve had, we had a lot of guys who had to struggle through the lean years.
“And they learned what it meant that if you’re going to be a championship team, you have to be able to play third and fourth quarter. The other blessing that we have is our depth that is much better. We’ve got a lot of young guys that were able to get reps on the field which allowed us to be able to get rest and to be more explosive as we played the game.”
After Trumbull connected with Caleb Robinault on a 4-yard strike to get the Knights on the board late in the first quarter, Alexander took over in the second, scoring on a 65-yard punt return and a 42-yard run, followed by a 1-yard plunge from Trumbull to make it 27-0 at halftime.
Black, who rushed for 110 yards, scored on a 21-yard run in the third quarter, which was followed by a Trumbull to Benson 22-yard touchdown strike in the fourth. Steve Reilly capped the scoring with a 22-yard run.
“We’re tired of losing – plain and simple,” Black said. “The last two years have been a struggle, but we know we’ve been on the come up, and tonight we were able to show it.”
Black was named the Allegheny Grille of Foxburg/Jim Kelly Player of the Game.
“I just want to win,” Black added. “I don’t care if we’re throwing the touchdown. I think Owen’s one of the best quarterbacks in D-10. I’m happy to have him throw touchdowns as long as we win.”
Score By Quarters
Union CIty 0 0 0 0 – 0
Eisenhower 6 21 7 13 – 47
