Eudora ? No football team in Eudora High history ever had won as many as 10 games in a season. Until Saturday night.

Andrew Pyle ran for two second-half touchdowns and the Cardinals evaded upstart Kansas City Piper, 20-6, in a second-round Class 4A playoff game at Laws Field.

âÂÂI know itâÂÂs a big deal to win 10 games,â Eudora coach Gregg Webb said, âÂÂbut we fully expected to win and I know the kids and I are disappointed how we played.âÂÂ

Eudora (10-1) was favored over the Pirates, who had won six straight after opening the season with four defeats Ãi¿½” two of them lopsided Ãi¿½” and the underdog nipped at the Cardinalsâ heels all night, especially early.

âÂÂWe came out flat,â Eudora senior guard-linebacker Joe Born said afterward.

Piper stunned the Cards by scoring on its first possession. Following a 14-yard punt by EudoraâÂÂs Joey Donahue, the Pirates drove 55 yards in nine plays with quarterback Scott Lipovic hitting wide receiver Jake Hendricks just inside the right goal-line pylon on a 24-yard pass play.

Matt MosierâÂÂs extra-point attempt was wide right and the Pirates led 6-0 with 5:48 left in the first quarter. Eudora didnâÂÂt retaliate until midway through the second quarter when fullback Tyler Jackson exploded up the middle for a 24-yard TD run. But Kaleb Niedensâ extra-point kick was blocked and the score remained knotted at 6 until halftime.

Piper, like most Eudora foes, was keying on tailback Pyle, and the strategy was working because Pyle couldnâÂÂt break a big play. Then the big play happened Ãi¿½” a screen pass from quarterback Tyler Cleveland to Pyle, a 5-foot-10, 178-pound senior, and he lugged it 29 yards.

On the next play, Cleveland unloaded again, this time deep down the middle to wide receiver Niedens, who was hauled down at the Piper 18 after a 37-yard gain for EudoraâÂÂs biggest play of the night.

Three plays later, Pyle burst over from nine yards out, Niedens converted the kick, and Eudora led 13-6 with 1:11 remaining in the third quarter.

Eudora nursed that touchdown advantage until midway through the fourth quarter when Mosier, back to punt, took off around right end with Piper facing fourth and 11.

âÂÂWe were screaming, âÂÂ’Fake,âÂÂâ Webb said, âÂÂbut I looked and didnâÂÂt see anybody there and I thought, âÂÂ’Holy smokers.âÂÂâÂÂ

Ah, but someone was there. Sophomore linebacker Chris Durkin closed on Mosier and the Piper punter suddenly changed his mind and tried to kick the ball away.

âÂÂHe must have been five yards from me,â Durkin said, âÂÂand his kick hit me right in the stomach. I was surprised, but I realized it was a fumble and I knew I had to get it.âÂÂ

After smacking DurkinâÂÂs stomach, the ball caromed from the Piratesâ 39 all the way back to their 23, where Durkin covered it. Two plays later, Pyle bolted 19 yards into the end zone with 5:03 remaining for the clincher.

Pyle finished with 130 yards in 30 body-punishing carries. Several times Pyle, who has rushed for about 1,900 yards this season, arose slowly. Late in the game, he took a shot from the Piratesâ Nick Jobe and had to be assisted off the field and checked for a possible concussion.

âÂÂWe didnâÂÂt block very well for him,â Webb said. âÂÂThere were times we didnâÂÂt touch their down linemen. He was taking shots he never should be taking.âÂÂ

Eudora will continue its playoffs run next Friday at Paola, a team the Cardinals waxed, 44-0, in the second week of the regular season.