Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – The football tradition at Solon speaks for itself. The unbeaten seasons, the playoff appearances the state titles.

Jax Flynn knows all about that school history.

Flynn has played a key role in helping second-ranked Solon (9-0) add to its tradition of football excellence with another unbeaten regular season and playoff berth.

While doing so Flynn has continued another long-time tradition at Solon becoming the latest in a growing line of standout linebackers on the Spartan defense.

“There have definitely been a lot of great linebackers that have played at Solon,” Flynn said. “To play that position here and be a part of that tradition is something special.”

For years long-time Solon coach Kevin Miller has had dominant defenses built around strong linebacker play.

Flynn and his defensive teammates fit that mold this season.

Led by Flynn Solon enters its Class 3A playoff opener against Liberty High (7-2) on Friday at Spartan Stadium allowing just 165 total yards and 8.2 points per game.

At the middle of that defense is Flynn, the Spartans top tackler marking the fifth consecutive season a linebacker has led Solon in tackles.

“He has really followed the example of some of the guys before him because we’ve had some really good linebackers,” Solon coach Kevin Miller said. “Jax has certainly become one of those guys.”

Flynn has had a front row seat to some of the most recent stellar linebacker play at Solon.

His cousin Trevor Nelson led the Spartans in tackles in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016.

As an underclassman the past two seasons Flynn saw current Division I linebackers Adam Bock (South Dakota State) and Coal Flansburg (Iowa State) rack up more than 234 combined tackles.

“Looking up to Trevor and then being around Flansburg, those guys were good role models,” Flynn said. “They definitely taught me how to be what I am now.”

What Flynn is now is one of the top linebackers in Class 3A.

After making a modest 17 tackles a year ago playing alongside Flansburg and Bock the 6-foot, 185-pound Flynn leads Solon with 63 tackles and his 31 solo stops are more than double the amount of any other Spartan.  

“He’s a guy that has really flown under the radar,” Miller said. “We expected him to have a great year and we needed him to in order to be success as a defense and he’s been a catalyst on the defense.”

Behind the play of Flynn the Solon defense has become one of the toughest in Class 3A to point up points against.

Solon hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game this season and has held six opponents to seven points or less.

Flynn and fellow first-year starters at linebacker Carson Shive and Jace Andregg have been a big part of that stingy Spartan defense.

“From the beginning of the season we were a little sloppy but I think our defense has just skyrocketed,” Flynn said. “Our defensive backs have done a very good job lately.”

Along with leading the Spartans in tackles Flynn has developed a knack for making the big play.

He has three tackles for loss and a sack while picking off a team-high five passes and recovering a fumble.

“He has a nose for the football, he really does,” Miller said. “There are just some guys that can see it and react so quickly and he is certainly one of those guys. He’s very instinctive and you can’t team that particular skill in a football player and when you have that as a linebacker that’s pretty special.”

Flynn and the Solon defense will have a tough test in its playoff opener against a Liberty High team that ranks third in Class 3A in rushing averaging 273 yards per game on the ground.

Stopping the run will be critical if Solon is to avoid a second consecutive opening round playoff exit.

Last season the Spartans allowed 403 total yards in a 48-13 home loss to eventual runner-up Western Dubuque.

That loss still stings for the Spartans.

“We definitely remember that game and how we lost it,” Flynn said. “We’ve talked a lot about that so it’s in our minds for sure.”

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