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Mid-Prairie mows over Mediapolis
Golden Hawks clinch Class 2A District 6 title
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WELLMAN - The fireworks came early for Mid-Prairie.
First they boomed overhead from a neighboring lot behind the bleachers on the visitor’s sideline. One firework was shot off for each of the 10 Golden Hawks seniors honored before their game against Mediapolis on Friday.
Explosive plays on the field quickly followed as Mid-Prairie walloped the Bulldogs for four quarters in a 62-21 win. The victory not only marked a successful senior night, but saw the Golden Hawks clinch the Class 2A District 6 title.
“Excited for the guys, and it came in a game where we knew it was going to be a tough opponent, well-coached team, a lot of respect for their program,” Mid-Prairie coach Daren Lambert said. “So, to get it done tonight is exciting, and like we said, we’ve got a lot more goals that we want to go accomplish. So the job’s not done.”
Golden Hawks quarterback Brooks Weber was sidelined with a finger injury for the entire second half, but that didn’t quell Mid-Prairie’s attack. Weber completed 4 of 7 passes for 74 yards and three touchdowns in the first half before his injury.
Weber’s replacement, Hudson Ehrenfelt, already had two receiving touchdowns and a score on the ground before he took over under center. He attempted just three passes, but completed all of them, including a 40-yard touchdown to Kaden Kos to give Mid-Prairie a 56-14 lead in the third quarter.
“The first pass play, I just waited for an opening,” Ehrenfelt said. “I wasn’t even looking at the receivers, I was just waiting to run it, and it worked out really well for me, and then we knew they were going to stack the box come the third quarter. That’s what they did the first few plays. Lambert called a vert and we completed it.”
Mid-Prairie paired big plays on defense and special teams with its typical high-powered offense. The Golden Hawks had five takeaways, including three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries.
On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Ryan Henry ripped the ball out of a Medapolis player’s arms and ran 11 yards into the end zone. In the second quarter, Carson Humphrey picked off Mediapolis quarterback Quincy King and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown to put Mid-Prairie up 42-7.
“Those plays are momentum killers and can spark us and get us in great field position,” Lambert said. “So, it’s complimentary football - special teams, defense and offense. So to do great things you’ve got to have all of those clicking.”
Mid-Prairie’s turnover generation and special teams play eliminated any hope for a Bulldogs road upset. Mediapolis made it 14-7 begin the second quarter with a 5-yard run by Brock Spears, but Kos quickly flipped the momentum back to Mid-Praire when he returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to restore a two touchdown advantage.
Kos finished the game with receiving and kickoff return touchdowns along with two interceptions. The first landed in his arms after a tip drill, and set the Golden Hawks up at the Mediapolis 15-yard line for their first score.
On the Bulldogs ensuing drive, Joshua Turner forced and recovered a fumble on the Mediapolis nine yard line. Ehrenfelt caught a two-yard pass from Weber to cash in the takeaway.
The score was Ehrenfelt’s 60th career touchdown, which broke the record for the most by a Mid-Prairie player in school history. His four TDs on the night brings his career tally to 62.
“It just feels great to have my name in the record books and own a record that hopefully shouldn’t be beat in a while,” Ehrenfelt said. “60 touchdowns is a lot of touchdowns, but wouldn’t be able to do it without my O-Line. They just open up the holes and make stuff happen for me.”
Weber joined Ehrenfelt in the record books Friday despite his injury. The junior completed a 41-yard strike to Humphrey in the second quarter for his third touchdown pass of the night and 21st of the campaign, which set a new single-season record by a Golden Hawks QB.
Mid-Prairie (6-1, 4-0 2A-6) has ripped off five straight wins since its only loss of the season to Alburnett in Week 2. The newly crowned district champions will wrap up the regular season at West Burlington Notre Dame on Oct. 17. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
