Another strong season for Mid-Prairie football team has led to nine players in black and gold being recognized as All-District in Class 2A District 6. Four Golden Hawks earned first team honors.
Senior Braden Hartley was first team all-district as a running back. He was third in Class 2A with 235 carries, fifth with 1,398 rushing yards, eighth at 5.9 yards per touch, for those with at least 150 carries, and ninth with 14 rushing scores. Hartley was fourth in school history with a five touchdown performance against Eddyville-Blakesburg this year. His rushing yard total in 2022 was seventh in school history for a single year. Hartley’s 25 career touchdowns are ninth most for a Mid-Prairie player, his 150 career points 10th most and his 1,989 career rushing yards are 10th in Mid-Prairie history. Defensively, he registered 44 and a half tackles, five for loss and a sack.
Senior Kaden Meader was a first team pick on the offensive line. He was part of a group that helped the Hawks post 2,890 yards of total offense and average 24 points per game. Defensively, he had 15 tackles, three for loss and a pair of sacks.
Senior Cain Brown was a first team selection at defensive back. Brown led Mid-Prairie and finished third in the state with four interceptions. The Hawks were fifth in the state with 15 team interceptions. Brown was the Golden Hawks leading tackler with 50 and a half stops. On offense, he was Mid-Prairie’s leading receiver with 27 catches for 474 yards in 2022. His six touchdown catches were sixth in 2A and his 17.6 yard per grab average was 10th. He ends his career third in Mid-Prairie history with nine touchdown catches, seventh on the school career receiving yards list with 810 and ninth with 50 career catches.
Sophomore Cobi Hershberger was a first team all-district choice at linebacker. Hershberger finished with 43 tackles, a sack and a pair of interceptions, part of a Mid-Prairie defense that landed in the top 10 of 2A with 20 takeaways on the year. On offense he caught seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Three Hawks were named to the second team including Jackson Zahradnek on the offensive line. The senior anchored a unit that helped the Hawks average 289 yards per game, including more than 2,000 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns. Zahradnek added to that touchdown total himself, carrying the ball twice for a touchdown against Central Lee.
Junior Jarron Thomas was also a second team choice on the offensive line. Splitting time in the trenches and as the team’s second fullback in the power set, Thomas helped the Hawks carve out nearly 3,000 yards of total offense and 242 total points on the season. He carried the ball 12 times for 56 yards and a touchdown. On defense he put up 12 and a half tackles, two for loss.
Senior Terry Bordenave was a second team selection on the defensive line. He was part of a defensive unit that held opponents to 23 points per game and pitched two shut outs in district play. He finished with 32 tackles, three for loss, a sack, a blocked punt and a safety.
A pair of Golden Hawk linebackers were named honorable mention all-district, senior Grady Gingerich and junior Lukin Rediger. Gingerich finished with 29 total tackles, two and a half for loss and a fumble recovery. On offense, he had seven catches for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Rediger had 18 and a half tackles, one for loss, to go with a pair of interceptions. As the Golden Hawk fullback he carried the ball 18 times for 61 yards and a touchdown.
Mid-Prairie finished district play with a 3-2 record, in third place. The Hawks ended 2022 with a 6-4 overall record.