DAVENPORT — The Spartans’ 2023 varsity football season opened on a rough note Friday, August 25 on the road at Assumption Catholic as the Knights defeated Solon 34-7.
Assumption scored in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead. Brett White, a senior, recovered a fumble in the second quarter, scampering 33 yards for a touchdown to tie while senior Grant Knipper’s PAT kick gave Solon the 7-6 lead. The rest of the game belonged to assumption as they took a 13-7 lead into the halftime break and scored three times in the fourth to seal the win.
The Knights were led by senior Angelo Jackson’s 221 yards of rushing on 33 carries for three touchdowns.
Barret Schade, a senior, led Solon’s ground war with 62 yards on ten carries. Eddie Johnson (junior) had 32 yards on five carries. Senior Nash Kotar went eight yards on one carry, Senior Brayden Moore went five yards on three carries while junior Cole Carney had one carry for two yards.
Tyler Bell, a junior, made his varsity debut at quarterback completing five of 23 passes with one interception. Bell kept the ball eight times for five yards rushing. Kotar took two passes for ten yards while Moore had one reception for one yard.
White led the Spartan defense with 12.5 total tackles including eight solos and four for a loss of yards. Senior Jack McCarty had 7.5 with five solos, and senior Mason Scott made five tackles with two solos. Senior Ben Kampman made 4.5 with four solos and one quarterback sack, junior Oliver Owens made six with four solos, and Kotar had 4.5 with three solos. Moore produced 3.5 tackles with two solos, Carney also had 3.5 with a pair of solos. Senior Barret Schade had three tackles with one solo, senior Cole Farnsworth made 1.5 tackles with one solo, Knipper had one tackle (a solo), sophomore Kyler Jensen made 1.5 tackles with one solo, and senior Kaleb Behrends had one tackle (a solo). Austin Knight (a senior) was credited with one tackle while seniors Keenan Kruse, Ryan Walsh, Marcus Richard, and Davin Walker were credited with half-a-tackle each.
Upcoming games
Clear Creek Amana visits Friday, Sept. 1 with the frosh-soph game at 5:00 p.m. and varsity to follow at 7:30. The Clippers (4A-3) fell 15-0 to Marion in their season opener.
The Spartans stay home Friday, Sept. 8 as Central DeWitt (3A-3) visits.
Class 3A-5 Scores &
Standings, Week One
Benton Community W 49-0 vs. Vinton-Shellsburg 1-0 0-0
Fairfield W 38-14 vs. Mount Pleasant 1-0 0-0
Grinnell W 14-3 vs. Center Point-Urbana 1-0 0-0
Williamsburg W 42-14 vs. West Branch 1-0 0-0
Solon L 34-7 vs. Assumption Catholic 0-1 0-0
South Tama L 40-0 vs. Roland-Story 0-1 0-0

Gallery • 5 Photos

Deb Rebal • Contributed photo

Jack McCarty (6) makes a 23-yard kick return in the season opener Friday, August 25 against Assumption Catholic.