By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Solon Spartans

Head coach: Kevin Miller (17th season, 163-53)

Assistant coaches: Brent Sands, Mark Sovers, Chris Croy, Brad Wymer, Aaron Hadenfeldt, Aaron Kampman, Dan Coons, Tanner Butler, Mike Ferguson, Hayden Meister, Curt Miller.

Last season: 9-2 (Class 3A Quarterfinals)

Returning Starters: Tyler Linderbaum, Sr., OL/DT; Zach Wegmann, Sr., OL/DE; Joe Kral, Sr., OL; Payton Bandy, Sr., WR/S; Spencer Wegmann, Sr., LB; Kendrick Harris, Sr., RB; Jack Stahle, Sr., WR.

Other returning letterwinners: Storm Scott, Sr., WR/DB; Greg Brandt, Sr, WR/DB; Matt Folkerts, Sr., OL/DL; Chase Gehrke, Sr., OL/LB; Rowdy Koehn, Sr., OL/DL; Ryan Sniezek, Sr., OL/DL; Alex Allen, Sr., K.

Newcomers to watch: Adam Bock, Jr., RB/LB; Coal Flansburg, QB/LB; Ben Krutzfeldt, Sr., WR/DB; Jackson Pipolo, Jr., WR/DB; Hunter Kula, Jr., RB; Rocky Lensing, Jr., OL/DL; Kyle Puettmann, Jr., OL/DL; Ryan Geistkemper, Jr., WR/LB; Andy Devalk, Jr., OL/DL; Hunter Brown, Jr., OL/DL; Clay Gerdin, Jr., WR/DE; Ben McAtee, Jr., WR/DB; Aidan Dall, Jr., WR/DB; Mason Stahle, Jr., WR/LB; Colton Spillman, Jr., WR/DB; Kale Altman, Jr., RB/LB; Jerrod Hilton, Jr., OL/DL; Dillon Hoit, Jr., WR/DB; Andy Brokaw, Jr., WR/DB.

Playoff history: 27 appearances (1984-1988, 1990-1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005-2016). Solon won state titles in 1988, 2007, 2008, 2009 (2A) and 2010 (3A).

District: Class 3A, District 5

District favorites: Solon went unbeaten in district play last season and is the favorite to repeat. The district race should shake out relative early as Solon faces its top two challengers Washington and Oskaloosa in back-to-back games in week four and five. 

Circle the date: Sept. 1 vs. Regina. The Spartans have lost back-to-back games at Regina since a 29-28 win over the Regals in the last meeting in Solon in 2015.

Headliner: Iowa recruit Tyler Linderbaum (6-2, 270) is one of the top lineman in the state and a force on both sides of the ball.

Unsung hero: Senior defensive end Zach Wegmann has played in the shadow of Iowa recruits Jacob Coons and Tyler Linderbaum on the Solon defensive line but is getting harder to overlook coming off a five-sack season last fall.

Keep an eye on: Junior linebackers Coal Flansburg and Adam Bock haven’t started a varsity game but have drawn strong reviews from coaches and should both be in for strong seasons.

Biggest question: Who takes the first snap against Mount Vernon in the opener? The Spartans have options at quarterback in senior Spencer Wegmann, Flansburg and sophomore Cam Miller and head coach Kevin Miller says there could be packages in place for all three. 

Quotable: “When you watch him run he could go out and play receiver now and it would be difficult for our corners to cover him,” Solon coach Kevin Miller said of senior lineman Tyler Linderbaum. “He runs well and he’s very athletic, he’s invaluable to our team.”

Schedule

Aug. 25: @ Mount Vernon

Sept. 1: Regina

Sept. 8: @ Keokuk*

Sept. 15: Washington*

Sept. 22: @ Oskaloosa*

Sept: 29: Fort Madison*

Oct. 6: @ Mount Pleasant*

Oct. 13: West Burlington*

Oct. 20: Fairfield*

*- District Game