The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football team is standing in rarefied air at the midway point of the 2015 season.

The Hawks are off to their first 4-0 start since 1976 and analysts around the state are beginning to take notice. Entering last week’s Homecoming game with West Burlington-Notre Dame, Mid-Prairie had climbed to #10 in class 2A, in the latest Associated Press Iowa High School football poll. In this week’s poll, released today, Mid-Prairie has made the jump to #8 following that dominating 27-0 win in Wellman last week over the #15 Falcons.

The Golden Hawks have done it with a perfect blend of offense and defense. The Golden Hawk offense currently ranks in the top 10 in the state in class 2A in rushing yards, yards per carry, total offensive touchdowns, and total points. The Mid-Prairie ground game is led by Nolan Faselt and Ricky Vargas. Vargas currently ranks in the top 10 in class 2A individually in total rushing yards, and total touchdowns. Faselt is in the top 10 in 2A in the yards per carry stat.

Defensively the Golden Hawk defense has been tightening the vice on teams all season long. Mid-Prairie has allowed just seven points the entire month of September while posting back to back shut outs the last two weeks for the first time since 2012. For the year the Mid-Prairie defense is allowing just six points per game and as a team the Hawks have outscored opponents 121-29 on the season. The Golden Hawk defense has also forced 10 turnovers this year and scored four defensive touchdowns, matching the total number of touchdowns they have allowed.

The Golden Hawks will next be on the field Friday night in a matchup of area KCII area teams and long time rivals when they travel to Sigourney to battle the 2-2 Savage Cobras. Coverage begins on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com starting with the Washington HyVee Pregame show at 7PM on the one to count on for today’s local sports coverage AM and FM KCII.