Photo Courtesy of MP Sports Social Media (Nicole Miller)

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football team continued their recent mastery of the Mediapolis Bulldogs Friday in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs at Dwight G. Sattler Field in Wellman. No. 3 Mid-Prairie marched on with a 46-0 win, their second over MEPO this season, by a combined 108-21 score, and fourth in 13 months by a 167-43 total. The Golden Hawks took command from the opening whistle. On the first play from scrimmage, All-stater Hudson Ehrenfelt sliced through the Bulldog defense to sprint 58 yards for a touchdown. In total the Hawks would put up 28 in the first frame as Brooks Weber fired scoring strikes to Nolan Jergens twice and Carson Humphrey. While the offense was doing their thing, the defense was doing theirs. The Hawks locked down MEPO, forcing three straight turnovers, two Kendrick Kos interceptions, and a Tommy Miller fumble recovery in the first half. Mid-Prairie added 11 in the second on a 40-yard Kale Miller field goal and a Weber to Kos connection for six, taking a 39-0 lead to break.

After intermission, Ehrenfelt put the game on ice with a 53 yard touchdown run on the first series. Bronx Miller added to the Mid-Prairie takeaway list with a late fumble recovery. Live on the KCII Locker Room Show, the Golden Hawks of the game, Weber Ehrenfelt and Kaden Kos talked about the fast start and the win. “(The start) set the tone of the game. Right off the bat, first play. That’s huge! Everyone on the sideline, field, coaching staff, it got everybody going. Defensively, if we could get them into a passing situation, our DBs know to look for the ball. Go make a play. All of the players on our team can have their own nights. Everyone is capable of doing it. It’s nice to have a win with a full team effort where everybody gets theirs.”

The Golden Hawks owned the stat sheet. Unofficially, they won total yards 368-69, including just 13 yards allowed by the Mid-Prairie defensive starters. The Hawks were balanced with 193 yards through the air and 175 on the ground. Weber was eight of 10 throwing for 193 yards and four touchdowns. Nolan Jergens caught a pair of scores, 16 and eight yards, Humphrey a 63-yarder and Kos a 28-yarder. Ehrenfelt finished with 172 all-purpose yards on 14 touches with a pair of touchdowns. The defense was led by two interceptions for Kendrick Kos, fumble recoveries for Tommy and Bronx Miller and a nine tackle, three TFL night for Cecil Kelley. The Golden Hawks, now 9-1, advance to the State Quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons, and the seventh time in program history. Mediapolis ends the year at 5-5. The third rated Golden Hawks will see the sixth ranked Van Meter Bulldogs Friday in the quarterfinals at Dwight G. Sattler Field on KCII. Van Meter was a 24-14 winner over Roland-Story in round two. With a win Mid-Prairie would advance to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls for the first time in program history.