Photos Courtesy of Dain Jeppson
The cliché is to peak at the right time. That’s the formula for the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football team. The Hawks opened the 2A playoffs Friday night at Dwight G. Sattler Field in Wellman, rolling through visiting Northeast Goose Lake 49-18. The Golden Hawks continued to key on fast starts for success, leading 21-0 after the first. They found the end zone on the second play from scrimmage, a 59-yard flea-flicker from Brady Weber to Dylan Henry. Hudson Ehrenfelt carried the ball all five plays of the next drive for 62 total yards, the last five on a touchdown run and then Weber connected with Cobi Hershberger, back from injury, on a five yard touchdown toss.
Northeast showed signs of life when dual threat quarterback Gavin Kramer scrambled for 50 on a fourth down, then threw a 20-yard touchdown to Michael Frame to make it 21-6. Mid-Prairie’s answer was a Weber rushing score from 12 yards and a Weber to Ehrenfelt four yard touchdown pass to go up 35-6 at the break. In the second half, each team scored twice, Mid-Prairie with a 37 yard Weber to Kaden Kos touchdown to start the running clock and Hershberger’s second scoring catch of the night. Kramer rushed for one touchdown and threw for another against the Mid-Prairie reserves. Following the contest, Golden Hawk head coach Daren Lambert talked about his team’s complete performance. Lambert said, “The guys came out and they were ready to go. They’re playing with confidence. The last two weeks, guys are really seeing it click. When you’re having success it’s fun! You look at our stats the last two games it looks like we’re an air-raid team. Our offensive line did a great job last week and they followed it up with another great week. When those guys are moving people and giving us time, we can hit receivers, find cutback lanes and big plays. Great decision-making from Brady (Weber) at the quarterback spot. We want to stay balanced and they also have to respect our run game. (At receiver), Cobi (Hershberger) was back in the mix this week. Grady Miller, Kaden Kos, Dylan (Henry) and Ace (Peck), they’re making plays and extending drives. We’ve seen the Kramer kids from Northeast for three straight years now and he’s a nightmare to prepare for. He can run, he can throw. We talked about that with our front four, keep him in the pocket. Ends did a great job, defensive tackles bringing pressure, linebackers bringing pressure and defensive backs in coverage. Everyone knows the stakes when it’s a playoff game. Guys stepping up just brings that focus to be prepared and be successful next Friday.”
Unofficially, the Golden Hawks won the total yards battle 428-272. The Rebels had just 91 yards against the Golden Hawk first team. Weber tied the school record of six touchdowns, any way you want them, for the second straight week. Against Goose Lake he was 11 of 14 through the air for 160 yards and five touchdowns, along with 43 yards on the ground and another score. Henry caught four balls for 96 yards and a touchdown. Ehrenfelt had 194 all-purpose yards and two scores. The Golden Hawk defense had eight tackles for loss and a Peyton Fox interception. Northeast ends the year at 4-5, the Golden Hawks are now 5-4, and into the round of 16 of the 2A playoffs next Friday at a location and against an opponent to be determined.