WILLIAMSBURG — When the game was over The Williamsburg Victory Bell resonated deep into the night.
The Bell, echoing, was a testament to the Raiders’ dominant second half, which propelled them over the seventh-ranked Solon Spartans. Each Raider eagerly took their turn to ring the bell celebrating the impressive 42-13 victory. It was a similar result to when the two teams clashed last year in the UNI-Dome for the Class 3A Semifinals where the Raiders ended the Spartans’ State Championship hopes with a 45-14 loss. The Spartans, after Starting the season unbeaten at 5-0, have dropped their last two games after previously being ranked at the top spot.
The first half of this game was much more competitive than the second. Williamsburg got things started early, striking first as they went the length of the field in under three minutes when Grady Hocker connected with wideout Cael Moore on fourth down from ten yards out.
The story of the first half was the Spartans’ ability to respond to adversity. The Spartans got the ball right back and used a display of powerful running from senior Eddie Johnson, who capped the drive off by lowering his shoulder and fighting his way into the endzone, making it 7-6.
Adversity struck the Spartans again after giving up two quick strike touchdown throws from Hocker, including a 67-yard catch and run from wide receiver Nile Sinn. The Spartans found themselves trailing 21-6.
The Spartans got right back to work and force-fed Johnson, who found the endzone for a second time. Johnson showed off his speed and athleticism as he saw daylight and didn’t turn back for an 80-yard burst right up the middle on the drive’s second play, slicing the Raider’s lead to 21-13 and ending the action for the first half.
Johnson totaled 150 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
The second half was all about the Raiders. Williamsburg’s offense turned it up and displayed a heavy RPO package. Hocker led the game with five passing touchdowns, three of which found senior wide receiver Rayce Heitman.
The Raiders’ defense also had its fair share of highlights as they forced two second-half turnovers, a fumble recovery, and an interception.
“They just played better than us…no excuses,” Head Coach Lucas Stanton said after the game. Stanton addressed the players and then just the coaches, challenging everyone. With two games remaining on the schedule, the team must execute from top to bottom to be back on track by playoff time.
The Solons’ upcoming schedule looks pretty favorable. They will return to Spartan Stadium this week to take on a (2-5) Fairfield team and end the regular season on the road against a currently winless South Tama. Coach Stanton made it clear not to overlook the opponents but to use these games to sharpen up and return to being a dangerous team.