Photos Courtesy of Dain Jeppson
The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk football team had a tough start to 2024. Going 0-3 through a stacked non-district schedule, the Hawks were frustrated, hungry and looking to prove themselves Friday, facing a road trip to meet the undefeated West Burlington Notre Dame Falcons. At the end of the night, it was the Hawk’s turn to celebrate as they earned a 42-21 victory.
The Golden Hawks struck first, on the second possession, going 55 yards on three plays, as Hudson Ehrenfelt sprinted 42 yards on the ground to get Mid-Prairie on the board at 7-0. The Falcons would answer two drives later when Quincy Collins capped a 10 play, 78 yard march with a four yard drive to tie the game. The Falcons caught the Hawks with an onside kick immediately after, recovered it, and put it in the end zone two play later when Landry Haberichter went 36 yards and Notre Dame owned their first lead at 14-7. Late in the second the tide turned again, this time in favor of the black and gold with Mid-Prairie’s back-to-back touchdowns, the first, was Ehrenfelt’s second touchdown, a five yarder to finish a five play 48 yard push to tie things at 14. In the final minute of the first half, the Hawks forced a three out and put it in end zone again, this time through the air when Brady Weber hooked up with Ace Peck on a 43 yard strike to give the Golden Hawks a 21-14 lead at intermission.
Out of halftime, West Burlington Notre Dame tied things again. With their first trip they went a commanding 89 yards on 15-plays, with Collins second scoring run of four yards making it 21 all. With the game in the balance, the Hawks finished strong. Mid-Prairie would score 21 straight. Their next drive 66 yards on five plays as Weber went up top to Kaden Kos for a 48 yard strike, 28-21 Mid-Prairie. The Falcons fumbled away their next possession at the four with Keatyn Meyers recovering on the doorstep to set up Ehrenfelt’s third rushing score, 35-21 Mid-Prairie. Next drive, the Falcons threw it away as Kos picked off a Haberichter screen. Mid-Prairie went 60-yards on eight plays, the final dozen in Ehrenfelt’s hands for his fourth touchdown to reach the final score. After the win, one of the KCII Golden Hawks of the Game Kaden Kos joined the locker room show to talk about how the team closed it out, his role in the win and the celebration.
Kos said, “They were just trying to run the ball down our throats. We were trying to contain them. We knew they weren’t as strong and physical as we were. I saw the running back going out with the linemen and thought ‘this might be it’ (what we saw on film). I shot the gap, put my arms out, ball was right in my arms, heck of a play! Brady (Weber) ended up rolling back to the other side so I followed him. They didn’t cover me. I got it and went up the sideline as quick as I could. We just talked about how it’s not over. We need to fight. It’s a 0-0 game if it’s tied. We need to respond and go do our job. We know we’re better than them and we came out and proved it! This is like the best feeling of your life! To start 0-3 two years in a row, then beat them again. It’s amazing. The locker room, the celebration is crazy in there!”
Mid-Prairie won the total yards battle 328 to 237. The Falcons average better than 400 yards per game this year. Brady Weber was 12 of 19 for 174 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with six different receivers on the night. Hudson Ehrenfelt had 146 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, giving him more than 500 yards and nine touchdowns in two career games against Notre Dame. Ace Peck caught four balls for 95 yards and a touchdown. Kos snagged the other scoring pass. He also led the Mid-Prairie defense with 11 tackles, four for loss and a pick. Keatyn Meyers recovered a fumble. Quincy Collins led the Falcons with 147 yards on 31 touches. The Golden Hawks are now 1-3 on the year, 1-0 in 2A District 5. Notre Dame is 3-1, 0-1 in District. The Hawks are back in Wellman Friday to face Davis County. The Falcons get MEPO on the road this week.