It was a classic battle between two of the best in the state Friday night in Wilton, but when it was all over, the No. 4 Beavers put together a rally to top the No. 6 Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks 19-14. In a game heard on KCII, luck shined on Wilton first, following a Beaver punt, a Mid-Prairie turnover gave the Beavers a Golden chance, taking over at the Hawks 23, five plays later, Wilton was in the end zone when Drew Keith connected with Gatlin Rogers on a five yard scoring toss to put the home team up 7-0. The Mid-Prairie response came late in the first frame, a five play, 59-yard drive ended when Brady Weber went up top to Hudson Ehrenfelt on a 55-yard scoring strike and things were even at seven after one.

Next possession, the Golden Hawks took their first lead, a ball-control style 16 play, 60 yard march finished with Ehrenfelt’s second touchdown, this one on a three yard dive to make it 14-7 Hawks. The two teams would play even to halftime. Out of the break, Wilton’s adjustments paid off. After gaining 20 yards in a quarter and a half, Keith found Owen Hassell down the sideline on a 46 yard touchdown toss to finish a three play, 73 yard drive. A failed two point try left Mid-Prairie up 14-13 going to the fourth. In the final period it was a stalemate until the last five minutes, when the Beavers went 75 yards in 10 plays, the final 16, Keith’s third touchdown throw, this one to Cade Souhrada, who made a diving grab in the end zone on the game winner. The Hawks had one last gasp, and drove from their own 15 to the Beaver 19, but failed on a fourth and four with one minute remaining. After the game, Golden Hawk head coach Daren Lambert talked about the Hawks building a first half lead, the difference in the second half and what he learned about his team Friday.

Lambert

Mid-Prairie outgained Wilton 237 to 235. Keith led the Wilton offense going eight of 12 through the air for 112 yards and a touchdown each to Souhrada, Hassell and Rogers. Hassell had 106 all-purpose yards on 15 touches. Parker Carpenter led the Beavers with eight tackles. Wilton won the turnover battle 1-0. Top Hawk was Hudson Ehrenfelt with 141 all-purpose yards on 20 touches with a pair of touchdowns, 104 of that was through the air. Weber finished 14 of 22 in the pass game for 185 yards and a score. Kaden Kos led the Mid-Prairie defense with nine tackles. With the win, Wilton is 1-0 on their way to West Liberty Friday, Mid-Prairie returns home 0-1 to meet Iowa City Regina this week.