Photo Courtesy of MP Sports Social Media (Nicole Miller)
There were fireworks in the sky above and on Dwight G. Sattler Field in Wellman Friday for Senior Night as the No. 7 in Class 2A Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football team controlled the action in every conceivable way, sprinting past the visiting Mediapolis Bulldogs 62-21. The Golden Hawks would punt on their first possession, and not again on the night. Kaden Kos set the Mid-Prairie offense up with an interception of MEPO’s Quincy King at the Bulldog nine. Three plays later, Hudson Ehrenfelt hauled in a 25-yard seam route from Brooks Weber for a touchdown to start the scoring. The Bulldogs gave it right back on their next trip when Josh Turner jumped on his fourth fumble recovery of the year, giving the Hawks the ball inside the Mediapolis 10. Three players later, Weber connected with Ehrenfelt on an out for six to double the lead. The touchdown for Ehrenfelt was the 60th of his career, setting an all-time Mid-Prairie school record. MEPO found an answer their next drive, going 62 yards and finishing with a Brock Spears five yard TD run. The Mid-Prairie answer was immediate. Kaden Kos took the ensuing kickoff 80 plus yards back to the house to make it 21-7. It was 28-7 next possession after a three-and-out, when Weber went up top to Carson Humphrey on a 40 yard strike. The touchdown connection was Weber’s 21st of the year, setting a new Mid-Prairie single season school record. Mid-Prairie continued to pour it on, Kos came away with his second pick of the night. Following the Hawks lone turnover, a Golden Hawk three and out, and a change and quarterback after Weber was shaken up, Mid-Prairie drove 45 yards on eight plays in the Wildcat, with Ehrenfelt taking snaps and Kos his running back, Ehrenfelt capped it with a rushing score, his third touchdown. It was the defense’s turn for points next as Humphrey picked a pass and raced 65 yards for a score to make it 42-7 at halftime.
After break, each team would enjoy two scoring drives and the Golden Hawks would get another special teams score. On the opening second half kick, Ryan Henry sprinted down field on coverage, stripped the ball, scooped it and scored it from 12 yards away to put the Hawks up 49-7. The Bulldogs next possession was a 12-play 80 yard drive, finishing by Spear’s second scoring run. Mid-Prairie’s response was a four play drive covering 64 yards that ended on Ehrenfelt’s first touchdown pass of the year as he connected with Kos from 40 yards. Spears would make it a three touchdown night for him in the fourth quarter, and Henry would cap the scoring for the Golden Hawks with a 12 yard run, his second touchdown. After the game, Golden Hawk seniors Ehrenfelt and Kos talked about the team performance and Senior Night win.
Ehrenfelt said, “The pass game was really working early. They were stacking the box and ready for the run. Brooks (Weber) did a really good job of getting his receivers the ball. (This Senior Night win) means everything. It’s our turn as seniors, we’ve been waiting for this game. It feels unreal that it’s us now. The playoffs are coming around, we have to go win more games.”
Kos continued, “Every week we have been talking about kicking guys out and getting your head on someone in the return game. (On his kick return touchdown), This week it really set up with how they kicked the ball. I saw Gentry (Bontrager) kick a guy out and it was green grass from there. We’re really sound with our defense. We don’t flinch. We fly to the ball. We fight. (On winning back-to-back-district titles), For the program that’s really good. We’re rising. Young guys get a taste of what it’s like to be district champions. As a whole team, everyone realized what was on the line tonight and came ready to play.”
Unofficially, the Bulldogs won total yards 285-252. Mid-Prairie took turnovers 5-1. Ehrenfelt finished with four touchdowns, two receiving and one each passing and rushing with 136APY on 16 touches. Kos finished with nearly 200 APY, a receiving and return score, two interceptions and 10 tackles. Humphrey and Henry each had offensive and defensive touchdowns. The win gives Mid-Prairie their second straight district title for the first time in school history, improving them to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in 2A D6. Mediapolis is now 3-4 and 2-2 respectively. Mid-Prairie also honored 10 seniors Friday including Peyton Fox, Gentry Bontrager, Jon Kinsinger, Josh Turner, Kaden Kos, Hudson Ehrenfelt, Keatyn Myers, Damian Vazquez, Cyris Christner and Joey Stacey. The Hawks finish the regular season next week at West Burlington Notre Dame.