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Prairie ‘holds on’ and tops Iowa City West in key football matchup
Dawson Kahl’s late touchdown run powers Cedar Rapids Prairie past Class 5A No. 7 Iowa City West

Oct. 17, 2025 11:10 pm
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CEDAR RAPIDS — With less than six minutes to play and the score tied, Cedar Rapids Prairie took possession in a downpour.
Some of the hardest rains of the night fell to the turf with the game on the line. Hawks running back Dawson Kahl had one dominant thought.
“Just keep my hands dry,” Kahl said, “and hold on to the damn ball. That’s about it.”
Kahl was unfazed by the weather, carrying five times on the drive and capping it with a 53-yard touchdown run for the go-ahead score with 2:23 remaining in Prairie’s 45-31 victory over Class 5A No. 7 Iowa City West in a back-and-forth high school football game Friday night at John Wall Field.
“I just kept praying for more rain there in the fourth quarter,” Prairie head coach Kyle Knock said with a laugh. “That’s how it’s with us and them every year. We’re two good football programs. We’ve had some battles toward the end of the season the last two years. This year, I knew it wouldn’t be any different.”
Prairie (6-2) took over with 5:46 to play, following a Campbell Janis 21-yard TD run to tie it, 31-31. The Hawks relied on Kahl, who had 68 of the 80 yards on the series. The Hawks faced third-and-8 from their 47, Knock had a hunch West would anticipate the pass and called on Kahl.
“I told him to trust it and keep hitting it,” Knock said. “Eventually, it will open and we’re going to have a big play. He was full steam ahead on that one. It was fun to watch.”
Kahl burst through the middle and cut back to open space, covering the ball in the open field until he crossed the goal line.
“Our left tackle (Javen Donald) got a huge block and there was green, green grass,” said Kahl, who amassed 159 yards on 21 carries. “I knew I was taking it after that. All credit to my O-line. That was a great play.”
The scoring run was indicative of the plethora of big scoring plays by both teams. Prairie’s Drew Bennis was at the heart of two crucial touchdowns.
Prairie took the opening drive 80 yards and scored on a 7-yard David Fason run. West answered with two touchdowns and 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Bennis stopped the momentum and returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and tie the game.
“I wanted to make a big play for the whole team,” Bennis said. “Keep our heads up. I saw a wide-open hole and started to run there. It was a convoy. There were some great blocks.”
Bennis also hauled in a 24-yard TD pass from Cael Kongshaug with 2:26 to go in the third for a 31-24 lead.
Knock said they had a checklist for four big plays to Bennis during the game and that one hit.
“Drew is an unbelievable talent,” Knock said. “He’s been banged up and couldn’t use him much the last three weeks.
“We have to put the ball in the air and let that kid go make a play.”
Prairie’s defense had trouble containing West’s offense at times but produced important turnovers and stops. Wesley Koppes picked off a Reece Wheeler pass in the final 20 seconds of the first half, on the heels of Kongshaug’s 9-yard TD pass to Tae Alexander that tied it again.
The Hawks capitalized with a Junior Boxa 25-yard field goal for a 24-21 lead as the first half expired.
Colt Hobson added an interception and the defense second-and-goal from the 4, forcing West to settle for an Adam Salem 24-yard field goal to tie it, 24-24.
The loss spoiled sensational games from Wheeler and Janis. Wheeler passed for 254 yards, including 70-yard TD passes to Henry Elser and Julian Manson. He also scored on a 1-yard TD run for the Trojans’ first score. Janis finished with 177 total yards, rushing for 140 and a score.
“They’re a high-powered offense,” said Knock, adding, “The defense kept battling. Once we got a little bit of a lead, we put the pressure on them a little more.”
West (6-2) still had a chance late. The Trojans returned a short kick to the 47 and were in good field position but a penalty, a loss and two incompletions gave Prairie the ball back. Bjay Bush Jr. sealed the win with a 17-yard TD run with 25 seconds left.
“We faced a lot of adversity so far this year,” Kahl said. “I think this win will really get us back on our feet. We needed one, we were due for one. This is a great team and we really wanted to send these seniors off with a good night (but) the job’s not finished. Time for the playoffs.”
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