Eudora coach Gregg Webb is no stranger to state championship games. When he coached the Claflin Wildcats, Webb directed the program to five state championships and four runner-up finishes.
However, Saturday’s Class 4A state championship game in Salina against Rose Hill will be Webb’s first appearance since taking over the Cardinals’ program 10 years ago.
“It feels good,” Webb said. “Ten years is a long time. Every year, we really thought we had a shot. There wasn’t year where we really dismissed us having a chance.
“This year may be the biggest shocker that we got here. It’s not that we don’t have good kids. We do, but I didn’t think our depth would allow it. We have 38 kids, and I thought we might get into trouble health-wise.”
Eudora (12-1) made it to the state finals for many of the same reasons Claflin did all those years – by running the football and playing strong defense.
The Cardinals boast three 1,000-yard rushers in running backs Chris Pyle (1,799 yards, 11 TDs) and Gabe Cleveland (1,054 yards, 12 TDs) and quarterback Derek Webb (1,067 yards, 14 TDs). Each back has had at least one 100-yard outing in the playoffs.
“We have three guys who can really run the football,” Webb said. “Who we go to depends on what we think works best scheme-wise. If we think lining Chris up in the I-formation and giving it to him 30 times will work best, then that’s what we’ll do. It’s a good problem to have.”
Defensively, Eudora has kept its opponents to 14 points or fewer in nine of 13 games. Senior defensive back Matthew Gadberry leads the Cardinals with 131 tackles, while 175-pound senior defensive tackle Alex Whitten has 76 tackles with seven sacks.
“Our defense is better around the board this season,” Webb said. “We have some kids who are very smart and physical. We don’t have a lot of big kids, but they play physical.
“Whitten makes us so much better because he’s so disruptive. We watch him on film and just shake our heads. If teams try to put one kid on him, he’s pretty much unblockable. He’ll get doubled, and he’ll still make plays.”
The Rose Hill Rockets (12-1) are back in the state title game for the first time since 2004.
Rose Hill did so, despite being an underdog on the west side of the 4A bracket.
You see, Topeka Hayden, Holton, Buhler and Ulysses were all receiving more attention after Rose Hill fell 18-10 to Buhler in the season opener.
The Rockets have more than earned their spot by defeating Holton, Andale, Ulysses and Hayden in consecutive playoff games.
“A lot of teams didn’t know what we were going to be like coming into this season,” Rose Hill coach Greg Slade said. “They knew we had our quarterback back, but there were a lot of question marks at the beginning of the year. We were running under the radar, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“I think we’ve improved. Our defense has played well all year. Offensively, it took our line a little time to grow.”
Quarterback Derrick Decker has been the stabilizing force for the Rocket offense. Decker has rushed for 1,431 yards, while passing for 1,087 yards. Running back Jonny Pearson has rushed for 1,684 yards.
“We have a pretty good running game, too,” Slade said. “We have two guys at almost 1,500 yards and two guys right around 500 yards.
“I think you also have to be aware of our passing game. We have some good receivers.”
Rose Hill boasts three players with 15 catches or more in Caleb Braddy (19 catches, 342 yards), Eastin Dockers (16 catches, 268 yards) and Kyle Anderson (15 catches, 215 yards).
On defense, the Rockets have kept opponents to 7 points or fewer six times and to two touchdowns or fewer 10 times. Cody Carlson ignites the Rocket defense as he has 192 tackles, including 119 solos. Decker has posted 132 tackles.
“Our kids have a shot,” Slade said. “One of the things I talked to our kids about is not just being satisfied with being in the state championship game.”
Projected starters
Eudora Cardinals (12-1)
QB Derek Webb, 6-1, 170, Sr.
FB Gabe Cleveland, 6-0, 200, Jr.
RB Chris Pyle, 5-6, 155, Sr.
WR Andrew Ballock, 6-2, 165, So.
WR Zach Bagwell, 5-9, 165, Sr.
TE Nick Becker, 6-2, 230, Jr.
RT Jared Ireland, 6-0, 235, Sr.
RG Greg Snell, 6-3, 230, Sr.
C Jarrod Kaup, 6-0, 230, Sr.
LG Eric Rogers, 5-11, 210, So.
LT Landon Walrod, 5-11, 180, Jr.
DE Jared Ireland, 6-0, 235, Sr.
DE Nick Becker, 6-2, 230, Jr.
DT Alex Whitten, 5-8, 175, Sr.
DT Jarrod Kaup, 6-0, 230, Sr.
OLB Markis Hill, 5-10, 175, Jr.
OLB Gabe Cleveland, 6-0, 200, Jr.
MLB Matt Gadberry, 5-11, 180, Sr.
CB Chris Pyle, 5-6, 155, Sr.
CB Zach Bagwell, 5-9, 165, Sr.
S Derek Webb, 6-1, 170, Sr.
S Andrew Ballock, 6-2, 165, So.
Rose Hill Rockets (12-1)
QB Derrick Decker, 6-5, 215, Sr.
FB Eastin Dockers, 6-2, 215, Sr.
RB Jonny Pearson, 5-11, 140, Jr.
RB Hunter Lewis, 5-9, 180, Sr.
WR Bret Waddell, 6-3, 170, So.
WR Caleb Braddy, 6-0, 185, Sr.
LT Cody Walther, 6-3, 230, Jr.
LG Parker Whitney, 6-3, 275, Sr.
C Michael Cleveland, 6-0, 220, Jr.
RG Connor Campbell, 6-2, 220, Jr.
RT Austin Shaffer, 6-3, 210, Sr.
DL Tyler Shields, 5-11, 205, Sr.
DL Andrew Trimble, 5-8, 185, Sr.
DL Austin Shaffer, 6-3, 210, Sr.
DL Parker Whitney, 6-3, 275, Sr.
DL Kyle Anderson, 6-4, 210, Sr.
LB Tyler Knight, 5-10, 170, Sr.
LB Hunter Lewis, 5-9, 180, Sr.
LB Cody Carlson, 5-8, 175, Sr.
CB Caleb Braddy, 6-0, 185, Sr.
CB Izak Wherry, 5-11, 175, Sr.
SS Derrick Decker, 6-5, 215, Sr.
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
