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Too many fumbles, too many turnovers and too many miscues. That's the gist of Eudora's season opening loss to Spring Hill.

Two fumbled snaps in the first half, five turnovers for the game and two Hail Mary touchdown passes by the Broncos late in each half added up to a 14-13 Eudora loss Friday night at Spring Hill.

"We didn't show up for the first half really," said Cardinals running back and defensive back Ryan Fisher. "We made a lot of mistakes and didn't put any points on the board, so second half we came out with a lot of intensity and then when it came down to it, we just didn't have it."

The Cardinals began the game with Christian Richardson at quarterback and Drew Noble came in for the next series. Eudora racked up 150 yards of total offense in the opening half (131 rushing) but couldn't put the ball in the end zone. The Broncos, however, did just that with 24 seconds to play in the half.

Spring Hill wide receiver James Beard matched up with Richardson much of the night, and on a rollout desperation heave by Jordan Miller to the end zone Beard came down with the ball for a 26-yard strike to give the Broncos the lead and momentum at the break.

But the Cardinals' defense answered on the Broncos' opening drive of the second half by forcing them to go three and out. Eudora lineman Cody Potter then broke through the line and both blocked and recovered the punt for Eudora at the Spring Hill 30 yard line. The Cardinals wasted little time moving the ball and Fisher capped off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run.

Eudora's defense then forced Spring Hill to punt on its ensuing possession and Fisher finished that drive off, scoring on a fourth and goal from inside the one. Fisher led Eudora's ground attack with 33 carries for 204 yards and two touchdowns. But his performance could well be more remembered for his trouble holding on to the football than his 200-yard game. Fisher lost two fumbles and repeatedly put the ball on the ground.

Early in the fourth, though, Fisher ended a Spring Hill scoring threat with an interception in the end zone, and the Cardinals kept the ball in his hands and he toted runs of 8 yards, 5 yards and 11 yards the next three plays. With momentum back on its side, Eudora moved the ball up the field with ease, as Fisher continued to gash through the Broncos' defense.

After a pass play from Drew Noble to Caleb Clayton-Molby, Eudora again kept it on the ground with Fisher. Fisher fumbled again on the drive but the ball was picked up by Alex Cox to keep Eudora's drive alive. Eudora then moved the ball into the red zone and Fisher lunged for the goal line when the ball came loose in the end zone. Eudora thought it had a touchdown, but it was ruled a fumble and touchback for Spring Hill. Eudora coach Gregg Webb didn't agree with the ruling.

"We woke up a little bit and played the second half," Webb said. "Our first two drives we march right down and score and then we decide to fumble it in the end zone, which is the worst call I have ever seen. The ball was across the end zone, even if he lost control of the ball it was after the ball crossed the goal line."

The ruling gave Spring Hill the ball and hope. Eudora had them stopped twice, but two long yardage conversions via a completion and a roughing the passer penalty moved Spring Hill to the Eudora 36-yard line. And on fourth and nine, Beard again got behind the Eudora defense and hauled in the game-winning pass with 2:36 to play.

"He just jumped us over," Webb said. "Their kid wanted it more than we did. He just went up and got it. Our kid just thought he was going to knock it down but you've got to come with a little more intensity."

Eudora had one last gasp but its drive ended when Noble threw an interception trying to go downfield.

Fisher, whose white uniform was smeared with grass and mud stains, credited his line for his running success, despite taking the loss especially hard.

"They made some pretty good holes for me," Fisher said. "I didn't do my job as well as I should have so we have to move on and see what we can do next week."

Eudora will next play host to De Soto Friday at 7 p.m.

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