EudoraNews.com

Molly Brunton

Evan Cleveland (7) runs for a big gain as Reece Long (9) looks to block Friday against Gardner.

The Eudora Cardinals put up a valiant effort against 5A powerhouse Gardner-Edgerton Friday at Laws Field. But Gardner was too much for the Cardinals and won, 26-0.

“We played all right,” Eudora coach Gregg Webb said. “Offensively we moved the ball and kept the ball out of their hands, but we didn’t score.”

Eudora moved the ball between the 30-yard lines effectively, but penalties cost the Cardinals.

“We had enough busted plays that it killed us,” Webb said. “We had one bad play on every series. And when we were trying to control the ball, and when yardage was a premium, they were too good to be doing that. So we had several penalties, several bone-headed plays offensively that we could not finish drives.”

Eudora kept the game close in the first half, and had an opportunity to tie the score at seven at the half, but Eudora couldn’t punch it in from the five-yard line.

Gardner’s offense then came to life in the second half and scored 19 points to pull away from the Cardinals.

Gardner’s Bubba Starling completed five of 10 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Gardner running back Brett Jensen ran 17 times for 150 yards. Gardner also ran for 264 yards in the game.

“Their offense is unbelievable,” Webb said of Gardner. “Our defense didn’t play too bad. Our best defense was our offense keeping them off the field, but they’re so explosive.”

Eudora (4-2) will begin district play Friday at Perry-Lecompton.

“They’re a good team,” Webb said of Perry. “They’re not bad, and they’re playing at home and everybody is 0-0. So we’ll have to play well because they do a lot of junk stuff on offense and defense that kind of keeps you honest.”