CEDAR FALLS — The 2023 varsity football season came to a heartbreaking end Saturday night at the UNI Dome as WaMaC West rival Williamsburg defeated the Spartans 45-14 in a Class 3A State Semifinals game. Solon defeated the Raiders 21-14 at home October 6 in District 5 competition and went on to claim the District Championship while relegating Williamsburg to the No. 2 spot.
Turnovers plagued the Spartans, who trailed 24-0 at halftime. Conlan Poynton put Solon on the scoreboard in the third quarter with a six-yard scamper followed by a Grant Knipper point after kick. The drive started when Ben Kampman recovered a Williamsburg fumble. Solon trailed 38-7 with 6:08 left in the game when Tyler Bell connected with Knipper for a 78-yard pass and touchdown. Knipper then split the uprights with the PAT kick making it 38-14.
Bell completed 15 of 25 passes for 224 yards. Knipper took six for 139 yards, Eddie Johnson caught two for 27, Brett White had two for 17, Nash Kotar had two for 13, Jace Janssen made one reception for 16 yards, and Oliver Owens had one for 15. Poynton went 61 yards on 15 carries, Johnson covered 21 yards on six, and Brayden Miller went nine yards on one carry.
White led defensively with 8.5 total tackles (four solo), Barret Schade made 6.5 (three solo), Brayden Moore made five (four solo), Jack McCarty had four (two solo), Cole Farnsworth made three (one solo), Knipper and Marcus Richard had 2.5 each with two by Kotar (both solo), Austin Knight, Trevor Myers, and Kaleb Behrends. Kampman, Keenan Kruse, Johnson, and Owens received credit for one tackle each with 1.5 for Mason Scott, and ½ each for Ryan Walsh, Cole Carney, and Davin Walker.
The loss also snapped a ten-game winning streak after a season opening loss to Assumption Catholic. Coach Lucas Stanton spoke about the season overall.
“It just speaks to the resiliency of our kids and coaching staff. One loss, especially early on like that doesn’t make or break a season. We always talk about how our ‘response’ matters, and they certainly responded.” Wins followed over Clear Creek Amana (7-3), Central DeWitt (41-6), rival Mount Vernon (37-20), Grinnell (40-7), Benton Community (16-13 in double OT), the Raiders, Fairfield (42-6), and South Tama (52-0) during the regular season. The Spartans rolled Fort Madison 50-7 in the 3A first round and outlasted West Delaware 36-35 at home in the quarterfinals.
“What does it take for a team to be able to do that? It takes a lot of belief and a lot of hard work. They bought into their roles as individuals and brought it into the system.”
Solon loses 29 seniors: Cole Buffington, Schade, Miller, Kampman, McCarty, Kruse, Kotar, Gavin Sieverding, Charlie Brandt, Janssen, Farnsworth, Walsh, Knight, Nicholas Johnson, Milo Ashbacker, Knipper, White, Myers, Richard, Scott, Weston Steinbrech, Jeremy (CJ) Tabor, Carter Grimm, Kaleb Behrends, Josh Henneberry, Walker, Will Cusick, and Noah Kottenstette.
“We will miss these seniors dearly. 29 guys who invested their heart and soul into Solon Football. As a group they were very committed to the weight room and playing multiple sports. They are also a very tight knit group. Just a competitive group of young men. Most importantly, they are great people,” said Stanton.
Preparation for next season will begin shortly, the coach said. “Next year’s team will be different, and they don’t get credit for any of the wins from this year or any of the losses. The guys returning will have to put in the work and really focus on development. I know this group will want to win a state title and return to the dome.”

Gallery • 11 Photos

Deb Rebal • Contributed photo

Lynn Worrell of Solon was among Solon and Williamsburg veterans recognized during the Class 3A State Semifinal football game Saturday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.