SOLON — The Spartans improved to 2-1 with a decisive 41-6 win at home over Central Clinton, DeWitt Friday, Sept. 9 on Armed Forces Night.
Tyler Bell connected with Eddie Johnson on the Spartans’ first drive for a 16-yard touchdown pass and a 6-0 lead with 7:39 left in the first quarter. Grant Knipper nailed the extra point kick making it 7-0. A botched punt by the Sabers late in the period led to the ball bouncing into the Sabers’ endzone where it was recovered by Keenan Kruse for a touchdown. With Knipper’s kick, Solon led 14-0 going into the second quarter.
Barret Schade scampered one yard to score early in the period for a 21-0 lead (with another Knipper PAT). The Sabers found the endzone with eight minutes left in the half, but Brett White blocked the point after kick holding DeWitt to six points. Brayden Moore dashed one yard to score with 5:29 left in the half. Knipper’s good PAT made it 28-6.
Nash Kotar, who recovered a DeWitt fumble in the first quarter, intercepted a pass and returned it five yards for a Solon 1st and ten. Bell connected with Kotar for a 52-yard touchdown pass, which initially appeared in jeopardy as penalty flags were thrown. The call was “un-sportsman like conduct” against the Spartans, and the penalty was assessed on the point after kick. Knipper’s kick bounced off of the left upright, but Solon led 34-6. With 3:47 left in the third quarter, Austin Knight made an interception at DeWitt’s 5-yard line. Milo Ashbacker then made a five-yard dash to score. Knipper’s kick was on-target, and the continuous clock was triggered with the 41-6 lead.
Bell, a junior, completed eight of twelve passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Knipper (a senior) made four receptions for 33 yards, Johnson (a junior) had three for 60 and one touchdown, and Kotar (a senior) had one for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Moore (a senior) made a dozen carries for 55 yards and one score, Ashbacker (a senior) made five carries for 38 yards and a score, Johnson (a junior) had four for 36 yards, and Brayden Miller (a senior) made eight carries for 35. Bell kept the ball four times for 13 yards and Cole Carney, a junior, made one carry for three yards.
White (a senior) led the defense with six solo tackles (nine total), while Jack McCarty (senior), Kruse (senior), and Carney made three solos apiece with 4-1/2 total for McCarty and four total for Kruse and Carney. Kotar made two solos and 2-1/2 total while Grant Sieverding had two solos in total. Ben Kampman (senior), Cole Farnsworth (senior), Conlan Poynton (sophomore), Moore, Marcus Richard (senior), Mason Scott (senior), Kaleb Behrends (senior), Will Cusick (senior), and Noah Kottenstette (senior) all had one solo tackle apiece.
Upcoming games
Mount Vernon hosts Solon Friday, Sept. 15 at the First St. Building Field with frosh/soph at 5:00 p.m. and varsity at 7:15 p.m. The Mustangs are 3-0 with wins over Monticello (35-6), Union Community (33-0), and Benton Community (19-7). Mount Vernon also defeated Solon at home last year and knocked the Spartans out of the postseason, adding a desire for revenge to the annual rivalry game.
Solon’s Homecoming Game will be Friday, Sept. 29 as Benton Community visits to start district competition.
Class 3A-5 Scores & Standings, Week Three
Williamsburg W 49-20 vs. Clear Creek Amana
3-0 0-0
Fairfield W 23-20 vs. Washington (Iowa)
2-1 0-0
Grinnell W 46-6 vs. Oskaloosa
2-1 0-0
Solon W 41-6 vs. Central Clinton, DeWitt
2-1 0-0
Benton Community L 7-13 vs. Mount Vernon
2-0 0-0
South Tama L 7-34 vs. Knoxville
0-3 0-0
Eddie Johnson (10) scrambles on a carry Friday, Sept. 8 at home against Central Clinton-DeWitt. Johnson scored on a 16-yard pass on Solon’s first drive of the game ahead of a 41-6 victory.