Mid-Prairie braved the weather and the Davis County Mustangs Wednesday night in Wellman to advance to the second round of the playoffs with a 36-8 win. The game was played, as were many in the state last night, through monsoon-like conditions, with more than an inch and a half of rain falling during the contest and a prevailing 25 mile per hour plus sustained northern wind.
Both teams sloshed around the wet field early but Mid-Prairie found the endzone first when Eesaa Baylor scored on a nine yard off tackle run to put the Hawks up 7-0 late in the quarter number one. Midway through the second quarter the Golden Hawks shrugged off the conditions and went to the air. Reid Miller hooked up with Spencer Shalla for a 59 yard touchdown pass to double the lead. The Golden Hawks wrapped up the scoring in the half when Dylan Schrock blocked a Davis County punt deep in Mustang territory. The Mustangs jumped on the ball in their own endzone giving Mid-Prairie the safety and a 16-0 lead at the half.
The second half started with a Davis County three and out and the Mustangs pinned the Golden Hawks within their five yardline. On a quarterback sneak the Golden Hawks fumbled the ball, Davis County picked it up and dove in for the six yard defensive touchdown cutting the lead to 16-8 following the two point conversion. Mid-Prairie had the answer as the Golden Hawks countered with a power running attack led by Eesaa Baylor who scored his second touchdown, this time from two yards out to push the lead to 23-8.
Special teams woes continued for Davis County. Following another Mid-Prairie defensive stand the Mustang punter kicked a line drive into his offensive lineman that Mid-Prairie recovered at the Davis County 36. The Hawks marched the distance in eight plays scoring on a Reid Miller quarterback sneak on fourth and goal to make it 30-8. The Hawks closed out the scoring late when Miller went up top to Wyatt Cady and the two connected for a 29 yard touchdown strike. Following the game Head Coach Pete Cavanagh talked about his teams effort and handling the weather conditions.
“I thought our kids played well, especially the line both sides of the ball. We controlled the line of scrimmage and I think the conditions really changed the game and how it was going to be played and I thought our kids executed well and credit should go to our kick return team and Nolan Faselt for kind of flipping the field, the whole problem was just field position, so we were able to get a good kick return, and then we put together the drive and Eesaa had some nice runs and then we were able to punch it in finally,” Cavanagh said.
Mid-Prairie outgained the Mustangs 238 to 125 and put up 13 first downs to just four for Davis County. The Hawks were also an impressive five of 10 on third down and three for three on scoring chances in the redzone. Baylor led the Golden Hawk ground game with 155 yards on 26 carries and a pair of scores. Miller was efficient through the air, three of five for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Mid-Prairie is now 8-2 on the year and will be in second round action Monday night at #4 and undefeated Albia, the Blue Demons were a 29-6 winner over L-M.