Prep football rewind

Pat Farley got the job he wanted. And the debut.Vinton-Shellsburg kicked off the Farley football era Friday at home with a 51-21 victory over South Tama.“I hope it's the first of many victories to come,” said Farley, who had served as an assistant at Fort Dodge St. Edmond the previous eight years.Farley, a distant relative to UNI Coach Mark Farley, applied for five jobs.“This is the one I really hoped I would get,” he said.A challenge awaits. The Vikings went 1-8 last year, winless in their district.“The biggest obstacle is reversing the psychology of losing,” Farley said.Friday was a start. The Vikings clung to a 22-21 halftime lead before blowing it open.Clint Ferguson rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns, and Jordan Barnes collected two sacks.Comeback kidsSpecial teams and defense took Mid-Prairie back from a 19-0 deficit, and the Golden Hawks edged Williamsburg, 21-19.Dylan White blocked a punt late in the first half, and Kaleb Duwa picked it up and scored to make it 19-7. Duwa blocked a field goal minutes later to keep it there at halftime.“That gave us some confidence and some hope,” said Mid-Prairie Coach Pete Cavanagh.After all-state running back Tanner Miller got the Golden Hawks within 19-14, Michael Aldeman returned a fumble for a touchdown to put them ahead to stay.Mid-Prairie advanced to the Class 2A state quarterfinals last year, and expectations are high.“Like we mentioned at a team meeting, we need to play like a ranked team,” Cavanagh said. “The kids enjoy (the attention). It tells them that the program is headed in the right direction.”Showdown countdownCedar Rapids Washington and Iowa City High warmed up for next week's Mississippi Valley Conference showdown at Bates Field with impressive wins.Shay Gutman and Andre Dawson ran for two touchdowns apiece, and Washington pulled away late to defeat Cedar Falls, 28-10.A.J. Derby ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as City High handled Dubuque Wahlert, 38-7.Look for both teams to be ranked in the Class 4A top five when the Associated Press rankings come out Monday. City High won last year's battle, 27-23.Quick hittersMeskwaki Settlement made its football debut Friday, falling to eight-man powerhouse Stanton, 72-14. The Warriors, who made a 185-mile trip to southwest Iowa, play all nine games on the road.Jesup snapped an 18-game losing streak with a 27-12 conquest of Don Bosco. It was the J-Hawks' first win since late in the 2006 season.Seth McGarvey kicked three long field goals - 42, 44 and 47 yards - as Union ripped Webster City, 50-13. McGarvey passed for three touchdowns.BGM collected three safeties in a 39-0 victory over Danville.