The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football team opens their district schedule tonight with a road trip to Wilton to battle the Beavers in a top 10 2A showdown. The Hawks finished non-district play at 2-1, with wins over their rivals from Washington and Sigourney-Keota and a loss on the road at top ten Alburnett. In their Homecoming win Friday, the Hawks shut out the Cobras 28-0, building a 21-0 first half lead. The Hawks won total yards 278-200, including 206-24 through the air, and took the turnover battle 3-0. Brooks Weber was 14 of 20 for 206 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers, Kaden Kos, Hudson Ehrfenfelt and Carson Humphrey. Ehrenfelt went for 144 all-purpose yards. Kos led the defense with 12 tackles, two for loss and a sack. Jack Sorrell had a pick six and forced a fumble, Damian Vazquez and Carson Humphrey recovered fumbles. The Golden Hawks are ranked No. 7 in the most recent Class 2A poll from Radio Iowa. This year, the Hawks average 38 points per game and give up 26, posting 343 yards per night, 231 passing and 122 rushing. They are +4 in turnover margin. Individually, Weber is 49 of 82 for 693 yards passing, nine touchdowns and one pick. His top target is Ehrenfelt with 15 grabs for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Kos and Humphrey also have two touchdown catches, Nolan Jergens leads with three. Kos leads with 23 tackles. Humphrey, Josh Turner, Vazquez and Sorrell have each recovered a fumble, Sorrell, Humphrey and Gentry Bontrager have picks. The Golden Hawks rank in the top 10 of Class 2A in 23 different categories.

The Wilton Beavers are also 2-1 with wins over Sigourney-Keota and Durant and a loss to Iowa City Regina. In their last contest, they shut out Durant 20-0. The Beavers won total yards 286-158, including 190-38 on the ground, and turnovers 3-2, with a pair of Oliver Grings interceptions and one from Thatcher Murguia. Offensive leaders were Noah Gray with 23 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Gunner Edwards threw six of 13 for 96 yards and a touchdown to Gabe Brisker. This season, the Beavers score 20 and give up 21 per night on 266 yards per game, 163 rushing and 103 passing. They are even in turnover margin. Individually, Edwards is 28 of 57 throwing for 309 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions. Top receiver is Bryer Putman with eight grabs for 118 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Gray has 48 carries 271 yards and three touchdowns. Wilton has seven takeaways, two interceptions each for Brisker and Grings as the leaders. The Beavers rank in the top 10 of 2A in six different categories. This week, Mid-Prairie defensive coordinator Derek Yoder talked about the challenges Wilton presents and keys to the game. “Coach Hetzler does a great job up there, they’re always ready to go. They have good size up front, a couple of big-body receivers they like to get the ball to and they aren’t afraid to run it behind the big guys up front with a couple of running backs that split duties. They pick up yards downhill and through the air. Turnover battle is going to be important. We have to take care of the football and on the defensive side, try to get the football in our hands. It comes down to who survives the dogfight. It’s always a tough game with them and it’s going to take all four quarters to get the job done.”

Wilton won this matchup 19-14 a year ago in the season opener and has won four of the last five. Mid-Prairie leads the all-time series 29-17-1. You can hear all of the action live tonight on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the La Morenitas Pregame Show at 6:30p.m. And kickoff at seven at Wilton High School.