In a tight game at halftime it was the Pekin Panthers that pulled away from Mid-Prairie in the second half for a 35-7 week two win.

In a game heard on KCII, the Panthers found the scoreboard first. Following a Brad Tornow interception, Pekin went 27 yards on three plays, capped by an 11 yard scoring run by Dayne Eckley to take a 7-0 lead. Pekin doubled that lead midway through the second quarter with a seven play 87 yard drive, finished by a four yard scoring scamper for Zach Hammes. Trailing 14-0, the Hawks found a spark on special teams when Grant Boyse took the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a score. With the Micah Gugel extra point the Hawks climbed within 14-7 and that’s where the score stood at the break.

Pekin took control of the game in the second half, wearing down the Mid-Prairie defense with their methodical attack and capitalizing on Golden Hawk miscues. The Panthers took the first possession of the second half and marched it 81 yards on 12 plays, chewing up six and a half minutes in the process. Five minutes later, following a Golden Hawk pick the Panthers went 29 yards, increasing the lead to 28-7 on the second scoring run for Hammes of the night. He would complete the hat trick in the fourth quarter with his third touchdown run to reach the 35-7 final.

The Golden Hawks were outgained 444-122 on the night with the Panthers owning the margin on the ground 355-106 and posting 24 first downs. Eckley finished with 27 carries for 188 yards, Hammes had 12 carries for 160 yards. Kennan Winn led the Panther defense with three interceptions. Jaron Utzinger led the Golden Hawk ground game with seven carries for 62 yards. Brad Tornow was two of 13 for 16 yards and three interceptions. With the loss, the Golden Hawks fall to 0-2 on the year while Pekin improves to 2-0. Mid-Prairie is home for the first time in 2018 next Friday when they host Wilton.