The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football team is back in Wellman this week as they welcome the West Liberty Comets to Dwight G. Sattler Field for Class 2A District play. The Golden Hawks are 3-1 on the year, 1-0 in district after scoring an important 21-20 road win last week to spoil No. 9 Wilton’s Homecoming. The Hawks got the win despite being outgained 328-215 in total, being shut out in the second half, and losing the turnover battle 3-2. Brooks Weber threw 14 of 24 for 125 yards, a score and three picks. Carson Humphrey was the top receiver with 46 yards and the touchdown. On the ground, Hudson Ehrenfelt had 17 carries for 53 yards. Kaden Kos finished with 159 all-purpose yards, a punt return and rushing touchdown. Defensively, Humphrey had an interception, Peyton Fox a fumble recovery and Cecil Kelley led with 13 tackles, three for loss and two sacks. The Golden Hawks enter this week ranked No. 5 in the latest Class 2A poll from Iafootball.com. This year, Mid-Prairie scores 34 points per game and gives up 24, with 411 yards per night, 273 through the air and 138 on the ground. They are +3 in turnover margin. Individually, Weber is 63 of 106 through the air for 818 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. Hudson Ehrenfelt has 17 catches for 306 yards and two touchdowns. Humphrey and Nolan Jergens have each caught three touchdowns. Ehrenfelt is also the rushing leader, 74 carries 314 yards and four touchdowns. Kos and Tommy Miller each have a rushing score. Kos leads the defense with 30 tackles, Ryan Henry has five stops for loss. Six different Hawks have a takeaway. Mid-Prairie ranks in the top 10 of Class 2A in 13 different categories.
The West Liberty Comets are 2-2 this year, 1-0 in district play, with wins over Central Lee and Tipton and losses to West Branch and Central DeWitt. They opened district beating Central Lee 45-6, up 42-6 at half. They won total yards 370-169, including 281-7 passing and turnovers 3-1. Quarterback Devin Mericle was 16 of 20 throwing for 281 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with six different receivers including Madden Meek for a pair of scores and 74 yards. Owen Daulfelt ran for 74 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns and Briggs Collins scored twice on the ground. Defensively, Landon Wainwright had seven tackles, Meek had two takeaways. This year, the Comets score 26 per game and give up 23. They average 307 yards per game, 232 passing and 75 rushing. Individually, Mericle is 71 of 107 for 926 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, with Owen Daufelt at 16 catches for 139 yards and Meek with two touchdowns. Daulfelt has 59 carries 208 yards and three touchdowns. Collins has four rushing scores. Collins leads the defense with 21 tackles, four different Comets have a takeaway. West Liberty ranks in the top 10 of Class 2A in nine categories. This week, Mid-Prairie head coach Daren Lambert talked with KCII Sports about keys for his team. “We really want to focus on running the football. We’ve had some success at certain times, but we want to get more consistent. We’re definitely still going to throw the ball but, we want to establish the run early. We need to win the turnover battle. We need to create turnovers, establish the run game and if we do those things we’ll put ourselves in a good position.”
West Liberty leads the all-time series 23-21. They haven’t met since a 34-3 2017 Comet win. The Hawks last victory came in 2015. 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 Golden Hawk Pregame at 6:30 and kickoff between the Hawks and Comets at seven from Wellman.