Wellman

Ending their regular season with a bang, figuratively and literally, the Golden Hawks celebrated a firework-filled senior night with an explosive 42-22 win over the Albia Blue Demons on Oct. 13.   

“[Mid-Prairie seniors] bring the energy every single day,” Mid-Prairie coach Daren Lambert said. “The amount of work that they put in from the off-season, it’s just a night like this. You had fireworks, you had big plays, and guys hooting and hollering and cheering.” 

This regular season finale had some postseason implications. The winner of this contest was granted the right to host a first-round playoff game. 

“Last week we were up front, we said we have to win if you want to play a home football game,” coach Lambert said about the preparation that went into this game. “And that was the message all week. A lot to play for.” 

From the get-go the Hawks took control and never let go. 

Mid-Prairie’s first play on offense resulted in a touchdown. A well-timed throw by junior Brady Weber was caught in stride by sophomore Kaden Kos and he ran into the endzone for an 80-yard TD, tied for the sixth longest passing TD in the school’s history. 

Catching another TD in the third quarter, Kos ended his night with three catches for a team leading 94 yards. 

On defense Kos had four total tackles with two being tackles for loss. Junior Landry Gingerich led the team with 6.5 total tackles.

Increasing their lead, sophomore Hudson Ehrenflet scored the next two touchdowns for the Hawks, a one-yard rushing TD in the first quarter and a 53-yard receiving TD in the second quarter. 

With eight minutes left in the second quarter senior Dylan Henry caught a TD in the back left corner of the endzone, off a perfectly placed throw by Weber. This gave the Hawks a commanding 24-0 lead. 

“We knew [Albia] was pretty tough upfront. They do some different things with their defensive linemen, they have a great middle linebacker up in the tops of the state with tackles,” coach Lambert said. “So, we knew they’re pretty set up front. We thought we could take advantage of them on the edge and on the perimeter.”

Coming out of halftime senior Lukin Rediger came up with an interception after Mid-Prairie turned over the ball on downs near the endzone. Four plays later Kos caught his second TD of the game. 

The Hawks had three INTs on the night, all snatched by seniors. Henry’s INT came in the first quarter and Landon Sullivan nabbed his INT in the third quarter. 

At the tail end of the third quarter senior Grady Miller caught his first TD of the year and the Hawks entered the final frame with a 36-8 lead. 

“We had a great week of practice. We prepared extremely well and that’s what we told the guys, that’s what success looks like.” coach Lambert said of the practices leading up to this game. “You got to win Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday to win on Friday. And we did that this week.”  

Scoring his second TD of the night, Henry caught Mid-Prairie’s final TD of the game in the fourth quarter. This gave Henry 6 TD catches on the year, tied for 7th all-time in the school’s history.   

Weber also made school history with this passing TD. Throwing for 6 TDs against Albia, Weber tied a school record for most TDs in a single game, whether it being passing, rushing, or receiving. 

“Brady did a great job. It’s raining, it’s wet, you don’t expect to throw five or six touchdowns, but that’s what we went with, and he did a great job answering the call.” coach Lambert said.  

On the night Weber went 15 for 20 passing, throwing for 264 yards and no interceptions. On the year he has 15 passing TD’s, tied for first all time in the school’s history, and has thrown for 1300 yards, the fifth most in the school’s history.  

Mid-Prairie’s rushing attack was led by Ehrenfelt. Scoring two TD’s, one through the air and one on the ground, he rushed for 129 yards on 23 carries. This season he has amassed 999 rushing yards. 

The curtain for the regular season draws to a close, but with this win over Albia the Mid-Prairie seniors made sure this wouldn’t be the final home game of their high school careers.

“It’s just a great way to cap off the season,” coach Lambert said about what the win over Albia means for the Mid-Prairie seniors. “It’s a great gift for those guys, they’re deserving of it. Great leaders, great kids and I’m glad we can be back here next week to do it all over again.”  

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks (4-4) host a first-round playoff game against the Northeast Rebels (4-4) on Oct. 20. 

GAME SUMMARY

MID-PRAIRIE 42, ALBIA 22

M-P   12    12     12    6 -- 42

AL      0      8       0     14 -- 22

M-P: Brady Weber TD pass to Kaden Kos (kick no good)

M-P: Hudson Ehrenfelt TD rush (2-point failed)

M-P: Weber TD pass to Ehrenfelt (2-point failed)

M-P: Weber TD pass to Dylan Henry (kick no good)

AL: Connor Fisher TD rush (2-point successful)

M-P: Weber TD pass to Kos (kick no good)

M-P: Weber TD pass to Grady Miller (kick no good)

M-P: Weber TD pass to Henry (kick no good)

Al: Fisher TD rush (2-point successful)

Al: Fisher TD pass to Matt Selby (2-point failed)