MOUNT PLEASANT — The Spartans are District Champions again and locked into the playoffs again. Solon’s varsity football team made the 60-mile trip to the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex in Mount Pleasant last Friday to face the Mount Pleasant Panthers for week eight of the nine week regular season, overcoming staunch defense to claim a 35-0 win.
After having been stymied by the Panther defense, Maddox Kelley fell into the end zone after a seven yard run to score with 3:23 left in the first quarter. Ryan Locke’s PAT kick made it 7-0.
Eli Kampman found Cody Milliman for a 29-yard pass completion leading to a touchdown in the second quarter with another Locke PAT to put Solon up 14-0. Kelley closed out the first half by scoring on a four-yard run with 43.3 seconds remaining. While the Panthers threatened in the remainder of the final minute, Lucas Feuerbach made a tackle for a stop as the final seconds ticked down.
The Spartans took the second half opening kick but Panther defense shut the first drive down quickly. Good fortune smiled upon Solon though as Tripp Johnson intercepted a Mount Pleasant pass in Panther territory. Kaden Hoeper was in the end zone shortly after on a 40-yard pass play from Kampman. Locke went 4-4 on PATs as Solon went up 28-0 with 7:02 left in the third quarter.
A blocked punt gave Solon the ball on the Panthers’ 32 yard line for a quick drive that ultimately was foiled at the nine yard line. Mount Pleasant threatened in the final minutes of the period by making deep inroads into Spartan territory but Solon still led 28-0 as the quarter ended. The Panthers’ drive ended on downs early in the fourth.
Kelley scored with 9:20 left to play on a 30-yard pass play and Collin McKie booted the PAT to make it 35-0 and triggered the continuous clock for the remainder of the game.
Elsewhere in 3A-4
Fairfield slipped past Keokuk 38-30 and Washington beat up on Fort Madison 42-15.