Though the weather is just warming up and spring and summer are still fully ahead of us, the Iowa High School Athletic Association has recently released the district football draws for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks land in Class 2A, District 5, after spending the last two years in District 6. Out are the Class 2A state runner-up Williamsburg Raiders, who have departed for Class 3A, the Centerville Big Reds will travel west to join Class 2A District 7 and the Eddyville-Blakesburg Rockets are now in 1A. Centerville, Williamsburg and EBF are replaced by Albia, Mediapolis and West Burlington Notre Dame. The rest of the district includes returning teams Central Lee and Davis County. The Falcons are back after a short two year swing in Class 3A, Mediapolis returns after spending time in Class 1A and Albia moves from District 7 to District 6. Here’s a historical look at how the Hawks have done against each foe.
Mid-Prairie has faced off with the Albia Blue Demons 11 times in their program history, the first coming in 1994, with Albia holding a 6-5 record over the Hawks. Mid-Prairie has won the two most recent meetings, a 48-20 win in 2018 and a 77-13 blasting of the Blue Demons to end the 2019 season. The 77 points scored by the Hawks in the victory set the school record for points in a game.
The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks and Central Lee Hawks have met 14 times in their history, all since 2008, including every season since 2018. The Golden Hawks hold a 12-2 record in the series and are on a current six game winning streak over the team from Donnellson, outscoring Central Lee 341-43 during that span, including a 51-0 victory last season. Central Lee was a playoff team a year ago, finishing fourth in Class 2A District 6.
The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks and Davis County Mustangs have squared off nine times, all of them since 2008, including every year since 2018, with the Hawks owning a 7-2 series record. Mid-Prairie has beaten the Mustangs six consecutive times including a 42-6 win a season ago, outscoring Davis County in total, 248-76 in that span.
The Golden Hawks will renew their rivalry with Mediapolis next season. The two schools have taken the field against one another 14 times overall, all of them since 1994 with Mid-Prairie holding a 9-5 mark in the series. They have not met since 2017 when the Bulldogs scored a 39-28 win. MEPO has beaten Mid-Prairie 5 of the last seven times. The Bulldogs were a playoff team a season ago in Class 1A finishing as district runners-up.
West Burlington Notre Dame is back in 2A this season and joins Mid-Prairie’s district. The class and district split didn’t stop the series with these schools however, they have played 12 times altogether, all since 2004, and the Hawks have won them all. They have met each season since 2020, with the Golden Hawks outscoring the Falcons 118-43 during that time and 447-96 in all contests. The Golden Hawks beat the Falcons in Burlington 28-18 in 2022.
Still to be determined are Mid-Prairie’s three non-district opponents which will be released closer to the start of the season, with those games played before the district schedule. Last season, Mid-Prairie took on West Burlington, Sigourney-Keota and Iowa City Regina for their non-district slate. The Golden Hawks finished 2022 with a 6-4 overall record, finished third in the district and were beaten by Williamsburg in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.