By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Before Friday night the last time the Hayden Wildcats were on the football field was Nov. 30th in the Class 3A championship game against Andale.
Fast forward to Friday and Hayden began its mission to get back to the title game and win it.
Hayden senior Kade Mitchell scored two touchdowns and set up another TD in Friday's 28-6 win over Eudora. [File photo/TSN]
Connor Hanika opened his senior season with three touchdown passes in Hayden's 28-6 win over Eudora. [File photo/TSN]
The Wildcats would host the Cardinals from Eudora for the season-opener and things would get off to a big start for the Wildcats as senior Kade Mitchell would return the opening kickoff 70 yards all the way to the 10-yard-line.
That would allow senior quarterback Connor Hanika to throw the first of his three touchdowns as he would hit senior Makhi Kidd for the first touchdown of the night.
Eudora would get the ball and use up all the clock in the first quarter on its first drive and score at the start of the second quarter and Hayden would block the extra point.
Hayden would fumble on the next drive and force Eudora into punting and that would set up a Mitchell 55-yard punt return touchdown to put the Wildcats up 14-6 with eight minutes left in the half.
Hayden would force another Cardinal turnover and force the Cards to pay as Hanika would find junior Mason Becker in the air for a 52 yard pass to go up 21-6 with 605 left in the quarter. The Cats would force another turnover and Hanika would air it out again and find Mitchell for the 22-yard touchdown pass, giving the Wildcats the 28-6 lead going into halftime.
“I thought we executed some good things early, a little disappointed in the way we came out In the second half.” Arnold said. “They did a really good job slowing down our running game, they jammed the box and have some really physical kids on their D-line. And Hanika did a good job throwing the ball.”
“We had a great game plan going into the game and coach called some really good plays,” Hanika said.
“I ran my routes and found ways to get open for Hanika to get me the ball to make some plays,'' Becker said.
The Wildcats will be back in action next Friday at St. Michael Archangel, Mo.
HAYDEN 28, EUDORA 6
Eudora (0-1) 0 6 0 0 -- 6
Hayden (1-0) 7 21 0 0 -- 28
Hayden — Kidd 3 pass from Hanika (Becker kick)
Eudora — Carnagie 1 run (Kick failed)
Hayden — Mitchell 55 punt return (Becker kick)
Hayden — Becker 52 pass from Hanika (Becker kick)
Hayden — Mitchell 22 pass from Hanika (Becker kick)
Individual Statistics Rushing — Eudora: Moody 26-120, Duncan 6-32, Thomas 6-18, Hoobler 1-7, Mulvihill 1-3, Bowser 1-2, Carnagie 1-1. Hayden: Mitchell 6-29, McGivern 6-25, Krenz 4-5, Hanika 1-7.
Passing — Eudora: Thomas 6-9-1 51 yards, Carnagie 1-6-2 14 yards. Hayden: 7-15-0, 150 yards.
Receiving — Eudora: Duncan 2-30, Mulvihill 1-17, White 1-14, Bowser 1-3, Hoobler 2-1. Hayden: Becker 2-86, Mitchell 2-33, Blasing 3-28, Kidd 1-3.
