Familiar Faces are back to lead the Golden Hawk offense in 2018, after a 2017 that saw injuries give opportunities to younger players.

The Golden Hawks return junior quarterback Brad Tornow, who became the starter midway through the season last year due to an injury to senior starter Karson Gingerich. In his time under center last year, Tornow was 26/47 through the air for 348 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions.

Due to injuries, the Golden Hawks also had players split time in the backfield. Senior Keaton Duwa led the Mid-Prairie rushing attack with 875 yards and six touchdowns, but was sidelined part of the year. Justin Schwartz had 337 carries and three touchdowns in his absence.

The receiving corps will be without their leading receiver by yards, Terrhyn Jacoby who racked up 474 yards and four scores during his senior season last year. However the Hawks return four other veteran members of that unit, which are led by Schwartz and his 38 catches last season for 434 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

On the line that Hawks bring back a bevy of experience and size. Isaac Boucher anchors the group at center. On either side of Boucher are guards junior Colton Allen and senior Josiah Meader. The bookend tackles for Mid-Prairie are Ryan Smit and Chaz Patterson. This week, Mid-Prairie head coach Pete Cavanagh talked with KCII sports about his offense and what has him most excited about the upcoming year. “This year we should have a good balance of run/pass. Our skilled kids are pretty good players. I don’t know how fast we are, but we are shifty and have some kids who can catch the football and making good moves. Our receiving corps I’m really excited about with Tom (Butters) and Grant (Boyse), Justin Schwartz, Jack Baker at tight end and kids like Cole Davis and Zeb Danner round that out. I think that’s a pretty good corp of kids at wide receiver. In our backfield we are going to mix some guys in but Conner Miller I think has looked good early on, along with Rex Peck and Schwartz, and kids like David Murray and Jaron Utzinger are backing them up. The offensive line is always a work in progress, but that’s coming around as well.”

Mid-Prairie opens the season Friday when they travel to Grinnell. You can hear all of the action live from T.T. Cranny Field, beginning with the Washington HyVee pregame show at 7p.m. and kickoff at 7:30 on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com.