An old rival handed Romeo its first loss of the football season.

Blake Rastigue and Nick Sefcovic threw a touchdown pass apiece and Eisenhower took advantage of fumbles on the Bulldogs’ first two possessions of the game on the way to a 17-7 MAC Red Division victory before a capacity crowd at Swinehart Field on Friday night.

“Playoffs,” Rastigue said when asked what was at stake for the Eagles. “We had to win. That was our only goal.”

Nick Price made a key tackle in the second half to help Eisenhower stop a Romeo drive on downs, and the Eagles improved to 1-1 in the Red and 2-2 overall. Romeo is 1-1 and 3-1.

“Every game we’ve had (against Ike) in the 18 years I’ve been here was a tough game,” Bulldogs coach Curt Rienas said. “I told the kids we’ll learn a lot more about ourselves after this than after our victories.”

Sefcovic passed 16 yards to Steven Nadolski on a halfback option and Luke Drzewiecki added the point to give Eisenhower a 17-0 lead with 39.1 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We never felt like we had it wrapped up,” Eisenhower coach Chris Smith said. “It was a great crowd, a great atmosphere for football.

"It was a huge win. We didn't want to go to 1-3 with three MAC Red games left."

Drzewiecki kicked a 28-yard field goal after Romeo’s first possession ended with a fumble at the Bulldogs’ 32.

Rastigue passed seven yards to Ian West after the Bulldogs fumbled at the Ike 43. Rastigue passed 47 yards to Aiden Ives to set up the touchdown.

“I think we could have gotten more points off (the first two turnovers),” Smith said. “But Romeo did a great job defensively.”

Romeo scored in the final minute of the fourth quarter on Ty Messner’s 28-yard pass to Nino Brasza.

Anthony Cardamone intercepted a Romeo pass with 11:24 left in the second quarter.

Jack Wittwer intercepted two Bulldog passes in the fourth quarter, including one in the end zone, as Romeo committed five turnovers.

“You can’t be a good team if you turn the ball over that many times,” Rienas said.

Trailing 10-0, Romeo drove on its second possession of the third quarter to the Eagle 15, but Price stopped the Bulldogs’ sweep on fourth and one from the six.

“Nick Price is an awesome corner,” Rastigue said. “He’s a junior. He’s small, but he makes big plays.”

Nadolski helped set up his touchdown when he caught a 44-yard pass from Rastigue, moving the ball to the Romeo 34.

Senior Nick Mickles had an interception for Romeo in the second quarter.

Romeo had 207 total yards and Eisenhower 157.

Eisenhower is 7-4 in its last 11 games with Romeo. The Eagles dealt Romeo its only loss in 2015, when the Bulldogs won the state Division 1 championship.