Hawks are golden

WELLMAN - Mid-Prairie's Friday football game's location, opponent, score, yards and result were all similar to the Sept. 11 regular season game except the meaning was completely different. Mid-Prairie won its first playoff game since 2015 with a 49-7 victory over visiting Central Lee.

Kayden Reinier had 12 rushes in each game but set a Mid-Prairie record of 316 yards rushing in the 49-0 Sept. 11 win and had 165 Friday. The score was 35-0 at the half in both games.

'Our guys played well early,” Mid-Prairie head coach Pete Cavanagh said. 'The offensive line blocked well. Kayden had another great game. (four touchdowns). Keegan Gingerich (three receptions for 74 yards) had a great catch down the sideline for a (64-yard) touchdown.”

Mid-Prairie (4-3) had 423 total yards Friday, 447 Sept. 11 and held Central Lee (0-8) to negative 15 yards rushing after negative five Sept. 11.

'The defense was solid all night,” Cavanagh said. 'Cael Garvey and Michael Kelly played well on the defensive line.”

Reinier scored on the first possession from the 9, added another from the 24. In the second quarter, he had TDs from the 42 and 5 and Vinnie Bowlin, who was 4-for-9 for 85 yards, threw a TD pass to Gingereich. Tyler Helmuth was one of 10 Golden Hawks to carry the football. He had 106 yards on 10 carries and a 33-yard TD run.

'It was a good solid team win, and we are ready to move on to Round 2,” Cavanagh said.

That will be at home when Tipton (4-3) visits Friday. Tipton defeated EBF 49-14.