Eudora used big plays, then their usual ground-and-pound offense to wrap up a first-round playoff win on Friday night.

The Cardinals topped Piper, 28-14, to advance to the second round of the Kansas Class 4A state playoffs. EHS scored touchdowns of 54 and 55 yards, and another long play to build a 21-7 lead, then sealed the game with a long drive.

Eudora struck right out of the gates, as on the fourth play of the contest, senior Matt Magette took a pitch to the right at midfield, eluded a tackler along the hash, got a block and jetted for a 54-yard score and an early 7-0 lead with 10:07 left in the first quarter.

Piper eventually answered after a tipped punt set the Pirates at the EHS 30, setting up a five-yard quarterback keeper by Jack Bakarich on the first play of the second quarter.

Eudora took the lead for good as senior Braylen Hoobler took an inside handoff at the EHS 45, and darted through the pack untouched for a 55-yard score, and a 14-7 lead with 11:38 left before the half.

Later in the quarter, again at midfield, quarterback Kole Manley took a keeper from the EHS 43, and rushed for 45 yards to the Piper 12. Four plays later, Manley took a keeper to the right side, shouldered into a Pirate at the goalline, for a four-yard score and a 21-7 margin.

Piper closed the gap to 21-14 with a big play of their own, as Bakarich heaved a deep pass from the Piper 48, and connected with Tannar McDaniel at the EHS 15. The junior wideout then scampered in for the touchdown with 2:30 left in the third period.

But the Pirates couldn’t muster any offense, and Eudora took over with 7:20 at the EHS 48. But instead of a big play, the Cardinals ground out a 10-play, 52-yard drive to kill off 4:49 with a Manley four-yard keeper for a 28-14 margin with 2:31 left.