Eudora clicked on both sides of the ball as they cruised past Ottawa in their second meeting in three weeks.

The Cardinal offense scored at will, with 40 of their points coming in the first half. Senior quarterback Gage Hayden led the way with five total touchdowns, scoring three rushing touchdowns and two through the air. 

Sophomore Adrion Seals and Junior Jaiden Bender each caught a pass touchdown, and senior Brayden Beerbower scored two rushing touchdowns. 

Sophomore defensive back Kole Manley helped set the tone on defense, forcing two turnovers in the second quarter. Manley ripped the ball out of an Ottawa receiver’s hands after he had caught the ball and then hauled in an interception with three seconds left in the first half.

“It was just good communication by our secondary on defense allowing me to get into position,” Manley said. “I came in to make the tackle, the ball was there and I took it.”

Eudora scored on every one of their possessions of the first half except their final one following Manley’s interception. Most of the meaningful minutes of the game were played in the first half with Eudora taking a 40-6 lead going into halftime.

Ottawa’s turnover woes didn’t help their cause. A fumbled snap in the fourth was recovered by sophomore linebacker Matthew Magette.

The Cardinals scored their last touchdown of the night in the fourth when Hayden found Bender in the end zone. 

The win gives Eudora their first winning streak of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time during the playoffs. 

“Our kids came out motivated,” head coach Sean Hayden said. “They wanted to prove that we were the most physical team out there.”

Eudora (5-4) will play Atchison (8-1) Friday at regionals. Time TBD.

Reach sports editor Chris Fortune at [email protected].

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