Fast start among priorities for sixth-ranked Mid-Prairie football team

Editor’s note: Fourth in a class-by-class preview heading into the high school football season

Mid-Prairie has proven it can overcome slow starts.

With experience and all-state talent returning, the Class 2A sixth-ranked Golden Hawks are hoping they won’t have to this time.

After opening 0-3 the past two years, followed by a cumulative 12-3 record in district and postseason play (including a 2A-5 title in 2024), Mid-Prairie is prioritizing getting out of the gates strong.

“Let’s go 3-0 the first three games,” senior Kaden Kos said. “It gets kind of repetitive starting 0-3.”

It won’t be easy. All three of Mid-Prairie’s opening non-district opponents had winning records in 2024 (Washington 6-3, Alburnett 5-4 and Sigourney-Keota 7-2).

“Our non-district is going to be tough, but it will prepare us for that tough district road ahead,” Mid-Prairie Coach Daren Lambert said. “We're excited for the challenge. It's going to be fun.”

Kos was a first-team all-state linebacker last year and the team’s second-leading receiver.

“He’s super dynamic on both sides of the ball,” Lambert said. “He's extremely powerful, fast and is a very quick decision-maker. There are some things he does that you just don't coach — just a knack for the football. He can see things and just go.”

Another key returner is last season’s leading rusher, senior Hudson Ehrenfelt. Ehrenfelt, too, was a first-team all-state selection as an offensive utility player. He ran for 1,365 yards and 26 touchdowns — and had 26 receptions for 289 yards and two scores.

“He's got the mix of being extremely powerful, a very physical runner, but also has shiftiness and breakaway speed,” Lambert said. “There are times where he's going to lower his shoulder and try and go through you — or he's going to outrun or put a move on you.

“We've given him a lot of carries his sophomore year and junior years. I think one of our guys even referenced him as a 10-year vet — just playing on he’s been around. He's a guy you like to have in your huddle.”

Having a player of Ehrenfelt’s caliber and experience in the backfield will be instrumental for new signal-caller, junior Brooks Weber.

“I can help guide him, tell him what's going to happen and be a safety valve for him if no one’s open,” Ehrenfelt said. “I feel like that makes him more comfortable, being able just to dump it off to me.”

Weber is taking the reins at QB from graduated brother, Brady Weber.

“Brooks is a very good quarterback and has put in a lot of time and effort to be the player that he is — he’s also been challenged and pushed by his older brother,” Lambert said. “He's a good leader, very poised, a great decision-maker and has a great arm, very accurate. He's had a good preseason, so we're excited for him and what he's going to bring.”

Helping to protect Weber will be district lineman of the year, junior Tommy Miller.

“He’s extremely fast for a lineman, but extremely physical and loves contact,” Lambert said. “He's another guy that, since he's so athletic, we will use him in a variety of ways — defensive line, offensive line, putting him in the backfield as a fullback if we need to.”

Mid-Prairie will open its season at home Friday against Washington with lofty expectations.

Among the team’s goals are qualifying for a fifth straight playoff appearance, winning a second consecutive district title and advancing to the state semifinals for the first time in program history.

“A district title is the first thing we want to achieve,” Lambert said. “Then, once again, playoffs and a deep run … we want to get to the UNI-Dome. Our school's never been there, so that's something we want to add to the list.”

MID-PRAIRIE AT A GLANCE