The Mid-Prairie eighth grade football team played their best football of the season, handing Regina their first loss in a 16-8 defeat last Tuesday in Kalona.

The Hawks offense was on track to start the game. After stopping the Regals on the Mid-Prairie 20 yard line, the Hawks put together an excellent 13-play drive behind the running or Brent Yotty and Steve Hagemeier and the blocking of Gabe Starbeck-Miller, Donovan Yoder, Joey Stutzman, Nick Amelon, Nick Kinsinger, and Erik Christensen. The passing game was also alive as Danny Walderschmidt connected with Danny Slaubaugh for a nice gain. While the drive fell short of a score by stalling out on the Regina three yard line, the Hawks showed the Regals that they were in for a fight.

After a couple of changes of possession, the Regals put together a scoring drive culminating with a four-yard TD run. After the two-point conversion, the score stood at 8-0 at the close of the first half.

The Hawks took the kickoff to open the second half and marched down the field in a six play drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown run by Hagemeier over the Hawks left side. Hagemeier then caught the two-point conversion pass from Walderschmidt to tie the game.

Toward the end of the third quarter, Danny Gent recovered a Regina fumble, kicking off the Hawks go-ahead drive. On the fifth play, behind the solid blocking of Corey Clark and the Hawks’ front line, Brent Yotty found daylight and powered into the end zone on a 17-yard run. A pass from Walderschmidt to Slaubaugh was good to two extra points and the Hawks held the lead 16-8.

Yotty also had a big game defensively, leading the Hawks in tackles. Chris Driscol, Clark, and Donovan also had a good game on defense.

Coach Phil Conoway reported his team had finally come together to execute and play with a high degree of emotion.

“These young men should now realize they are a good football team.”