Hawks find positives in loss to Mid-Prairie

I thought we played together as a group — 11 guys on offense, 11 guys on defense. We did what we needed to and I don’t think Mid-Prairie had an easy night.”

Doug Dodds, Central Lee Head Coach

DONNELLSON — Doug Dodds saw something in his Central Lee football team that he hasn’t seen in the last couple of weeks.
Focus.
It wasn’t enough to help the Hawks in a 33-13 loss to Mid-Prairie on Friday night, but it made Dodds think his team is doing the right things heading into next Friday’s regular-season finale against Mediapolis.
“There were a lot of positives in this football game,” Dodds said. “I thought we played together as a group — 11 guys on offense, 11 guys on defense. We did what we needed to and I don’t think Mid-Prairie had an easy night.”
The Hawks (3-4 overall, 0-4 Class 2A District 5), who had scored just seven points in their last two games, consistently moved the ball throughout the game, finishing with 18 first downs and 291 yards of total offense. But penalties and two turnovers proved costly.
“We were consistent,” Dodds said. “I thought we moved the ball well. Could we finish some of those drives? No. But at the same time, we were executing and guys were doing what they needed to do.”
The Hawks got all of their points in the fourth quarter behind two big plays by quarterback Cory Jones, who finished the game after Kayden Calfee was knocked out of the game in the third quarter.
Central Lee had a fourth-and-1 at the Mid-Prairie 5-yard line when Jones appeared to be stopped on a quarterback sneak just short of the first-down line. But the play wasn’t blown dead, and Jones backed up and pitched the ball to Kegan Damico, who raced to his left and got the Hawks’ first touchdown of the night.
Jones’ 79-yard touchdown run on Central Lee’s next possession was a weaving trip through the Mid-Prairie defense.
“That’s one of those plays where all 11 guys did their part,” Dodds said. “I’m really happy with the fact that we have a two-quarterback system, and I hope to never go away from something like that. Kayden and Cory really work well together, and I’m proud of Cory stepping up and doing what he needed to do in the fourth quarter.”
Hudson Ehrenfelt rushed for 160 yards and four touchdowns for Mid-Prairie (3-4, 3-1), which had 389 yards of offense.
The Golden Hawks hit big plays all night. Ehrenfelt caught Brady Weber’s first pass for a 38-yard gain to set up his first touchdown, and later caught a 39-yard pass on a fourth-and-4 play from the Central Lee 43-yard line in the second quarter to set up another touchdown.
“There’s still a lot we can take away from this game,” Dodds said. “It was Homecoming week, and I know for a lot of coaches that can be a scary thing. But our kids did a great job of being focused all week. They did what they needed to do, and it showed.
“The thing we’ve been focusing on all year is just taking care of ourselves. So this week is about finishing strong, working hard, and making sure we honor and respect our seniors with how we play next week.”