Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie CSD Social Media

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football team continues the postseason tonight when they host the Mediapolis Bulldogs in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs in Wellman. Mid-Prairie is 8-1, unbeaten champions of District 6, and riding a seven game winning streak after taking down North Fayette Valley 34-19 Friday. Mid-Prairie outscored the Tigerhawks 21-6 after half, winning total yards 364-338, including 168-83 through the air. Each team had a takeaway. The contest saw the return of Golden Hawk signal caller Brooks Weber from injury. He entered late in the second quarter and finished 12 of 17 throwing for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Kaden Kos and Hudson Ehrenfelt each had two touchdowns. Ryan Henry finished with 92 rush yards and a score on the ground. Kaden Kos had 13 tackles and Kendrick Kos a fumble recovery. The Golden Hawks are ranked No. 3 in Class 2A in the final poll of the season from the Iowa High School Athletic Association. They score 45 points per game and give up 19, on 344 yards per night, 193 throwing a 151 rushing with a +12 turnover margin. Individually, Weber is 107 of 164 through the air for 1,526 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions. Top target is Kaden Kos with 33 grabs, 455 yards and eight scores. Carson Humphrey has seven scoring catches, Ehrenfelt six and Nolan Jergens five. On the ground, it’s Ehrenfelt with 159 carries 835 yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, Kaden Kos leads with 72 tackles. Josh Turner, Humphrey, Jack Sorrell, Kaden and Kendrick Kos and Caedyn Huston all have multiple takeaways. The Golden Hawks rank in the top 10 of 2A football in 30 categories.

Mediapolis is 5-4 on the year, finishing 3-2, third place in District 6. They were upset winners 28-13 at No. 7 Centerville in last Friday’s first round. MEPO won total yards 306-181, including 133-50 on the ground and turnovers 3-1. Quincy King was 14 of 22 passing for 171 yards and two scores with a pick. Parker Holstein had 32 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Gannon Gunn pulled in six passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Evan Schulte, Brayton DeLang and James Garrison each had a takeaway. This year, the Bulldogs score 24 points per game and give up 26 on 291 yards per night, 171 rushing and 120 passing, with a negative turnover margin. Individually, King is 87 of 161 for 1,074 yards, four touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Gunn leads with 38 catches for 592 yards and four scores. Holstein has 185 carries, 900 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kyler Crow leads with 55 tackles, 20 for loss and Nathan Schmidgall and Grant Konecne each have multiple takeaways. MEPO ranks in the top 10 of 2A football in 10 categories. “Defensively, they are playing with an edge. They bring pressure. They fly to the football. Offensively, their running back is a senior. He has played for them since he was a sophomore. He’s doing a great job of running the football. Their wideout, number two, has done a great job. Their quarterback is making good decisions. We only saw them a few weeks ago, but teams grow in that time, and they have gotten better. They’re well-coached and we have to be ready for them. We know they’re going to come in ready. We have to take care of the football. We have to create explosive plays on offense and we have to limit them when we are on defense. We need to make them long drives. Play with relentless effort and stay disciplined. Those are going to be the keys to our success.”

Mid-Prairie leads the all-time series 13-6. This will be the fourth meeting between the two schools in 13 months. The Golden Hawks are 3-0 in the previous three, winning by a combined 121-43 total during that span, including 62-21 three weeks ago. Tonight’s winner advances to the 2A State Quarterfinals. You can hear all of the action between the Golden Hawks and MEPO live tonight on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning the the La Morenitas Golden Hawk Playoff Pregame Show at 6:30 and kickoff at seven from Dwight G. Sattler Field in Wellman.