SOLON — The Spartans remained undefeated in Class 3A District 5 and won the District Championship as they rolled over the winless South Tama Trojans 52-0 Friday, October 20 on Senior Night. Seniors Cole Buffington, Barret Schade, Brayden Miller, Ben Kampman, Jack McCarty, Keenan Kruse, Nash Kotar, Gavin Sieverding, Charlie Brandt, Jace Janssen, Cole Farnsworth, Ryan Walsh, Austin Knight, Nicholas Johnson, Milo Ashbacker, Grant Knipper, Brayden Moore, Brett White, Trevor Myers, Marcus Richard, Mason Scott, Weston Steinbrech, CJ Tabor, Carter Grimm, Kaleb Behrends, Josh Henneberry, Davin Walker, Will Cusick, and Noah Kottenstette were recognized along with senior members of the band, cheerleaders, and cross country team before the game.
“Every Senior class is special,” said Coach Lucas Stanton, “but personally these guys were 9th graders when I first got here so just to be able to work with them and see them grow and mature over the years has been a really fun experience. We started with 34, I believe, when these guys were freshmen so to have 29 of them still with us as seniors is really awesome.”
Solon took the opening kickoff setting into motion a drive culminating in Brayden Miller’s first high school touchdown (on a four-yard dash). “I was so happy to see him get his first, he deserves it,” said Stanton. “He is relentless in practice and does so much for us on our scout team.” Grant Knipper nailed the first of five point-after kicks making it 7-0. Tyler Bell connected with Nash Kotar for a 21-yard touchdown pass to go up 14-0 with 6:29 left in the first quarter. Two minutes later, Conlan Poynton sprinted 61 yards to score. Cole Carney intercepted a Trojan pass a minute later for 1st and ten on South Tama’s 27 yard line. Eddie Johnson made a ten-yard dash to the house for a 28-0 lead at the end of the period. Ryan Walsh scampered one yard to score with 10:20 left in the half, triggering the continuous clock with a 35-0 lead. Sophomore Ryan Locke booted a 30-yard field goal with 5:02 left in the half increasing Solon’s lead to 38-0.
Wholesale lineup changes for Solon in the second half put Eli Kampman in at quarterback. Kampman connected with Charlie Brandt for a touchdown and Locke extra point kick making it 45-0 with 1:21 left in the third quarter. Kampman found Cole Farnsworth late in the fourth for a score, and with Locke’s kick Solon led 52-0 with less than a minute left in the game. “Was happy for Cole and very happy to see how well he did on defense too. He is another example of what this senior class is about and how they are willing to sacrifice for the sake of the team,” Stanton said adding, “We were really pleased with being able to get so many guys in the game.”
Bell completed five of eight passes for 64 yards while Kampman went six for ten for 81. Knipper took three passes 34 yards, Kotar went 30 yards on two receptions, Brandt went 23 yards on two, and Farnsworth went 38 yards on two. Keenan Kruse and Jace Janssen had one reception each for seven and 13 yards.
Miller had 14 carries for 49 yards, Poynton made six carries for 104 yards, Bell, Walsh, Milo Ashbacker, and Brayden Moore had two carries each with one apiece by Johnson, Carney, and Abe Houtakker.
Sieverding and Farnsworth led defensively with six tackles each including five solos for Farnsworth and four for Sieverding. Kruse made 4-1/2 with three solos, Miller made three with one solo, Noah Kottenstette made 2-1/2 (one solo), and Brandt, Janssen, Brett White, and Davin Walker had two tackles each. Oliver Owens made 1-1/2 with one apiece by Kampman, Kotar, Walsh, Carney, Marcus Richard, Carter Grimm, and Locke. Barret Schade and Will Cusick were credited with ½ tackle apiece.
Playoffs start Friday
Class 3A playoffs start Friday, October 27 with quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 3. 3A semifinal games will be Saturday, Nov. 11 in the UNI-Dome with the 3A State Championship Game Friday, Nov. 17.
The Bloodhounds of Ft. Madison visit the No. 2-ranked Spartans Friday and bring a 6-3 overall record and 3-2, third place showing in 3A-4 with a 48-14 loss to Williamsburg, a 38-7 loss to Assumption, and a 45-7 loss to Mount Vernon.
“Fort Madison is a well-coached team,” said Stanton. “Coach (Derek) Doherty has done a really nice job down there changing the culture, building numbers, and building a program. They don’t do a lot of stuff, but they run their stuff really well. They were a 4A playoff team last year, so they are familiar with the postseason. They are very stout at LB and interior D-line. Their quarterback and running back are very talented. They will present quite a few challenges for us, but we are looking forward to it.”
The action starts at 7:00 p.m.
About that District Championship…
“You know I think the district championship kind of got overlooked a little bit,” said Stanton, “But that is a big accomplishment especially with the district we are in. This might be off a little bit but someone after the game mentioned that this is like 19 district championships in a row. 19 playoff appearances in a row I know that is true so good chance. Winning the district is always one of our goals.”
Class 3A-5 Scores &
Final Standings
Solon W 52-0 vs. South Tama 8-1 5-0
Williamsburg W 28-7 vs. Benton Community 8-1 4-1
Grinnell W 49-0 vs. Fairfield 6-3 3-2
Benton Community 5-4 2-3
Fairfield 3-6 1-4
South Tama 0-9 0-5
Brayden Miller (4) got his first high school touchdown on a four-yard dash Friday, October 20 at home against South Tama on Senior Night.