Eudora ? Joe Born must have been born under a good sign.

For that matter, the entire Eudora High football team might count itself lucky after a 21-14 first-round Class 4A playoff win against Baldwin on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs dominated most of the game, leading in time of possession and limiting the Cardinals to just 39 offensive plays.

But that just reminded Eudora coach Gregg Webb of the last time these two teams played.

Baldwin (6-4) emerged from the Oct. 11 showdown with a 33-32 win, but Eudora coach Gregg Webb said his team probably should have won the first time around. It evened out Tuesday night.

“They outplayed us tonight,” Webb said. “It says 21-14 on the scoreboard, but we were lucky to win. Of course, I thought we outplayed them in the first game and didn’t get the win.”

Eudora (9-1) nearly came up short again, but held on thanks to a timely pass and catch and Born’s good fortune.

Baldwin took its first lead, 14-13, when Micah Mason leaped in for a five-yard touchdown with 3:37 remaining in the fourth quarter and Ryne Jackson hauled in a two-point conversion from quarterback Jason Kesinger.

To that point, the Cardinals only had two sustained drives, as they were unable to establish a consistent running game. Baldwin stacked six, seven or even eight men along the line of scrimmage in an effort to limit Eudora running back Andrew Pyle, one of the state’s top rushers. He had 101 yards on 17 carries, but only had one run more than 20 yards.

To combat that defense, the Cardinals went to the air. On the second play after Mason’s touchdown, quarterback Tyler Cleveland lofted a perfect pass to receiver Joey Donahue, who caught the ball in stride at the Baldwin 25 and was brought down at the 16 for a 46-yard completion.

Three plays later, Cleveland took an option left and made a spin move, but was hit and fumbled the ball.

Luckily for the Cards, Born was finishing off a block and turned just as Cleveland fumbled.

“It just popped right out in front of me,” Born said. “He kinda spun and the ball came out, right to me.”

Cleveland scored on the next play, and the Cardinals stretched the lead with a Tyler Jackson conversion pass from Cleveland.

The Bulldogs had a chance for a game-winning drive of their own, but Dustin Moyer sacked Baldwin quarterback Jason Kesinger on a fourth-and-sixth at the Eudora 35.

“It’s frustrating,” Baldwin coach Mike Berg said. “But one of our mottos is ‘no excuses.’ We’re not going to make any excuses tonight. It comes down to execution. We played well enough to win, but couldn’t get it done.”

Most of that chance came on the legs of Mason, who led all rushers with 118 yards on 26 carries. His speed around the outside frustrated Eudora defenders  who had trouble bringing down the 6-foot, 200-pound junior  time and time again.

“Mason is a good back. He made some great runs, but still. Did anybody check him for slick stuff?” Webb joked. “We slid off him like a greased pig.”

Baldwin ended up 195 yards rushing and 282 total yards to Eudora’s 162 rushing yards and 240 total yards, but couldn’t overcome a missed field goal, two stalled drives inside the Eudora 25-yard line and an interception inside the Eudora 15.

The Cardinals’ luck, it seemed, held out. They’ll play KC Piper at Laws Field on Saturday.

“We were very fortunate to win the game,” Webb said. “But our kids never quit. I was proud of the way they came out on that last drive.”

Eudora 21, Baldwin 14

Baldwin 0 0 6 8 Â 14

Eudora 0 7 0 14 Â 21

E Â Andrew Pyle 3 run. (Kaleb Niedens kick).

B Â Micah Mason 22 run. (kick failed).

E Â Pyle 7 run. (run failed).

B Â Mason 5 run. (Ryne Jackson pass from Jason Kesinger).

E Â Tyler Cleveland 1 run. (Tyler Jackson pass from Cleveland).

 Sports reporter Mike Miller can be reached at 832-7152.