High School Sports – Page 26 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Piper last-second touchdown stuns Eudora

Junior Colin Vigil and senior Dominique Herrig-Brittian celebrated with senior Ethan Walker, right, after he scored the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the game. (Photo copyright 2021 by Lexi Miles)

by Lexi Miles

“Adversity” was the theme of the week as Piper headed into a game Friday against Eudora, which had knocked them out of playoffs the previous year. Redemption was on the mind of several players.

The Pirates won a nerve-racking final second 26-23 win against Eudora. The “Friday Night Lights” atmosphere was finally back as the stands were packed with students, band, parents, cheerleaders and dancers in Piper High School Stadium after almost two years.

Eudora scored first after tackling Piper’s quarterback for a safety in the second quarter, followed by a 35-yard touchdown throw making the score 9-0 at the half.

After halftime, Piper turned around to score a 20-yard touchdown run by junior running back Miguel Martin. Junior Logan Ladish then threw the two-point conversion to senior Blake Porter, making the score 9-8 early in the second half.

At the end of the third quarter, Eudora scored another touchdown to go into the fourth quarter up 16-8. Frustration arose among the Pirates, and play went back and forth until a little over midway through the fourth quarter.

Ladish threw an amazing 35-yard throw to senior Divante Herrig-Brittian who reached for the ball for the touchdown, but the Pirates couldn’t capitalize on the two-point conversion.

Ladish then followed minutes later with another throw to Herrig-Brittian, and also scored the two-point conversion. The score was 20-16 with 5:29 left in the game.

As the clock ran down, Eudora scored, and played it safe to make the extra point. With 53 seconds left in the game, Eudora was up 23-20.

The clock was ticking, it was fourth and long. The Pirates went for it and were successful as Ladish ran for the first down. With 4 seconds left with the ball in the hands of Ladish, he threw a 53-yard throw to senior Ethan Walker, scoring. The Pirates won the game 26-23.

Excitement was around as the team stormed the corner of the endzone where Walker was. After the game, head coach Rick Pollard expressed his excitement knowing the team would only get better with plenty of time until playoffs in November.

Piper will face off against Leavenworth on Friday, Sept. 17, for its homecoming game.

Piper cheerleaders celebrated after senior Ethan Walker’s game-winning touchdown. Piper beat Eudora 26-23. (Photo copyright 2021 by Lexi Miles)

Piper defensive players celebrated after a fumble recovery. (Photo copyright 2021 by Lexi Miles)

Junior quarterback Logan Ladish tried to gain some extra yards with the help of senior lineman Chris Craig. Ladish threw for two touchdowns during the game. (Photo copyright 2021 by Lexi Miles)

Senior Jaylon Pride ran the ball to the outside in the first quarter against Eudora. (Photo copyright 2021 by Lexi Miles)

Juniors Miguel Martin, front, and Logan Ladish celebrated after Martin scored a touchdown. The touchdown made the score 9-6, followed by a completed 2-point conversion. (Photo copyright 2021 by Lexi Miles)

In the third quarter, Jaylon Pride ran the ball as a Eudora defender attempted to tackle. (Photo copyright 2021 by Lexi Miles)

Senior Kieran Kirwan cheered on the Pirates in the fourth quarter as they were down 23-20 against Eudora. The game was Piper’s first home game in almost two years. (Photo copyright 2021 by Lexi Miles)

Junior Camden Beebe (70) lined up for defense against Eudora’s offense. Beebe is a prospect for Kansas State University. (Photo copyright 2021 by Lexi Miles)

Wildcats hold off late Sabres surge for 16-14 win

Washington quarterback Blake Mullikin scored on a short run in the first half of the Wildcats’ 16-14 victory over Sumner. Mullikin scored two touchdowns in the contest. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Washington Wildcats held off a fourth quarter charge from the Sumner Sabres to win Friday night’s football game 16-14 at Washington.

Washington’s Blake Mullikin scored two first-half rushing touchdowns to stake the Wildcats to a 14-0 halftime lead.

The first score came midway through the first half after the teams traded unproductive first drives. Washington took over on the Sumner 9-yard line after a muffed snap on a punt. Washington pounded the ball within a yard of the goal, and Mullikin finished the drive by sliding down the line to find a small crease for the score and a 6-0 lead.

Washington’s second goal capped a long drive that consumed most of the second quarter. The Wildcats converted five first downs as they marched methodically down the field. Mullikin plunged through several defenders from four yards out for the touchdown, and the Wildcats converted a two-point play for a 14-0 lead.

With under two minutes in the half, Sumner drove down inside the Washington 10-yard line, but couldn’t score before the halftime whistle sounded.

After the teams traded turnovers to start the second half, Sumner took over on a blocked punt at the Washington 22 and then unleashed running back Antonio Harrison for a 22-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score 14-6.

Early in the fourth quarter, Washington drove from their 45-yard line to within two yards of Sumner’s goal. Sumner’s defense held on fourth down, but the aftermath proved costly.

On the next play, Washington sent a rush of defenders, sacking Sumner’s quarterback in the end zone and earning the two-point safety that proved to be the game’s final margin.

Sumner pulled within two points on a touchdown pass from Cam Johnson to Rickey Brown, followed by a two-point conversion to Harrison.

The door of opportunity opened wide for Sumner with four minutes remaining in the game. Washington fumbled the kickoff, and Sumner took over the ball at the Washington 17-yard line.

Penalties and a bad snap sent the Sumner offense in reverse, ending up back near the Washington 35, where the Wildcats took over on downs, needing only one first down to run out the clock.

The Sabres fall to 0-2 on the season. They are scheduled to play Lincoln Preparatory Academy on Sept. 17 at Schlagle Stadium.

The Washington Wildcats are 1-0 to start the season. They will face off against Schlagle next Friday in their homecoming game. Both games will kick off at 7 p.m.

Sumner senior receiver Rickey Brown broke multiple tackles on his way to a touchdown. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Washington quarterback Savyon Powell threw a short pass to the left side. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner running back Antonio Harrison burst around the right side for a 22-yard touchdown run. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Washington junior offensive lineman Jaden Selmon blocked Sumner sophomore defensive lineman Nicky Flores. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

The Washington Wildcats burst onto the field for their season opener. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Washington sophomore defensive back Ja’Quarey Williams knocked away a Sumner pass to the end zone. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

The Washington cheerleaders celebrated the victory. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

The Sumner drum section paraded onto the field before the game. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner junior Enrique Najera stripped the football for a fumble. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Washington head coach Cam Smith addressed the team after the game. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

Ward Cyclones win sold-out season opener against Sumner

Bishop Ward senior James Jarrett fended off a tackle from Sumner sophomore defensive back Howard Peoples in the first quarter of Ward’s 28-6 win over Sumner. Jarrett scored two touchdowns in the game. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

“…And in our victories too,” goes the line from the Bishop Ward school song, but the pep club usually sings it ironically, especially during football season.

Not this Friday.

Bishop Ward won a resounding 28-6 season-opening victory over the Sumner Academy Sabres at Schlagle Stadium. The grandstands were packed and evenly divided between the schools, giving the event a fun atmosphere. At kickoff, the ticket line still stretched around the parking lot.

James Jarrett was the star for the Cyclones, scoring two touchdowns and sustaining offensive drives with his powerful running, including a 65-yard near-touchdown run. Jarrett was most effective running off tackle, bulling his way through would-be tacklers.

Quarterback Christian Stein scored the game’s first touchdown on a quarterback keeper from short yardage in the second quarter. Jarrett made the score 14-0 at halftime with a 2-yard run up the middle.

Antonio Harrison scored the Sabres’ only touchdown of the game, breaking multiple tackles on a 34-yard run. Sumner’s Rickey Brown also used his speed effectively to create offense for the Sabres on sweeps and swing passes.

Christian Stein connected with Chris Galloway for a touchdown pass in the early fourth quarter to extend the Cyclones’ lead to 21-6.

With four minutes remaining in the game, Bishop Ward took over on its own 20. James Jarrett flipped the field with a 65-yard run, setting up his own 2-yard touchdown run a few plays later for the final 28-6 score.

The Sabres flashed plenty of talent, nearly connecting on a few long passes, but also showed the effects of a 672-day layoff, picking up multiple procedure penalties on two different series.

Sumner will start its conference season next Friday with a game at Washington.

Bishop Ward has made a big step forward on both sides of the ball. With the team moving to the Kaw Valley Conference this year, the Cyclones hope for a new era of success for their athletic programs.

Ward will take on the McLouth Bulldogs next Friday at home in a non-conference game starting at 7 p.m.