Most successful senior class in Piper football history signs with colleges

This year's Piper Pirates football senior class had quite the resume.

The senior class won three district championships and three bi-district titles, but saved the best for last.

The 2012 Piper Pirates football team became the first Piper team to advance into the "Final Four" of the 4A state playoffs, winning a sectional and regional championship.

Four of the seniors who signed with colleges today were four of the biggest reasons why.

• Matt McDonald, Garden City CC: McDonald was an outstanding running back who came back from a career-threatening injury during his junior season. He was the leading rusher and touchdown-scorer for the Pirates this season.

• Paul Jones, Garden City CC: Jones was a terrific special teams player for Piper and made some big plays in the passing game. Piper head coach Chris Brindle compared him to Darren Sproles.

• Dalton Hays, Highland CC: Hays was underrated secondary player who made several key interceptions this season during Piper's postseason run.

• Keaton Cofield, Butler CC: Cofield was one of the best defensive players in the KC metro area and earned a spot on the Kansas Shrine Bowl. He was the heart and soul of Piper's defense this season.

MAKING HISTORY: Piper wins first ever regional title in football

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

The Piper Pirates football program has officially taken the next step up in becoming one of the best 4A programs in the State of Kansas.

For the first time in the history of Piper High School, the Pirates are regional champions in football, defeating Baldwin 27-21 on the road Saturday night.

The Pirates used some big plays on defense and the passing game to take the lead - and eventually hold off a strong Baldwin team from a late comeback attempt.

Quarterback Tanner Eikenbary connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass to senior Sean Eskina to cut an early 7-0 deficit to 7-6, following the missed extra point. Baldwin responded with a 29-yard touchdown of their own, extending the lead to 14-6.

However, the Pirates defense weathered the storm, allowing Piper to  score the next 21 points in the game.

Matt McDonald's one-yard touchdown, which was followed up by an Eikenbary two-point conversion, tied the game at 14.

Sophomore Colton Beebe would set up the next Piper scored with his foot and his defense. Beebe drilled a 67-yard punt to flip field position. Later on, he sacked Baldwin's quarterback and caused a fumble.

From there, McDonald and the Pirates offense took advantage. He scored from six yards out to give Piper its first lead of the game. The touchdown was McDonald's sixth score of the postseason.

Near the end of the first half, another senior made a huge play.

Senior cornerback Keaton Cofield picked off a pass to end a Baldwin drive. Cofield's interception came in the end-zone, preserving a 21-14 halftime lead for the Pirates.

A Baldwin fumble set up Piper's final score, one that turned out to be the game-winner. Eikenbary threw his second touchdown of the game, extending Piper's lead to 27-14. The Bulldogs responded, cutting the lead down to 27-21.

But it was Cofield and the Pirates defense that had the final laugh.

Cofield made his second interception of the game late in the fourth quarter, allowing the Piper offense to kill some of the clock. After a Beebe punt pinned Baldwin inside its own 20, the Pirates turned Baldwin over on downs to earn the victory.

With the win, Piper improves to 9-2 on the season. They've won five games in a row, clinching their third straight district and bi-district titles in the process.

ANOTHER THREE-PEAT: Piper knocks off Jefferson West to win bi-district title

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

For the Piper Pirates football team, it was about repetition.

For Piper senior running back Matt McDonald, it was about redemption.

McDonald, who suffered a season-ending injury in the first round of the 4A playoffs last season, played perhaps the best game of his Pirates career in Tuesday's 34-21 victory over Jefferson West.

McDonald scored four touchdowns in the game, including the game-winner.

But for the Pirates, it took awhile before shaking off Jefferson West. Jefferson West scored the opening touchdown of the game, a 25-yard touchdown pass that put the Pirates down 6-0.

Piper responded with its own touchdown drive to begin the game.

Sophomore Colton Beebe had the big play of the drive, a 40-yard rush. The senior McDonald finished off the drive with a 19-yard touchdown run, giving Piper a 7-6 lead.

After struggling on its opening drive, the Piper defense stiffened up for most of the first half.

After they forced Jefferson West to go three and out, Piper began another drive that featured a lengthy Beebe run and a McDonald run that ended it.

Beebe had about a 20-yard carry, setting up McDonald's second touchdown of the game - this one coming from 35 yards out at the 8:18 mark of the second quarter.

"It was a fun game for me tonight," McDonald said. "It's been hard work and my lineman played hard and blocked for us."

Jefferson West did not go away.

After taking the ball over deep inside their own territory, Jefferson West's offense gashed Piper's defense, using misdirection plays and a quarterback sneak on fourth down to finish the drive with a touchdown.

The two point conversion left the score tied at 14-14.

In the second half, two unsung heroes stepped up to make big plays for the Pirates.