WILLIAMSBURG — Gridiron meetings between the Solon Spartans and Williamsburg Raiders haven’t always gone well for Solon. The Raiders pounded Solon 42-13 last year and denied the Spartans a 3A State Championship in 2023 with a 45-14 loss in the UNI-Dome.
Friday, Sept. 5, was a different story however as Solon rolled past the Raiders 33-14 in Williamsburg in a week two non-district game.
The Raiders struck first, scoring with 5:07 left in the first quarter to go up 7-0.
Senior Eli Kampman found junior Maddox Kelley deep in the red zone, and a leaping catch by Kelley made it first and goal for Solon. On third down and one yard to go, Kelley made it into the endzone for Solon’s first score. Junior Collin McKie split the uprights to tie 7-7 with 6:50 left in the first half. The Spartans went up 14-7 after Kampman found junior Cody Milliman downfield for a first and goal from the five yard line. Kampman scampered in on a keeper to score. With 43 seconds left in the half the Raiders turned the ball over on a punt, which set up Kampman to throw to junior Kaden Hoeper for another score and a 20-7 halftime lead.
In the third quarter senior Ethan Ulch intercepted a Raider pass at Solon’s 35 or 36 yard line. Kampman tossed a quick pass to Hoeper, who went 60 yards to score. McKie again split the uprights and Solon led 27-7 going into the final quarter.
Kampman connected with Kelley again for 27 yards and a score to make it 33-7. A penalty before the point after kick led to a switch to a two-point attempt by Solon, which saw Kampman come up just short on a keeper.
The Raiders mounted one last charge late in the fourth scoring with 2:44 remaining in the ball game.
The win improved Solon to 2-0 on the season while dropping the Raiders to 1-1.
Kampman completed 16 of 18 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns with Milliman taking five passes for 98 yards, Hoeper taking three for 86 with two scores, and Kelley taking five for 82 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Sonntag, a junior, rushed twice for 22 yards while Kelley made seven carries for nine yards and a touchdown. Defensively senior Kyler Jensen made eight tackles with seven solos and two sacks. Junior James Thomsen was dialed-in on the quarterbacks with three sacks to his credit.
Archrival Mount Vernon visits this Friday on Armed Forces Night with the frosh-soph game starting at 5:00 p.m. and varsity to follow at 7:30.