Photo Courtesy of Hudl
A more than 100-mile bus ride was just the beginning of a long night Friday for the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football team as they dropped a key district clash to the Centerville Big Reds on Homecoming at Paul Johnson Field, 30-14. The Hawks took the ball first, and took to the air for fireworks, finishing a five-play, 75 yard drive, with a 43 yard touchdown pass from Collin Miller to Cain Brown, their third scoring connection this year, opening a 7-0 lead. Dynamic dual-threat Big Reds quarterback Brody Tuttle answered on Centerville’s first possession, guiding the offense 60 yards, on eight plays, to tie the game with a five yard touchdown run, his first of four on the night.
After a Golden Hawk punt, Centerville sprinted 83 yards on just five plays, the last 33 on Tuttle’s legs again for six and Centerville led 14-7. The Hawks found the answer late in the half, following a missed Mid-Prairie field goal, and a Big Reds three and out, Miller went up top to Brown again for a 30-yard touchdown to finish a seven play, 66 march and tie the game at 14 going to the locker room.
Out of half, it was a statement drive for Centerville, traveling 64 yards on 15 plays ending with a Tuttle touchdown tote, to take a lead they wouldn’t give up the rest of the night at 22-14 following Tuttle’s two. Defenses controlled the rest of the third, as Mid-Prairie went three and out and threw an interception, while the Hawks forced a Big Reds punt, but Centerville got their insurance touchdown early in the fourth, watching their all-state candidate quarterback Tuttle reach the endzone for a fourth time on the ground, capping a 12-play 60 yard drive with an 18 yard scoring run, the two made it 30-14. Backs against the wall late, Mid-Prairie mounted a pair of drives that covered 95 total yards and 15 plays but couldn’t find paydirt, with Centerville picking off their second pass of the night, this one in the red zone, to end the threat. Golden Hawk head coach Pete Cavanagh talked with KCII Sports about the keys he saw from the sideline. “We ran into a little bit of a buzzsaw Friday. I thought (Brody) Tuttle had a really good game. We had difficulty stopping them on first down and getting them off the field. I don’t know what official time of possession numbers were but they had to have won the stat by a lot. They blocked us well. A lot of credit to them. On offense, Collin (Miller) had his best game for us and I thought our receivers played well and we protected up front for the most part. Late in the game we were having to throw a lot and I thought our kids stepped up and did a nice job there. Next week, I think we’re going to be ready to go. We talked last night after the game that it was a tough loss but we have an opportunity to come home now for Senior Night and a future playoff game.”
Unofficially, Mid-Prairie was outgained on the night 352 to 314 in total yards, including 172 to 97 after half and were -2 in the turnover battle. Miller led the Golden Hawk offense with his best night under center, throwing for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Brown who finished with 136 yards receiving. Braden Hartley led the Golden Hawk ground game with 29 carries for 105 yards. Tuttle had 253 all-purpose yards for the Big Reds. The Centerville win gives the Big Reds the second seed in the district and a home playoff game, while Mid-Prairie will open the postseason on the road. The Hawks fall to 4-3 overall 2-2 in district and return home Friday to meet Davis County on Senor Night in Wellman.