Eudora — Eudora High was its own worst enemy in its football season opener.
The Cardinals lost three of four fumbles, threw an interception and committed five penalties in a 28-12 loss to Louisburg on Friday night.
"You can't beat the No. 1 team in the state and turn the ball over," EHS coach Aaron Barnett said. "You can't put the ball on the ground and expect to win, period.
"We've got to hang onto the ball, first and foremost. That was a strong point last year, but not tonight."
Aaron Rose, who is starting the season in place of injured quarterback Brent Carnagie, was 3-for-9 passing for 68 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He had a hand in both of the Cardinals' touchdowns -- a one-yard QB sneak and a 67-yard pass to Craig Harris.
Rose finished with 19 carries for 41 yards.
"He did a good job," Barnett said. "Aaron's a tough competitor. No one hates to lose more than Aaron does. We're going to win a lot of games with Aaron as quarterback."
Rose's running touchdown was set up by a 50-yard scamper by Harris, a tailback who carried 12 times for 74 yards. Rose's TD run gave the Cardinals a 6-0 lead.
Louisburg took away Eudora's momentum seconds later on a 92-yard kickoff return by Billy Neff. Ryan Dunn's point after put the Wildcats ahead 7-6.
Louisburg scored twice in the second quarter -- on a 29-yard run by quarterback Grant Hash and a three-yard run by Neff -- for a 21-6 halftime lead. Hash was 6-for-13 passing for 116 yards, and he had nine carries for 33 yards. Neff finished with nine carries for 22 yards.
Eudora's defense stiffened in the scoreless third quarter.
"Our defense played well," Barnett said. "We gave them some 30-yard fields to play with and that helped them, but our defense played well."
Rose and Harris wasted no time in taking advantage of their defense's dominating play.
Two plays into the fourth quarter, Rose tossed a screen pass to Harris, who ran between two blockers and sped down the sideline for a 67-yard TD, bringing the score to 21-12.
Eudora could only get the ball for 2:30 the rest of the fourth quarter, as Louisburg ate clock and scored its final touchdown on a one-yard run by Noah Hoppe.
"I'm pleased that we were in the game," Barnett said. "To look on the positive side, we make that many mistakes and were within a touchdown and point after in the fourth quarter."
Eudora will travel to Anderson County on Friday.
Louisburg 28, Eudora 12
Louisburg 7 14 0 7 -- 28
Eudora 6 0 0 6 -- 12
E -- Aaron Rose 1 run (kick fail).
L -- Billy Neff 92 kickoff return (Ryan Dunn kick).
L -- Grant Hash 29 run (Dunn kick).
L -- Neff 3 run (Dunn kick).
E -- Craig Harris 67 pass from Rose (run fail).
L -- Noah Hoppe 1 run (Dunn kick).
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