EudoraNews.com

Eudora's wonderful ride came to an end Saturday, but two Cardinals came oh-so-close to keeping their team on board for one more week.

Junior cornerback Lear Bowling, who had two interceptions during the regular season, picked off two Hiawatha passes and recovered a fumble.

Bowling's first interception, in the second quarter, came after a Eudora fumble. The Cardinals couldn't capitalize on the interception or Bowling's fumble recovery in the third quarter.

But the third time was a charm. After Eudora quarterback Ronnie Morelan threw an interception at the Hiawatha 11, Bowling snagged his second pick of the night two plays later with 4:50 left in the third quarter. This time, the Cards converted on Brian Harris' three yard touchdown run to pull within two at 14-12.

For Bowling, the feeling of putting the Eudora offense back on the field was unlike any other.

"Every time you get a turnover it boosts the team," Bowling said. "The crowd was especially awesome.

The crowd's never that loud. That's probably the coolest thing I've ever been a part of."

Bowling's last turnover eventually put EHS in position for another Cardinal to shine.

Senior place-kicker Martin Krumbach, who had minimal field goal experience during the season, lined up for a 35-yarder with Eudora still down by two late in the fourth quarter. The German exchange student had great distance, but missed just left. Hiawatha then scored on an 80-yard touchdown run seconds later.

"I thought 'wow it went through,'" Krumbach said about the field goal. "But it was at an angle.

"I nearly died. But I can't set back time. You can't always be the hero."

Despite the missed field goal, Krumbach played out his dream of playing American football.

"It was like a professional soccer game in Germany," Krumbach said about the atmosphere Saturday night.