The 2021 Gator Bowl is in the books for Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football. As part of an evening of events featuring all Golden Hawk fall activities, cross country, volleyball, speech, drama, band and choir, the Mid-Prairie football team met West Liberty in a modified scrimmage to cap the night. The scrimmage was played with a 30 minute running clock in which each team possessed the ball for 15 minutes. The Golden Hawks took the victory on the scoreboard 18-6. There were no special teams plays run during the scrimmage. West Liberty started first with the football, putting together their six points on two total possessions. The Comets posted 125 total yards, including 103 yards on the ground, running 16 total plays. Tyler Helmuth led the Mid-Prairie defense with three tackles from his linebacker spot.

When the Golden Hawks had the ball they put up impressive numbers. Paired with their 18 points, they finished with 210 total yards on 23 plays including 151 yards on the ground on 15 carries. The Hawks averaged 10 yards per snap. Five different Hawks had carries in the Mid-Prairie ground game, led by Braden Hartley with 58 yards on four runs, including a 35 yard scamper. Cain Brown had 48 yards on two carries, including a 40 yard scoring run. Tyler Helmuth finished with 20 yards on four carries, Cael Garvey 14 yards on two carries and Will Cavanagh 11 yards on three carries. Through the air, Golden Hawk senior and first year starter at quarterback Cavanagh was four of six for 59 yards. He found three different targets including Collin Miller with two catches for 25 yards and a touchdown, Jack Pennington with two catches for 11 yards and a touchdown and Grady Gingerich with a five yard catch at tight end. After the game, Mid-Prairie head coach Pete Cavanagh talked about his highlights on offense and defense and overall takeaways. “I think we overcame a few positioning mistakes on defense. Our front/d-line got into their backfield a little bit and opened up our linebackers to make some plays. In the defensive backfield we have three new guys back there so we threw them into the fire. Jarret Hoffman played well, Collin Miller and then also Cain Brown has been a force since we moved him from linebacker to safety. Offensively in the backfield we had a good 1-2 punch with Tyler Helmuth and Braden Hartley. I thought they ran well especially out of our spread. Cael Garvey at fullback is a bowling ball with wheels. He’s a great change of pace to be able to throw at the other team’s defense. We also spread things out pretty well with our quarterback and receivers. If we can get balance and buy in from our kids to accept that we aren’t going to have one guy getting 40 carries a night, we have a chance to be good.”

The Mid-Prairie football team gets the season started Friday under the lights at Dwight G. Sattler Field in Wellman when they welcome West Burlington Notre Dame to town. You can hear all of the action live on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the KCII Football Friday Preview Show at 6p.m. Washington HyVee Pregame show at 6:30p.m. and kickoff between the Golden Hawks and Falcons at 7p.m.