EudoraNews.com

The fouler John Powers smells, the better the chance the Cardinals have of winning this week's Friday the 13th match-up against DeSoto High.

The senior wide receiver and defensive back believes much of the Cardinal winning streak has been generated by a dirty, sweaty T-shirt. On the most unlucky day of the year, the Cards may need all the good luck they can find.

"I wear the same shirt to every practice and I don't wash it until after the game. I wear it under my pads," Powers said. "It's been good luck."

Powers has worn the same Cardinal football shirt to every practice and every game since early in the season last year, and the key to Powers' good luck method is keeping the lucky shirt dirty throughout the week. Powers' sweaty gray T-shirt infests his locker during the week and doesn't get washed until after Friday night games.

"It doesn't smell too good, but it doesn't get too bad until Friday," Powers said. "After the game, I put it in the laundry as soon as I can so it doesn't smell up everything."

Despite Eudora's loss to Louisburg High early this season, Powers insists that the shirt hasn't failed him yet.

"It was a fluke," Powers said of the loss. "It means too much to me to give it up after one loss. I don't know what I would do without it."

But coach Aaron Barnett said it was more than luck that made Powers a froce on the field.

"John is a very football-smart kid," Barnett said. "He's one of the hardest workers I've had at my time here in Eudora."

And even though Powers seems to rely mentally on his good luck charm, Barnett said he didn't need it to play the way he did.

"He knows exactly what he's supposed to do on every play. He has few mental breakdowns,"

But Powers' lucky T-shirt seems to be working, as the Cards find themselves atop the Frontier League for the first time since 1972 with a record of 5-1 after running away from Baldwin High 41-21 last Friday.

What's more, Powers' stinky superstition may help plunge the Cards into the postseason at least, that's his belief as they head into district play in this week's Friday the 13th game against DeSoto.