After a long stretch of missing the playoffs, Hiawatha qualified for six of the seven postseasons held from 2016 until 2023.

Last year, the Hawks went 2-7, their lowest win total since a winless 2011. When the season starts at noon Aug. 30 in Galva, they’re looking to get back to the postseason.

“I think we’re more of a team than we were last year,” junior running back Tim Pruitt said. “We’re kind of getting stuff earlier than we did last year. It’s kind of sticking more than it did.

“So I think we’ll be more ready than we were last year.”

The Hawks snapped a 29-year playoff drought with a 7-3 showing in 2016, making the 1A playoffs. They qualified again in 2018, then won a postseason game en route to finishing 9-2 in 2019.

They moved to eight-man in the COVID-19 shortened 2021 spri

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