Bulldogs stun Cardinals – Baldwin 33, Eudora 32

? It was simply classic.

Baldwin High shocked Eudora, 33-32, Friday night in front of a packed house at Laws Sports Complex. The Bulldogs’ football victory ruined the Cardinals’ homecoming, and more importantly, their undefeated run.

“The most thrilling game I’ve been part of,” Baldwin coach Mike Berg said. “This is a game that I will never forget.”

Neither will anyone who witnessed the Frontier League battle.

Besides a 7-6 lead early, Baldwin (4-2) trailed until fullback Brian Lauridsen caught a pass from Jason Kesinger and sprinted 74 yards for the touchdown with just 41 seconds remaining.

It was just the second pass reception on the night for Lauridsen, but it was likely the biggest score of the senior’s career.

“I saw the ball, it hit my hands, and I pretended like I was on a track,” Lauridsen said. “I saw that pylon and I went for it.”

Justin Goff, who saw his last kick blocked by the Cardinals, sailed the winning point through the uprights, causing a mad scene of celebrating Bulldog faithful on the visiting sideline.

“We made a few mistakes, but we came back,” Berg said. “We never quit. They have no quit in them.”

Eudora (5-1) tried using Andrew Pyle as their top threat on Friday, but the Bulldogs never let him make the big play. He ended up with 104 yards on 35 carries, though he did score three touchdowns.

To make up for it, Tyler Jackson came through in a big way. The senior bruised his way to 211 yards on just 12 carries, including a 44-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 16-yard score to put Eudora up 32-20 with 5:32 to play.

Baldwin pulled within six on its first play from scrimmage, when a halfback pass from Micah Mason found Ryne Jackson on the fly.

Along with the 58-yard touchdown pass, Mason rushed the ball 14 times for 86 yards.

Two recovered fumbles and a lost fumble later, the Bulldogs were in position to complete an amazing comeback. Berg and the Bulldogs came through.

“We had to go big on it,” he said. “When we had that last chance, we told them we’re going to go for it all. It was a total team effort.”