After a full year of waiting a new football season is here for the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks.
The Hawks enter 2018 after a 3-6 campaign a season ago. That mark included a 2-5 record against district foes. The Golden Hawks collected their wins over Louisa-Muscatine, Northeast Goose Lake and Camanche.
Offensively, Mid-Prairie averaged 18 points and 291 yards per game last year. The Golden Hawks had two quarterbacks split time under center with senior Karson Gingerich who was 55 of 111 for 800 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions last year. Brad Tornow returns as the Golden Hawk signal caller after a sophomore season that saw him pressed into action after injuries to Gingerich. Tornow was 26 of 47 for 348 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions. On the ground the Hawks will be looking to replace 2017s leading rusher Keaton Duwa who finished with 875 yards on 153 carries and six touchdowns. Justin Schwartz will step into that spot this year. He spent time in the backfield in 2017 after an injury to Duwa, finishing with 64 carries 337 yards and three touchdowns. The receiving corps brings back four of the top five receivers from last year. Terrhyn Jacoby, the Hawks leader by yards last year, moved on through graduation after pulling in 26 passes for 474 yards and four touchdowns. Schwartz is Mid-Prairie’s leading returner, after 38 catches 434 yards and two touchdowns last year. The Hawks will also look to Tom Butters, Grant Boyse and Jack Baker through the air.
Defensively, Mid-Prairie is trying to replace their top four tacklers from 2017, all of whom moved on through graduation. The top returning tackler is Schwartz with 31 stops and a sack last season.
Grinnell comes into tonight’s opener off of a 1-8 season a year ago. The Tigers lone win came over North Polk 24-23. The Tigers struggled across the board in 2017, finishing last in the state with just seven touchdowns, third worst in the state at just 3.4 yards per play, lowest completion percentage in Iowa, third fewest passing yards, and second fewest passing touchdowns. Offensively, the Tigers return both quarterbacks from last year’s team for their senior seasons. Tanner Strand and Drew Coffman combined to go 27/96 a year ago, for just 328 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. On the ground Grinnell lost their best weapon, Palmer Schulte to graduation. The senior had 777 yards and three touchdowns on 184 carries. Strand is the leading returner on the ground with 73 yards on 49 carries and a touchdown last year. The Tigers lost three of their top four receivers from last year with Warren Ware the leader back from last year and only one catch to his credit. Defensively, the Tigers lost 10 of their top 11 tacklers.
This week, Mid-Prairie head coach Pete Cavanagh talked about his team’s performance in their Gator Bowl scrimmage against Iowa City Regina and preparing for Grinnell. “I thought we played very well, considering we were playing a pretty good Regina team. Grant had a nice run, sprung by a block from Rex Peck, Schwartz had some nice carries. I think Brad Tornow for the most part looked comfortable running the offense. What I liked defensively is that we didn’t give up any real huge plays. Our kids were in the right spot, we have to tackle. There’s a lot of new starters over on defense. I know a lot about Grinnell, I grew up there. This year they do have a new coaching staff. They struggled last year but I fully expect them to be better this year. They have a proud tradition there, they have been good for years. It’s going to be a challenge, playing up a class. We have limited numbers so it’s going to be a dogfight but we are looking forward to it.”
You can hear all of the action live tonight on AM 1380, FM 102.5, and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the KCII Friday Football Preview Show at 6p.m., Washington HyVee pregame show at 7p.m. and kickoff at 7:30 from Grinnell.