Eudora ? Eudora High’s football team started and finished strong in its Class 4A Division I state semifinal matchup against Bishop Miege, but the Stags stifled the Cardinals in the game’s middle stages to defeat EHS, 52-20.

Eudora senior running back Grant Elston helped EHS strike first with a nine-yard touchdown run, but Bishop Miege rattled off 52 unanswered points to advance to the state title game.

Elston rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. His second score came on a 33-yard run.

Fellow senior Austin Downing added a 73-yard punt-return touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late after the Stags rattled off 24 points in the second and 21 in the third.

Miege running back Dawson Downing scored TDs from one, two and 48 yards out to steer the Stags.

Bishop Miege (11-1) will take on Andover Central (10-2) for the state title at 1 p.m. Nov. 28 at Hummer Sports Complex in Topeka.

Andover Central defeated Topeka Hayden, 28-2, in the other Class 4A Division I state semifinal matchup.

The Cardinals closed the season with a record of 8-4. It was the fourth state semifinal appearance in school history for the Cardinals.

Miege 7 24 21 0 — 52

Eudora 7 0 0 13 — 20

Scoring plays

Eudora — Grant Elston 9 run (Elston kick).

Bishop Miege — Dawson Downing 1 run (Jake Heyen kick).

Miege — Downing 2 run (Heyen kick blocked).

Miege — Blocked punt, John Crosby 24 return (Landry Weber run).

Miege — Downing 48 run (Heyen kick).

Miege — Heyen 30 field goal.

Miege — Jake Murphy 52 pass from Nolan Gray (Heyen kick).

Miege — Rees Alena 25 fumble return (Heyen kick).

Miege — Murphy 31 run (Heyen kick).

Eudora — Austin Downing 73 punt return (Elston kick).

Eudora — Elston 33 run. (Elston kick failed).